Texas Tuesday: Revisiting Saint Arnold Winter Stout

Can you believe we’re already over a week into December, Pint Jockeys? Where does the time go?

We hear that Saint Arnold Christmas Ale is almost gone so we recommend stocking up, should you spot it on your next beer run. But fear not if you don’t see it! Saint Arnold’s Winter Stout is on its way to shelves near you starting tomorrow! Revisit our post about the “stoutier” of the brewery’s winter seasonals below and ENJOY! Cheers to great holiday brews!

Saint Arnold Winter Stout

Good to see you, Pint Jockeys! You deserve a drink for making it through another Monday and we’ve got just the Texas Tuesday selection for you: the second and “stoutier” of Saint Arnold’s winter seasonals, Winter Stout.

This craft selection is “creamy, full bodied and sweet with subtle chocolate and coffee flavors and a well-balanced, soft ‘roastiness.’” The four different types of malted barley (including lots of specialty malts) give the black and ruby-colored brew a rich body and big mouth feel, while the two types of Pacific Northwest hops give it an “underlying bitterness that balances the rich body.”

Because it pairs nicely with winter favorites like desserts and roasted nuts, the brew will get you through those lingering (but maybe not-so-brutal) Southeast Texas winter days. And did you know? Available only between December and February, Saint Arnold brews less of this loosely filtered stout than of any other seasonal. We guess in this case, good things come in small batches.

Before we sign off to pop a top off our own Winter Stout, we’ll leave you with this line from our friends at Saint Arnold: “We refer to this beer as ‘Stouty Goodness.’ We often compare it to a chocolate milkshake, but it’s beer so it is even better.”

Well, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Cheers, Pint Jockeys!

Read Full Post »

Your November tasting events are almost here!

This Thursday, enjoy an all Saint Arnold lineup at all three tasting locations

This month, we’re bringing you seven different Saint Arnold Brewing Co. selections as the brewery approaches their 2nd year as the official beer sponsor of Galveston’s beloved Dickens on the Strand event.

Tasting-goers are also invited to share in the holiday spirit of giving by taking part in Del Papa’s holiday GI Joe/GI Jane drive. Each tasting location will accept donations of nonperishable goods — including games, reading materials, personal hygiene products and snack foods — for military personnel based overseas. All tastings run from 5 to 7 pm this Thursday, November 20th and are free and open to adults ages 21 and older.

Here’s the lineup, Pint Jockeys:

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Sailing Santa – Sailing Santa was born when Saint Arnold fans requested that they blend half a pint of Elissa IPA with half a pint of Christmas Ale. Saint Arnold took note, and after a few slight tweaks introduced this seasonal ale. The result is a spiced beer that is great to drink alone or with your favorite holiday foods.

 

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Christmas Ale – A rich, hearty ale perfect for the holiday season with a malty sweetness and spicy hop character. The generous use of five different malts is responsible for the full flavor and high alcohol level of this beer.

 

 

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Elissa – A traditional India Pale Ale, the Elissa IPA is very hoppy with a properly balanced malty body. Elissa has huge hop additions in the kettle that give it a wonderful bitterness and is then dry-hopped in the fermenter to create the pleasant floral, hoppy nose. Saint Arnold’s reverse osmosis water makes the bitter very soft with no harsh notes to it.

 

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Icon Gold – This golden slightly hazy beer has a nice creamy head with a lightly fruity aroma. The taste starts with a light hoppy bitter that carries through to the finish although never coming on too strong. The wheat malt provides a soft body that complements the hops while remaining light. The beer is highly refreshing with a nice hop finish that makes you want another sip.

 

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Endeavour – Endeavour brew pours a deep amber with a light, creamy head that is only the start to an extremely satisfying double IPA experience. The nose starts off with a touch of citrus, but then takes a turn into a flavor full of nectar and peaches. The hop bitter is quiet at the start, building to a much more impactful crescendo while maintaining a delicate balance even in its big finish.

 

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Ale Wagger – A beautiful, deep copper brown ale. It has a full, malty body with hints of chocolate, a touch of sweetness and a light hop flavor. A complex malt character is created by combining five different types of malts. It has a rich, creamy head with a fine lace. The light fruitiness, characteristic of ales, is derived from a proprietary yeast strain. A portion of sales of Ale Wagger are donated to support local rescue organizations to improve the lives of animals.

 

 

 

 

• Saint Arnold Santo – The brewers refer to Santo as a “black Kölsch.” Essentially it is brewed using a Kölsch recipe with the addition of Munich and black malt. It is light bodied and floral yet with a distinct dark malt flavor. Santo is dark, yet refreshing.

 

And here are our three tasting locations:

Del Papa Distribution Center
Hospitality Room
1220 I-45
Texas City, TX 77591

Del Papa Distribution Center
Hospitality Room
410 I-10 South
Beaumont, TX 77707

Del Papa Distribution Center
Hospitality Room
3907 E. Rio Grande
Victoria, TX 77807

 

 

Read Full Post »

Texas Tuesday: Saint Arnold Sailing Santa

Saint Arnold’s beloved Sailing Santa is sailing into stores on November 17th!

The brewers are set to release about 12,000 bottles of this annual holiday beer, a 5.7% ABV beer that’s made from a blend of Saint Arnold’s Elissa IPA and Christmas Ale. These two favorites are blended in a fermentor along with delicious, aromatic spices, three different American hops and three different malts.

According to the brewery, “The genesis of this beer came from our customers on tours asking to blend the two beers with somebody coming up with the name Sailing Santa. We have now added spices to the beer, changing the mix slightly from year to year, to add to the holiday experience of enjoying a pint.”

Sailing Santa will be available in 22 ounce bottles at your favorite grocery and liquor stores and as we all know – good Saint Arnold brews go fast! This beer is getting lots of attention this season, with Paste Magazine even naming Santa one of “10 winter beers you have to drink right now.”

So pick some up before next weekend’s game and save a few back for future holiday celebrations.

With cooler weather moving in and great holiday beers soon to release, we’re certainly getting in the spirit around here! Check back next week as we bring you another Texas Tuesday pick of the week. Cheers, Pint Jockeys!

Read Full Post »

Texas Tuesday: Fresh Hop Ale

According to the brewers at Saint Arnold, when hops are harvested there is a 48 hour period in which they can be used fresh in the brewing process. This year, they had 420 lbs. of fresh Centennial hops air-shipped to them and quickly realized they would use them to make their first ever Session IPA – Fresh Hop Ale.

Fresh Hop Ale is “pure,” containing no additives or preservatives. It is not pasteurized in order to maintain the freshest flavor possible, and avoid losing any of the beer’s many subtle, delicate flavors that would not survive the heat of pasteurization.

This is a single-hop beer and comes in at 5.25% ABV and 69 IBUs. It’s a very drinkable beer that incorporates freshly harvested Centennial hops toward the end of the boil in addition to the typical hop additions you’d expect in a regular IPA. The fresh hops give it a unique, slightly softer bitter than the traditional dried hops would and it’s recommended that you drink the beer quickly to fully appreciate and experience these special hop flavors.

Fresh Hop Ale is now on tap at select establishments around town only. That’s right, folks – this stuff was made in such small quantities that nothing was bottled! So enjoy it while it lasts! When it’s gone, it’s gone until next year.

Have you seen it at any of your favorite bars yet? Let your fellow Pint Jockeys know where you see it pop up in the comments below and join us again next week for another Texas Tuesday pick. Until then, Pint Jockeys. Cheers!

Read Full Post »

Texas Tuesday: Saint Arnold Amber Ale with Mosaic Hops

Saint Arnold Brewing Co.’s dry hopped Amber Ales keep on coming and we are NOT complaining!

As the brewery continues to recognize 20 years of brewing Amber Ale, we’ve already enjoyed two different special batches dry hopped with Liberty and Cascade Hops. Now on shelves is what the brewers are calling the “third, final and most intense release of the series – Amber Ale Dry hopped with Mosaic.”

According to the folks at Saint Arnold, “Mosaic is a relatively new hop variety that gives an intense tropical, passion fruit aroma when used for dry hopping. To make sure that the Mosaic was able to shine, we dry hopped the beer once during fermentation and again prior to bottling. The addition of all that Mosaic transforms Amber Ale from a well-balanced beer to one that is incredibly hop forward.”

This third and final release in what has been a FANTASTIC series is available in 22 oz. bomber bottles and on cask at select establishments. We hope you’ll get your hands on some while you can and let us know what you think.

We’ll see you back on the blog next week with another Texas Tuesday pick. Cheers, Pint Jockeys.

Read Full Post »

Texas Tuesday: Saint Arnold Ale Wagger

As far as we’re concerned, man’s best friends are dogs and beer. When we heard that Saint Arnold Brewing Co. was renaming one of its most beloved beers to serve the canine community we had to know more!

Here’s what happened to your beloved Amber Ale, Pint Jockeys.

It just got a new moniker and colorful packaging with images of pooches throughout as part of a partnership between Saint Arnold and the BARC animal shelter – a city-run organization that encourages citizens to spay, neuter and adopt pets. The brewery will donate $1 to the organization from each case of Ale Wagger sold.

Brown Ale itself was introduced 19 years ago and while it has won many awards and quite a following among Texas craft beer aficionados, the brewers decided it was time to do a bit of rebranding. According to this Houston Chronicle item, the brewery had been in discussions to change the name and color scheme for at least a decade. The timing and cause was right and bam – Ale Wagger was born.

Same great beer, different name, great cause. We’ll drink to that!

Have you spotted it anywhere, Pint Jockeys? Let us know!

Read Full Post »

Your Pint Jockeys Tasting Event Lineup: September 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This month’s tasting events are all about the spice of life – variety! The lineup (identical for all three locations) offers a first taste of Montejo – Anheuser-Busch InBev’s first imported Mexican lager – plus four ales and a cider. We hope you’ll grab your friends and join us for a night of good drinks and good times.

Read on for full details on each selection:

Montejo – Brewed in Mexico and imported to the United States, Montejo is made using a time-honored recipe and storied Mexican brewing traditions. The result is a bright, smooth and full-flavored lager with a crisp finish. Anheuser-Busch’s introduction of Montejo marks the first time this regional beer has been available to drinkers outside of Mexico.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Arnold Icon Gold – Mandarina Wheat – This golden slightly hazy beer has a nice creamy head with a lightly fruity aroma. The taste starts with a light hoppy bitter that carries through to the finish although never coming on too strong. The wheat malt provides a soft body that complements the hops while remaining light. The beer is highly refreshing with a nice hop finish that makes you want another sip.

 

 

 

 

 

Karbach Karbachtoberfest – An authentic, Bavarian-style Marzen, this brew is created with mashed Vienna and Munich malts, then cold fermented and aged for six weeks to create its impressive rounded malt character. With a clear amber pour and foamy, off-white head, this brew gives off an aroma full of toffee and caramel notes. You’ll also note hints of earth and grass entwined with its extremely malty smell.

 

 

 

 

 

Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat – This traditional Belgian-style wheat ale fully captures all the flavors of fall. The ale is brewed with ripe pumpkins and a variety of autumnal spices including nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves to create a refreshingly smooth mouthfeel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodchuck Hopsation – This hop-forward cider has the pine and citrus aromas of cascade hops. Woodchuck’s classic, crisp apple taste combines with the bitterness of hops to create a semi-dry style, perfect to enjoy year round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paulaner Oktoberfest Wiesn – The majestic deep golden color is the first hint that one must try this beer. Earthy aromas of barley and yeast ease the drinker into the centuries old art of German Brewing. Highly drinkable and once only available in the tents of the Munich Oktoberfest, one can now enjoy the tradition of Oktoberfest in their own home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All tastings run from 5-7PM and are free and open to adults ages 21 and older. See you this Thursday at one of the following tasting locations:

 

Beaumont: Del Papa Distribution Center, Hospitality Room, 410 I-10 South, Beaumont, TX 77707

Victoria: Del Papa Distribution Center, Hospitality Room, 3907 E. Rio Grande, Victoria, TX 77807

Texas City: Del Papa Distribution Center, Hospitality Room, 1220 I-45, Texas City, TX 77591

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Texas Tuesday: Saint Arnold Amber Ale with Cascade Hops

Saint Arnold Brewing Company continues to celebrate 20 years in the brewing business with another specially-hopped release! Now on shelves is Amber Ale with Cascade hops, the second in this series of what will eventually be three total small dry hopped Amber Ale batches.

We hope you tried and loved the version with Liberty hops and are here to tell you that this new Cascade hopped version is just as delicious.

Available in 22 oz. bottles and limited casks, the ale incorporates Cascade as both a bittering and dry hop here, contributing a spicy citrus aroma commonly associated with American Pale Ales. The aroma of the beer strikes a pleasant balance with a caramel maltiness and light fruity flavors – both signatures of the classic Amber Ale.

During the brewing process, Cascade hops are added early on for bitterness to balance the malt sweetness, with more added in the middle of the brew to give a pleasant hop flavor. The beer’s light fruitiness is derived from the brewer’s proprietary yeast strain.

Want to know a cool fact? Saint Arnold Amber Ale dry hopped with Cascade is a throwback to the earliest days of the brewery when they dry hopped casks of Amber Ale with Cascade, one of the only cask ales you could find in Texas at the time. Oh, how much the Texas craft beer industry has grown since then.

Cheers to another great Saint Arnold release and cheers to you, Pint Jockeys. Thanks for spending some time with us today. We’ll see you back here next week with another Texas Tuesday feature.

Read Full Post »

Your August tasting lineups, revealed

 

 

Who’s ready for Thursday already? We sure are! This month’s tasting events are not to be missed. Texas City – we’ve got an all-Karbach lineup for you PLUS a special appearance by Brewmaster Eric Warner. Victoria and Beaumont – your lineups offer a glimpse of all the goodness that’s to come in fall. Read on for the full rosters.

 

TEXAS CITY

Those looking to keep the fun going after the tasting can join Mr. Warner at Molly’s Pub immediately following the tasting (1600 W Main St, League City, TX 77573) where Karbach’s Hopadillo, Love Street, Weiss Vera and Rodeo Clown will be on tap. Weekend Warrior and Sympathy for the Lager will also be available in cans. Here’s your lineup:

 

 

 

Weisse Versa Wheat – A Belgian white, Weisse Versa combines the fantastic flavors of a Bavarian hefeweizen with an abundance of Coriander and citrus peel spices to create a beer unlike any you’ve ever had. Natural clove, nutmeg and banana aromas are all produced by a special Bavarian wheat beer yeast used in the brewing process.

Sympathy for the Lager – Brewed with a blend of pale malts and generous amounts of German noble hops, Sympathy for the Lager captures the best of both worlds: the clean, refreshing character of a Lager and the huge taste that craft beer drinkers deserve.

Weekend Warrior – This impressively hopped pale ale pours a nice light amber with an impressive off-white head. The aroma is piney with hints of grapefruit, while the flavor is full of citrus and bready malt. The mouthfeel is sticky and the aftertaste is full of hop resin.

Rodeo Clown Double IPA – This Double IPA has a 9.5% ABV and coats the tounge in bitterness upon the first sip. It packs a punch with intense dry-hops and five different malts.

Hopadillo IPA – This “Texas-style” IPA clocks in at 70 IBU and is brewed with a combination of American, English and German hops. Copper in color with ruby highlights, the beer has a strong citrus aroma with hints of earthiness and spice from the added European hops. Dry and quenching, Hopadillo is dry-hopped for added aromatic intensity.

Hopadillo Negro Black IPA – This Black IPA pours a dark black with a light tan head. An aroma of dark roasted malts and earthy, citrusy hops finds you on the first sip, with a flavor profile full of malts and earthy, citrus hops. This beer has a medium body with a sweet and bitter finish.

 

VICTORIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Arnold Oktoberfest – A full bodied, malty, slightly sweet beer celebrating the Autumn harvest. This rich beer has a round malt flavor and an above average alcohol content perfect for a cool fall evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier – For the special occasion of Oktoberfest, German brewer Hofbräu brews a rich, full-bodied beer which goes down ideally with traditional Bavarian cuisine. With its deliciously bitter taste and alcoholic content of 6.3% volume, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier is as special as the beer festival itself.

 

 

 

 

Ziegenbock – Only available in Texas, this American-style amber lager offers notes of roasted grains in the aroma and a sweet, smooth taste with a hop finish. The select imported hops and specialty malts create a taste worthy of a 2006 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal.

 

 

 

 

 

Sam Adams OctoberFest – Sam Adams’ version of this classic style blends hearty malts for a deep, smooth flavor with notes of caramel creating a brew that’s perfect for the season, or whatever you’re celebrating.

Sam Adams Porch Rocker – Tart & refreshing, this unique summer quencher is a twist on the Bavarian Radler, named for cyclists that originated this drink.  Traditionally a mixture of beer and lemonade,the brewers take the combined the crispness of a golden Helles lager with a blend of lemons to create a fresh squeezed tangy taste perfect for the long yet fleeting days of summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angry Orchard Green Apple – This cider has a bright, fresh apple aroma, with notes of honeydew melon and kiwi throughout. Green Apple boasts a tart blend of a lively apple flavor and a perfectly balanced sweetness with a 5% ABV.

 

BEAUMONT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Arnold Oktoberfest – A full bodied, malty, slightly sweet beer celebrating the Autumn harvest. This rich beer has a round malt flavor and an above average alcohol content perfect for a cool fall evening.

Saint Arnold Dry Hop Amber – A twist on Saint Arnold’s flagship Amber Ale, this version is dry hopped with Liberty hops. Known for their soft, floral character, the brewers used Liberty hops in the finishing process to produce a slightly more intense aroma and flavor profile.

Saint Arnold Amber – A well balanced, full flavored, amber ale. It has a rich, malty body with a pleasant caramel character derived from a specialty Caravienne malt. This beer has a complex hop aroma, with a hint of floral and citrus comes from a combination of Cascades and Liberty hops.

 

 

 

 

Firestone Walker Wookey Jack – A unique twist on the Cascadian Dark Ale style, Wookey Jack offers true hop aroma to rival most IPAs, with pungent citrus and herbal hop nuances, a hint of peppery rye and earthiness on the nose.  Big roasty malt flavors with balanced hop bitterness and spicy rye offer a full and complex texture with a refined bittered finish.  A truly different IPA for dark beer fans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier – For the special occasion of Oktoberfest, German brewer Hofbräu brews a rich, full-bodied beer which goes down ideally with traditional Bavarian cuisine. With its deliciously bitter taste and alcoholic content of 6.3% volume, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier is as special as the beer festival itself.

 

 

 

 

 

Ziegenbock – Only available in Texas, this American-style amber lager offers notes of roasted grains in the aroma and a sweet, smooth taste with a hop finish. The select imported hops and specialty malts create a taste worthy of a 2006 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal.

All tastings run from 5-7PM and are free and open to adults ages 21 and older. See you Thursday at one of the following tasting locations. Can’t wait!

Beaumont: Del Papa Distribution Center, Hospitality Room, 410 I-10 South, Beaumont, TX 77707

Victoria: Del Papa Distribution Center, Hospitality Room, 3907 E. Rio Grande, Victoria, TX 77807

Texas City: Del Papa Distribution Center, Hospitality Room, 1220 I-45, Texas City, TX 77591

 

 

Read Full Post »

Texas Tuesday: A Saint Arnold mainstay mixes it up

Saint Arnold Brewing Company continues to celebrate 20 years in the brewing business as the beer that started it all gets hopped up! The brewery’s much beloved Amber Ale is being released in three very special, very limited releases – each containing a different variety of hops.

The first up is a version of Amber Ale dry hopped with Liberty Hops. While Liberty Hops are already used in the recipe as a finishing hop, dry hopping with this hop variety will produce a more pronounced hop flavor and softer, floral character in the ale. The hop aroma pairs well with the maltiness that comes from the pale and caramel malts in the beer, while a light frutiness results from the use of the brewery’s proprietary house yeast – a signature of many Saint Arnold beers.

Another unique feature? This good stuff will only be available in limited numbers of 22 oz. bomber bottles. Be on the lookout for it, Pint Jockeys, and let us know where you find it! Check back soon for more insider info. on the next two Amber Ale releases.

Cheers to classics re-imagined and cheers to YOU, Pint Jockeys! See ya next week.

Read Full Post »