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Houston brewery founder dishes on 30 years of craft beer and what's next

Brock Wagner is this week's guest.

Courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing Company

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Saint Arnold Brewing Company founder Brock Wagner joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the brewery’s upcoming 30th anniversary. Saint Arnold will celebrate the occasion with an all-day festival on Saturday, June 8.

Wagner begins by recalling the early days of the brewery, when he carefully scheduled tastings at area grocery stores and had to overcome people’s skepticism about craft beer. Eventually, the company moved from its original facility to its current home north of downtown. Now, Saint Arnold is such a well-established part of life in Houston that the brewery recently served as grand marshall for the annual Art Car Parade.

Naturally, that prompts Sandler to ask about what’s next for the company. Will Saint Arnold open a new facility in another part of Houston or another city entirely? What about expanding its current campus?

“Honestly, we are doing everything I ever set out to do when we started the brewery 30 years ago,” Wagner says. ”It has exceeded all of my expectations. I don’t personally feel like I have to do something more, but we also have a very talented and deep team. Everybody here is look for more challenges. I suspect at some point we do take on a new challenge, whether it’s a beer garden or production facility in another market, distilling, [or something else].”

Listen to the full interview to hear an update on Saint Arnold’s spirits program. He also offers thoughts on the current state the local craft beer scene, which has seen a wave of closings and and businesses changing hands. Sandler asks Wagner who’s doing a good job.

“I think you could point to someone like No Label in Katy that has created a big beer garden experience. There’s nothing else like them in Katy. Their distribution business has gone to pretty much nothing, but the experience of going to the brewery and beer garden, it’s a big gathering spot in Katy. That’s keeping them going,” he says.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Felice Sloan discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Aaron Bludorn opening Perseid, a bistro at Hotel Saint Augustine; Gold Tooth Tony’s opening a second location in Bellaire; Prego’s decision to close rather than move; and Craft Burger in Katy hosting a three-month pop-up dedicated to Sonic the Hedgehog.

In the restaurant of the week segment, Sandler and Sloan discuss their visit to MF Lobster & Ceviche, the new restaurant in the Autry Park mixed-use development from the owner of MF Sushi. After sharing their favorite dishes, they discuss how it fits in with other seafood restaurants such as Little’s Oyster Bar and Clark’s.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

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there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.