Saint Arnold Brewing’s 32nd Anniversary Cellar Tasting – Where the Big Brews Come Out to Play

Houston in June is hot, humid, and this year has been somewhat sodden with rainy outbursts, making the air even more soupily dense than usual. However, Houstonites are hardy and it would take more than a bout of muggy weather to keep them from celebrating the anniversary of a city institution. Saint Arnold Brewing is the oldest craft brewery in the state and a much-loved feature of Houston life, its colorful ecclesiastical-themed taproom and expansive modern biergarden with stunning views of the city a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. 

While the multi-award-winning brewery is always happily busy, serving up rounds of their beloved flagships such as the Lawnmower Kolsch-style Blonde, Art Car IPA, Original Amber Ale and Elissia Traditional IPA as well as limited release taproom specials, and beers served on cask and side pours, their anniversary is a much-anticipated weekend of partying bringing out huge crowds every year. For this year’s 32^nd celebration, the festivities were 90s themed, with bands, DJs, a maker’s market and special releases including a delicious earthy, gently caramel-malty ’94 Schilling, a Scottish-style ale named in honor of the year they opened. However, for those in the know, the real party happened behind the heavy velvet curtains of their private Investor’s Pub, a semi-secret space rarely opened to the public which hosts their anniversary Special Rare Cellar Tasting.

The event, which began for their 30^th anniversary, offers drinkers an opportunity to explore the old-school beer hall with long wooden benches and tables and venture behind a faux-medieval to the cozy yet elegant Investor’s Pub. The pub is a veritable beer speakeasy, the harsh Houston sun banished behind rich drapes, with leather armchairs, heavy rugs and aqua-teal walls dimly lit to set a nightlife vibe for a party that starts at noon – what’s not to love already?

Just 300 tickets are issued for this Sunday afternoon ‘service’ at the home of the Patron Saint of Beer and spots fill up fast, with dedicated beer lovers keen to enjoy both the ambience and the carefully curated selection of rare and limited brews available. “We comb through the cellar to see what is best and we try mix up the styles and ABVs on them,” explains Saint Arnold Chief Marketing Officer Lennie Ambrose. “Basically, try to make the list ‘flow’. Also our brew team puts together some special new beers as well.” 

A total of 17 beers were on offer in cute taster globes, served by generously rewarded volunteers used to turning folks around fast to allow everyone to tick off all the boxes on our tasting cards in the brisk 3-hour drinking session. A few of this year’s stand-out beers include the Cherry Brandy Barrel Commitment, a sticky-lip-juicy Imperial Stout, a delectably funky, tannic, subtly oaked Wild Saison aged in Sauvignon Blanc barrels with Brett, released for this anniversary, and the rich, indulgent boozy-toffee 2022 Cognac Barrel Aged French Press Coffee Imperial Porter. Others that made the cut include the black tea-lemon Palmer, a Berliner-Weisse take on the classic cocktail, Port and Madeira Single Barrel Imperial Stouts from their 30^th anniversary, the hefty, slick BBA Tarnation Strong Ale, the whiskey-forward vanilla-oak-espresso Bishop’s Barrel No. 26 Imperial Porter and their holiday fruit-n-spicy Funky Berry Christmas. 

As well as a visit into Saint Arnold’s sacred space, guests might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some saintly magic at work. This year we caught a quick gander at the brewery’s new foeder system, currently brewing a foeder-aged Bock, while previous years have offered trips to their small-batch system and the freshest tastings poured straight from the barrel. A take-away bottle is also part of the experience, this year the 2021 Commitment Imperial Stout, along with a cheese sample box from Houston Dairymaids.

For lovers of big beers, exclusive locations, day-drinking and exploring the best that one of our state’s most heavily awarded breweries has to offer, a trip to the Saint Arnold Special Rare Cellar Tasting is an annual must – we’re already looking forward to next year.