Saint Arnold Oktoberfest Signals Last of 100-Degree Days in Texas
Popular Seasonal Craft Beer Arrives to Give Texans Reprieve From Persistent Summer Swelter
HOUSTON, August 19, 2008 - Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, has flipped the calendar forward. It is shipping its first batches of its award-winning Saint Arnold Oktoberfest this week. The Houston brewery will be produce 800 barrels of Saint Arnold Oktoberfest this year, a 20 percent increase over last year.
Saint Arnold Oktoberfest is true to the Oktoberfest tradition; it is a full bodied, malty, slightly sweet craft beer that celebrates the autumn harvest. The brewers blend three different types of Munich-style malt to provide a rich caramel flavor and use noble hop varieties from central Europe: Czech Saaz and Hallertauer.
"While we don't get many cool fall evenings in Texas, especially in August, nobody complains to us about seeing Saint Arnold Oktoberfest show up early," said Brock Wagner, founder and brewmaster of Saint Arnold Brewing Company. "Big, malty beers can be nice and refreshing even on 90 degree days. Perhaps it just makes people believe they are in Bavaria in autumn."
Saint Arnold Oktoberfest has a round malt flavor and an above average alcohol by volume content of 6.0 percent. This rich beer is best consumed at 40° Fahrenheit. It has an original gravity of 1.061 (15.5° Plato) and a final gravity of 1.012. Recommended pairings include crispy potato cakes, roasted turkey and spicy sausage.
Beginning August 19, 2008, Saint Arnold Oktoberfest will be available on tap and in 12-ounce bottles sold in six-packs and cases as stock of Saint Arnold Summer Pils are exhausted. It will be available throughout Texas at grocery and liquor stores, bars and restaurants.
True to the Oktoberfest tradition, which stretches back nearly 200 years and is rooted in Munich, Saint Arnold Brewing will hold its own Oktoberfest celebration at the brewery on October 17 and 18. The seventh annual Saint Arnold Oktoberfest will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. each night. Headlining this year's Oktoberfest will be two-time Grammy Award winner Brave Combo. Tickets are limited, so make reservations early by calling 713-686-9494 and asking for Ann.
"The Oktoberfest celebration revolves around good friends and complete strangers who have a common passion for good-tasting, full-flavored beer," said Wagner.
Saint Arnold Oktoberfest was recognized with the Bronze Medal at the 2000 and 2001 Great American Beer Festival in the Scottish Ale category. It also won the Silver Medal at the 1998 World Beer Championship in the Oktoberfest category. More information on Saint Arnold Oktoberfest can be found at www.saintarnold.com/beers/oktoberfest.html.
About Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Saint Arnold Brewing's ten brews are made and sold by the company's staff of 21 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the "10 great places to see what's brewing in beer." It is located at 2522 Fairway Park Drive and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every Saturday at 1:00 P.M. For more information on Saint Arnold's five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to www.saintarnold.com.