Two Rice graduates, Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol, started Saint Arnold in 1994, and the brewery calls itself Texas' oldest craft brewery. Since 2010 it has lived in a big brick building on Lyons Avenue just north of downtown, and in 2018 it added a beer garden, taproom and restaurant that turned a brewery visit into a proper afternoon out. Grab a table in the garden with the downtown skyline over your shoulder, order a flight, and look for the painted art that covers much of the property. Fancy Lawnmower, a crisp Kolsch-style beer, is the local everyday pint; Art Car IPA and Elissa IPA are the hoppy standbys. It is family friendly by day and lively on weekend evenings.
What to expect
- Picnic tables fill a huge beer garden, with a big indoor hall under tall ceilings.
- Kids have room to run, and there is an informal play area for them.
- Parking gets tight at peak times and on game days, so arrive early.
What to order
- A flight to taste across the lineup
- Fancy Lawnmower, the Houston everyday beer
- Art Car IPA or Elissa IPA
- A pizza or plate from the in-house restaurant
- 1994 by Brock Wagner and Kevin BartolFounded
- Texas' Oldest Craft BreweryClaim
- 2010Lyons Avenue home since
- 2018Beer garden and restaurant opened