Texas’ oldest craft brewers has record year

After a record breaking year of sales in 2004, Texas’ oldest microbrewery, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, is adding equipment and personnel to increase capacity by one third.

The six-figure investment will include a new bright beer tank, extra refrigeration and a pair of new fermenters. Each of the fermenters will be twice the size of the Houston brewery’s existing fermenters. Meanwhile, the brewery’s staff has nearly doubled over the past year as they race to keep up with demand.

“Craft beer’s popularity is continuing to grow throughout Texas,” said Saint Arnold founder Brock Wagner. “This investment will increase capacity to more than 300 barrels per week, which will ensure that our products are always available when Texans want a fresh, flavorful, quality beer.”

Last year, Saint Arnold Brewing reported an increase of 27 percent. Wagner projects production will approach 12,000 barrels in 2005, which is the brewery’s full capacity. The investment in new equipment will boost capacity to 16,000 barrels per year.