Saint Arnold’s pet project, Ale Wagger, is a beer with a purpose

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. is giving Saint Arnold Brown Ale a new name and a purpose. More than 19 years after its introduction, Saint Arnold Brown Ale will become Saint Arnold Ale Wagger, with a portion of proceeds earmarked to support animal welfare programs. Ale Wagger will begin rolling out next week.

As part of its Ale Wagger efforts, Saint Arnold has teamed with the City of Houston’s BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions to encourage responsible pet ownership and urge the craft beer community to adopt homeless animals. Specifically, proceeds from Saint Arnold Ale Wagger will support BARC’s spay/neuter initiatives through donations to the Houston BARC Foundation. The brewery also will host an Ale Wagger pet adoption event to coincide with its weekend tour at 11 a.m., Oct. 4.

“This partnership will engage another segment of the community in the ongoing effort to reduce the number of homeless animals roaming our streets and promote pet wellness,” said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. “These are big challenges, and I encourage others to follow Saint Arnold’s excellent example of community involvement.”

“Houston has a serious issue with unwanted dogs and cats, and we saw this as an opportunity for Saint Arnold and the craft beer community to make a difference,” said Saint Arnold Founder/Brewer Brock Wagner. “With five rescue animals in our house, we can attest to the love and affection these animals bring. Ale Wagger is just part of our commitment to working on this issue in every community in which Saint Arnold is involved.”

Saint Arnold Ale Wagger is a deep copper brown ale. It has a full, malty body with hints of chocolate, a touch of sweetness and a light hop flavor. Five different types of malts combine to create a complex malt character. It has a rich, creamy head with a fine lace. The light fruitiness characteristic of the ale is derived from Saint Arnold’s proprietary yeast strain.

Over the years, the beer has been recognized among the best brown ales in the world. Some of the awards have included a Bronze Medal in the English-Style Brown Ale category at the 2003 Great American Beer Festival, a Silver medal in the American Brown Ale category at the 1996 World Beer Cup, and Silver Medals in the Brown Ale category at the World Beer Championships in 1998 and 1996.