Oldest Craft Brewery in Texas Announces 35 Percent Surge in Production

HOUSTON, April 11, 2007 -- Texas beer drinkers are increasingly embracing craft beer and the strong demand is prompting Houston-based Saint Arnold Brewing Company to boost production to record levels. Saint Arnold Brewing, the oldest craft brewery in Texas, announced first quarter sales were up approximately 35 percent from a year ago.

"The Texas beer market used to consider craft beers a novelty, but in recent years beer drinkers throughout the state have been trying and adopting more flavorful beers," said Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing Company. "We are gratified in seeing how many Texans are embracing both the local and craft aspects of our brews."

Saint Arnold''s latest seasonal offering is Saint Arnold Summer Pils, a crisp, delicately flavored Bohemian-style pilsner. Saint Arnold Summer Pils features fine German pils malt and two central European noble hop varieties: Czech Saaz and Tettnanger.

To meet growing demand, Saint Arnold Brewing is boosting production of Saint Arnold Summer Pils to 1,300 barrels, which translates to almost 18,000 cases.

Judges at the Great American Beer Festival have twice recognized Saint Arnold Summer Pils as one of the best, awarding it the Bronze Medal in 2005 and Silver Medal in 2003 in the Münchner-Style Helles category. It also took first place at the 1997 Colorado State Fair in the European Pilsner category.

Editor''s Note: A photo of Saint Arnold Summer Pils can be downloaded from www.keeneypr.com/files/71"http://www.keeneypr.com/files/56">www.keeneypr.com/files/56"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.