(Houston, TX) – Shorter days, cool, crisp nights and leaves changing colors are all early signs of fall in other parts of the country. Here in Texas, there are two sure signs that fall is near: the start of preseason football games and the release of Saint Arnold Oktoberfest from the oldest craft brewery in Texas. Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (www.saintarnold.com) has begun shipping its first batches of Saint Arnold Oktoberfest throughout Texas.

This year’s Saint Arnold Oktoberfest is the first Oktoberfest ever brewed using equipment from Klosterbrauerei Raitenhaslach, a Bavarian monastery in Burghausen, Germany. Raitenhaslach is the oldest Cistercian monastery in Bavaria. It moved to Burghausen in 1145. Historians cite documentation that the monastery’s brewery was established as early as 1313. It discontinued its brewing operations in 2003 and Saint Arnold purchased its brewhouse in 2009.

“Since first introducing Saint Arnold Oktoberfest in 1997, we have made every effort to be true to the great tradition of German beer culture,” said Brock Wagner, founder and brewmaster of Saint Arnold Brewing Company. “We use three different types of Munich-style malt to provide a rich caramel flavor and use noble hop varieties from central Europe, and now we also use a brewhouse from Bavaria.”

Saint Arnold Oktoberfest is a full bodied, malty, slightly sweet craft beer. To keep up with strong demand for its award winning seasonal beer, Saint Arnold plans to double production of Oktoberfest over 2,000 barrels this year. Saint Arnold Oktoberfest will be available on tap and in 12-ounce bottles sold in six-packs and cases as stock of Saint Arnold Summer Pils are exhausted. It will be available throughout Texas at grocery and liquor stores, bars and restaurants.

Saint Arnold Oktoberfest has a round malt flavor and an above average alcohol by volume content of 6.0 percent. This rich beer is best consumed at 40° Fahrenheit. It has an original gravity of 1.061 (15.5° Plato) and a final gravity of 1.012. Recommended pairings include crispy potato cakes, roasted turkey and spicy sausage.

Oktoberfest isn’t the only craft beer Saint Arnold is releasing this month. Saint Arnold Weedwacker, the first in the brewery’s Movable Yeast series, is scheduled to be shipped to selected Texas restaurants and bars on Monday, August 16, 2010. A limited 60-barrel supply of the re-yeasted version of Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Beer was brewed and is expected to generate plenty of excitement.

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About Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Saint Arnold Brewing’s ten brews are made and sold by the company’s staff of 27 dedicated employees. The brewery was listed by USA Today as one of the “10 great places to see what’s brewing in beer.” It is located at 2000 Lyons Avenue and its brewery tour and tasting is offered every weekday at 3:00 P.M. and Saturdays starting at 11 A.M. For more information on Saint Arnold’s five year-round and five seasonal beers as well as root beer, log on to http://www.saintarnold.com.