Saint Arnold Brewing’s Latest Creation Features Experimental Hops

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HOUSTON – Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, is shipping its latest creation: Saint Arnold Icon Green – 7220 Pale Ale. The brew, described as an American/German pale ale hybrid, features an experimental hop from the Hop Research Center in Huell, Germany, that until a few weeks ago was known only as Hop No. 2010/72/20. The researchers have since named it, “Ariana.”

Saint Arnold Icon Green – 7220 Pale Ale is being shipped this week and will begin appearing on draft and in six packs of 12 oz. bottles as supplies of Saint Arnold Icon Blue – Coffee Porter run out. Only a few hundred pounds of Ariana hops were grown last year and Saint Arnold secured about half of the total harvest, which was enough to brew just a single batch.

“We look forward to rubbing experimental hops every year when we visit Germany,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “When we rubbed 2010/72/20 last October, we loved the tropical, fruity nose and immediately started imagining what we would brew with it. We used it in the kettle for bittering and finishing as well as for dryhopping in the fermenter, contributing notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and a hint of mango to the aroma and flavor.”

The Hop Research Center in Huell has been developing hop cultivars since 1926. During the past decade, new breeding efforts have developed several experimental lines that impart multifaceted floral, fruity and citrusy aroma impressions to beer. In recent months, Ariana was chosen as one of two new Special Flavor varieties for large-scale field trials, the results of which convinced the board of the Society of Hop Research to apply for registration of Ariana as a new cultivar.

Saint Arnold is helping to gather feedback for the researchers and is encouraging those who try Saint Arnold Icon Green – 7220 Pale Ale to complete an online survey. The simple 5-question survey asks about the aroma and flavor of the hop as well as other impressions. Here is a link to the survey.

More information on the Saint Arnold Icon Series is available at http://www.saintarnold.com/beers/icon.html.

Saint Arnold Icon Green – 7220 Pale Ale:

  • Alcohol Content: 6.1% ABV
  • Bitterness: 43 IBUs

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About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s 10 year-round beers, seven seasonals and three special series – Divine Reserve, Icon and Bishop’s Barrel – are made and sold by the company’s staff of 80 dedicated employees. Saint Arnold beers have won 21 medals at the Great American Beer Festival. The brewery on the north side of downtown Houston was listed by Thrillist among the best breweries in America for eating, and Smart Meetings magazine named it among the top breweries to host an event. Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its beer hall open at 11 A.M. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.saintarnold.com.