St Arnou was one of the first Australian craft beer companies[1] established in 2001, located in Sydney, Australia, and privately owned. In 2002 the company opened its first brewpub at the Regatta Hotel in Brisbane. It closed between 2015 and 2017.[2]
History
In 1999, Brian Watson, opened the St Arnou Brewery Restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand. In July 2001 the business was incorporated into a new Australian brewing operation, St Arnou Limited, set up by Matthew Beggs. Watson became responsible for sales, marketing and production. The company is named after Saint Arnoul, the patron saint of hop-pickers and Belgian brewers.
Initially the company only offered draught beer however in 2006 they commenced bottling and distributing the St Arnou Premium Blonde, a Belgian-style pale lager. This was followed with the release of the St Arnou Pilsner and then the St Arnou Premium Light. The company entered into a national distribution arrangement with Margaret River winery, Watershed Premium Wines, which led to their products being widely available throughout Australia and Singapore. The company originally brewed its beers in Queensland and New South Wales, before utilising Australian Independent Brewers facilities in Smeaton Grange, near Sydney.