Get it in growlers
Saint Arnold is set to debut its limited release Bitter Belgian — here's whereyou can find it
Brock Wagner
Saint Arnold' Bitter Belgian beer
Saint Arnold's fourth and final release from its Movable Yeast Series — which launched in 2010 but took a one-year hiatus — will hit better beer bars Thursday, and we had ourselves a first taste.
Made with Saint Arnold Elissa IPA that's been pitched with a Belgian Trappist yeast, the limited release Bitter Belgian, as it's being called, mellows the traditional hoppiness of an IPA and adds a multifaceted taste, with dark berries in addition to citrus.
For the brewers' money, it's one of the biggest flavor differences when tasted side by side of any of the brews in the series, rivaled only by Weedwacker, which was such a hit when it was created in 2010 that it's bottled year-round.
Weedwacker was created by pitching a Lawnmower kölsch with Bavarian hefeweizen yeast. Other beers in the series are Altared Amber, released in November 2010 and Farmer Bown's Ale, released last February. (Saint Arnold founder Brock Wagner notes that Farmer Brown's was his personal favorite, although most people disagreed — as usual.)
Wagner says he knew from experience developing other brews over the years that big hops and Belgian yeast could work well together, and says he's open to doing another Moveable Yeast series, although the brewery doesn't have anything in the hopper just yet.
Only 60 barrels (or 20,000 servings) are being released, and fans should expect some bars and restaurants to sit on their scores for a special occasion.
Bitter Belgian will be available on tap at the usual suspects as well as at Goode Company Seafood, Hay Merchant (!!), the Mucky Duck, Rudyards, Kay's and Leon's Lounge, and on tap at Whole Foods Montrose's Bayou Bar and at Whole Foods Bellaire.
