News about Beers, Brewers and Brewing in the Lone Star State
SAN ANTONIO - Another start-up brewing operation has been announced in San Antonio, Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, a combined operation that will feature craft-brewed beer as well as locally produced whiskey.
AUSTIN - Lee Nichols of the Austin Chronicle profiled the Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery in a recent piece entitled, "From Beer to Infinity: A gold star for Black Star Co-op."
SHINER - To celebrate and promote its newest anniversary beer, Spoetzl has created the website Shiner101.com with text largely in Czech to correspond with the Shiner 101 Czech-Style Pilsner.
AUSTIN - Start-up brewer Jester King Craft Brewery has purchased a new 30-barrel brewhouse setup for their "ranch brewery" in southwest Austin. At the same time, they also purchased four 30-barrel conical fermenters, and expect the foundation for their brewhouse to be poured this month.
HOUSTON - Saint Arnold today reported that it sold almost 27,000 barrels in 2009, a 13% increase over the previous year. Houston's only craft brewery outpaced both the national rate for craft beer (up 5% in early 2009) and the overall US beer sales (down 1.3% in early 2009).
Year Production Growth 2009 25,710 barrels 13% 2008 22,749 barrels 28% 2007 17,811 barrels 30% 2006 13,638 barrels 25% 2005 10,946 barrels 20%
FORT WORTH - Fort Worth's Rahr & Sons launched a newly redesigned and updated website this week. Improvements include more opportunities for online updates and links to current events and information.
SHINER - Spoetzl will continue its anniversary series of beers past its centennial, with the next beer being a Czech-style pilsner designated Shiner 101. This new Shiner beer will be available in January 2010.
HOUSTON - City permits were finally obtained this past week for the new Saint Arnold location north of downtown Houston, allowing the brewery to resume their Saturday tours after occupying the building in late October.
SHINER - Spoetzl's newest seasonal product will be the Shiner Fröst, a Dortmunder-style lager. It will be available January through March of 2010 and follow the Shiner Holiday Cheer as an annual offering.
KATY - The Houston-area start-up No Label Brewing Company recently leased a location that will eventually become their brewhouse. The location includes old rice silos in Katy and will require cleanup and renovation to bring up to city code.
AUSTIN - The Jester King Brewing Company took a major step toward opening as they announced completion of their fund raising goal and have secured land and a warehouse for their planned brewing operations.
AUSTIN - Start-up brewer Circle Brewing Company has raised enough capital to purchase a 30-barrel brewing system for their future microbrewery in Austin.
HOUSTON - Saint Arnold has announced that the official release date for the next beer in their Divine Reserve series, No. 9, will be December 1st.
HOUSTON - With a small amount of ceremony, Saint Arnold officially opened their new brewing facility north of downtown Houston with a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday. Ronnie Crocker covered the event at the new brewery for the Houston Chronicle with "End of a drought: A brewery is back in city center." Photos of the event are also available from the Chronicle online at "A New Home for Saint Arnold."