Saint Arnold Close to Hitting 50K Barrels in 2012

The brewery’s 2012 production is seven times the amount of beer Saint Arnold brewed in all of 2003, the year production reached 7,000 barrels for the first time.

A Decade of Rapid Growth

Year      Production               % Growth
2012      49,119 barrels             22 percent
2011      40,416 barrels             29 percent
2010      31,445 barrels             22 percent
2009      25,710 barrels            13 percent
2008      22,749 barrels            28 percent
2007      17,811 barrels            30 percent
2006      13,636 barrels            25 percent
2005      10,946 barrels            20 percent
2004        9,100 barrels            27 percent
2003        7,000 barrels           17 percent

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We have been in our new brewery for three years now. It has allowed us to increase production on our existing beers while also bringing to fruition all of the recipe development we have been working on,” said Brock Wagner, founder/brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing. “Test brewing is probably the favorite activity of our brewing team, and the addition of the barrel room has opened the door further to what we can do.”

Saint Arnold Bishop’s Barrel, introduced in November, features small batches of a variety of barrel aged beers, bottled and distributed only to bars and restaurants. Bishop’s Barrel No. 2, which will be an Old Ale in Chardonnay barrels with cherries, is scheduled for release next month. Saint Arnold ICON, introduced in December, is a new line of rotating beers that will complement the brewery’s year-round and seasonal offerings. A different Saint Arnold ICON beer will be released approximately quarterly, with a Cascadian Dark Ale due in March. Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 13, a Belgian Quaddruppel, also is scheduled for release in March.

As a group, Saint Arnold’s rotating lineup of seasonal beers remained its top seller, with production up 32 percent. Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer remained the brewery’s number one year-round label for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Saint Arnold Amber Ale and Santo. Saint Arnold Elissa was the fastest growing year-round beer for which year-over-year comparisons are possible (Santo was introduced in October 2011), with production up 12 percent.

Louisiana and Austin were Saint Arnold’s fastest growing markets, posting increases of 62 percent and 30 percent respectively. Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio were close behind, growing 29 percent for the year.

Saint Arnold also participated in ‘Hops for Heroes,’ in 2012. The initiative brought together craft breweries, suppliers and distributors to produce and market Homefront IPA, a collaborative beer to support Operation Homefront. In July, Saint Arnold presented checks totaling more than $100,000 to Operation Homefront Texas.

“We have our hands full in 2013 already, with at least three new Bishop’s Barrel beers, three new beers in the ICON line and at least two Divine Reserve releases, in addition to plans for launching our kitchen and serving lunch for the first time,” said Wagner.
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