Saint Arnold Brewing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Brock Wagner, Kevin Bartol |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas , United States |
| Products | Craft beer (including Fancy Lawnmower Kölsch, Elissa IPA, Pumpkinator Imperial Stout) |
Saint Arnold Brewing Company is a craft beer producer based in Houston, Texas, established in 1994 by Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol, both graduates of Rice University. The brewery takes its name from Saint Arnulf of Metz, the patron saint associated with brewing. Over time, it has built a robust presence in the market by offering a wide range of products, including flagship and seasonal varieties like Fancy Lawnmower (a German-Style Kölsch), Elissa IPA, and Pumpkinator (an Imperial Stout).
Focusing on quality and innovation has been central to Saint Arnold’s approach, earning it the title of Mid Size Brewery of The Year in 2017. In 2013, the brewery produced around 58,397 US beer barrels, demonstrating consistent expansion. Visitors can participate in regular tours at the brewery, which serve to deepen customer engagement and strengthen its position within the craft beer sector.
History
Founded in 1994 by Brock Wagner—a Rice University alumnus and Houston native—Saint Arnold Brewing Company was under his ownership as of 2003. The original facility operated for over fifteen years on Houston’s northwest side before plans were made in 2008 to relocate to the Northside district, situated just north of Downtown Houston.
By 2009, the company purchased a 104,000-square-foot brick building constructed in 1914 that had previously served as a food service facility for the Houston Independent School District. Its proximity to a major highway was a significant factor in selecting this site. Renovation costs were estimated at nearly $6 million with an expected timeline of about one year; however, unexpected setbacks such as copper pipe theft caused delays. The transition was finalized in spring 2010.
To fund this expansion, Saint Arnold attracted investment from 100 backers who collectively gained 30% equity, with an average contribution of $25,000 each. Furthermore, the brewery obtained a 20-year Small Business Administration loan carrying a 4.17% interest rate. This new location dramatically increased production capacity from 26,000 barrels annually to over 100,000 barrels, with projections exceeding 30,000 barrels for the year 2010.
In 2018, Saint Arnold enhanced its consumer offerings by launching a beer garden that includes a taproom, dining area, and retail shop adjacent to the brewery itself. The company also engaged in marketing initiatives such as a promotional bet with DC Brau Brewing during the 2019 World Series.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulations mandated statewide dine-in closures; nevertheless, breweries equipped with kitchens like Saint Arnold were generally allowed to keep their bars operational despite wider restrictions affecting taprooms and bars.
This timeline illustrates Saint Arnold’s deliberate growth through facility upgrades, investor partnerships, and flexible business strategies within the dynamic craft brewing landscape.
Marketing
Saint Arnold distributes its beers throughout Texas and Louisiana while utilizing community involvement events, social media-driven brewery tours, product tastings, and e-mail marketing campaigns to fuel expansion. Boasting an e-mail subscriber base of approximately 30,000 individuals, the brewery has pioneered creative promotions including auctioning naming rights for brewing tanks on eBay.
Recycling program
Saint Arnold has established a distinctive recycling initiative where patrons can trade in bottle carriers in exchange for branded promotional items. Remarkably, exchanging 200,000 bottle carriers grants the opportunity to obtain the official St. Arnold's 1957 Bentley.