Business was up for Saint Arnold last year. Let's hope this trend continues despite the economic downturn. Press release from Saint Arnold:
Saint Arnold Brewing Company Production Jumped by 5,000 Barrels in 2008
HOUSTON, Jan. 13, 2009 – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, today reported production of nearly 23,000 barrels of beer in 2008. The increase of nearly 5,000 barrels over 2007’s record production tally represents a 28 percent boost for the year. Production has increased 225 percent during the past five years.
Saint Arnold Brewing is now operating 24 hours a day in its Northwest Houston facility to keep up with demand. Meanwhile, restoration and construction is underway on an historic building north of downtown Houston that is being turned into Saint Arnold’s new brewing facility. When opened in June, it will accommodate future growth.
“We are benefitting from the continued shift in tastes toward full-flavored beers and a preference for local brewers,” said Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing. “The fact that we have been a part of the community for nearly 15 years also helps.”
This was the third consecutive year of production increases of 25 percent or more and the fifth straight annual increase of 20 percent or more.
Year Production % Growth
2008 22,749 barrels 28 percent
2007 17,811 barrels 30 percent
2006 13,638 barrels 25 percent
2005 10,946 barrels 20 percent
2004 9,100 barrels 27 percent
Saint Arnold Amber Ale remains the top selling Saint Arnold beer, following by Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower and Saint Arnold Christmas Ale, which is only available part of the year.
So far, the craft brewing industry in Texas has been able to shrug off signs of softening in the industry. Eight craft breweries are now operating in Texas – a 60 percent increase from a year ago. Nationwide, craft brewers are faced with significant financial challenges, including rising costs for ingredients, the potential for costly changes to federal labeling requirements and uncertainty about consumer spending patterns in the midst of a prolonged recession.
“Good full-flavored beer is an affordable luxury,” said Wagner. “But we have our eyes wide open and we are being careful operationally because beer may be recession resistant, but it is not recession proof.”
The 81st Texas Legislature convenes today at noon, and I am now a beat reporter at the Capitol, so expect fewer postings from me through May. I suspect I'll be mighty busy.
On the upside, maybe this means I'll get to spend a little more time at Scholz Garten. Perhaps even the occasional live post from there.
I just looked at the label for the hippie-dippy natural deodorant that I use, and was surprised to see that one of the ingredients is humulus lupulus.
That's right — hops.
The label says "The antimicrobial action of hops inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria while reducing the possibility of skin irritation."
Funny … the hops don't seem to do a damn thing for my breath after a night of drinking.
I just got this from the Flying Saucer. Sounds like a great time; maybe I can hit it after watching UT basketball on Saturday:
THIS SAT. , JAN. 10 @ 4pm TAPPING A NEW SPECIAL KEG EVERY HOUR.... including....
Live Oak Cask IPA
Dogfish 120 IPA
Barbar Christmas Bok
Dogfish Midas Touch
Piraat Belgian IPA
Sierra Nevada 2007 Bigfoot
Brassier de Roc Imperial Triple
8-11pm LIVE MUSIC BY "LOS FLAMES"
NO COVER
Flying Saucer
The Triangle, 47th at Lamar 454-PINT
I bet that Bigfoot tastes extra yummy after aging for two years. (Unless that's a misprint and they meant 2009.)
Man, what's the deal with all the good dark wheat beers this year? About a year ago, I had pretty limited experience with dunkelweizens and weizenbocks – Shiner's now-defunct version of the former and Aventinus' take on the latter. But in 2008, Saint Arnold issued the limited-edition Divine Reserve No. 7, Shiner put out the peach-and-pecan flavored Holiday Cheer, and just in the past three weeks or so, I've been knocked out by three tap-only winners. First I raved about North by Northwest's dunkelweizen, and now the cyber-ink was barely dry on my applause for Live Oak's Primus Weizenbock when I found myself marveling over yet another of these banana-tinged beauties: Last night, while screaming like a crazy person over Texas' Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State, my taste buds were doing the same over Uncle Billy's Brew & Que's "Yule Be Bock." It easily keeps pace with the NXNW and Live Oak brews. Get down there and treat yourself to a few while it's still available (not to mention some excellent barbecue).
Remember that new winter seasonal from Live Oak I mentioned back in November?I finally tried their Primus Weizenbock last night at Scholz Garten, and it was outstanding. A rich, earthy flavor with addictive banana notes that were very similar to North by Northwest's Dunkelweizen. In fact, you can pretty much take my review of that beer and apply it to this one — their flavors are very similar. The only thing wrong was this beer was that I couldn't have a second – I was killing time at Scholz before heading off to watch the Longhorns' men's basketball team kill Appalachian State at the Erwin Center. Given how lame the game turned out to be (not unexpected, of course), I kind of wish I'd just stayed at Scholz and drank a couple more of these. Well done, Chip!
Despite being a professional political reporter, I try to keep politics off of this blog and welcome beer lovers of all persuasions. But I'll be blunt about my leanings in this post: I think the past eight years have been a nightmare.
