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Saint Arnold Brewing Turns 25
Houston beer lovers turn out to celebrate the brewery's 25th anniversary. (Credit: Mark C. Austin)
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Houston’s First Craft Brewery Celebrates Milestone Birthday

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Houston craft beer fans had a lot to celebrate this weekend as Saint Arnold Brewing Co. marked its 25th anniversary.

Saint Arnold was the first independently-owned brewery in Houston, and founder Brock Wagner is considered among the pioneers of the Texas craft beer community—a state with notoriously tough beer laws.

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“I thought, ‘Lots of beer drinkers. No microbreweries. This is going to be easy.’ I was wrong,” he told KHOU-TV in Houston.

Wagner is recognized as a driving force for advocating for craft brewers in Texas as well as across the country; he’s served on the board of directors for both the Texas Craft Brewers Guild as well as Brewers Association during his career in beer.

A lot has changed in the 25 years since Saint Arnold opened. There are now more than 280 breweries in Texas. Wagner takes KHOU’s Brandi Smith for a walk down memory lane in the great video at the top of the page.

Saint Arnold brewing

Saint Arnold Celebrates 25

Bands and beer lovers celebrate Saint Arnold's birthday in Houston. (Credit: Mark C. Austin)

Saint arnold brewing

Saint Arnold Celebrates 25

Beer lovers turn out to celebrate Saint Arnold's 25th birthday in Houston. (Credit: Mark C. Austin)

saint arnold houston

Saint Arnold Celebrates 25

Beer lovers celebrate Saint Arnold Brewing's 25h anniversary. (Credit: Mark C. Austin)

saint arnold anniversary

Saint Arnold Celebrates 25

Bands and beer lovers celebrate Saint Arnold Brewing's 25th anniversary. (Credit: Mark C. Austin)

Saint Arnold Anniversary

Saint Arnold Brewing Celebrates 25

Saint Arnold Brewing celebrates 25 years in Houston. (Credit: Mark C. Austin)

Jess Baker walked into a beer fest in 2010 and realized beer had come a long way from what her dad had been drinking since the 70s. She served as editor-in-chief of CraftBeer.com from spring 2016 to spring 2020, bringing you stories about the people who are the heartbeat behind U.S. craft brewing. She's a runner, a die-hard Springsteen fan, a mom who is always scouting family-friendly breweries, and always in search of a darn good porter.

CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.