EgadBananas1
Well-Known Member
So you're visiting Nola, eh? Glad to have ya! This guide aims to help anyone visiting New Orleans and surrounding areas on the North and Southshore. It will be a work In progress and is not intended to be a complete list, but rather a "best of" kind of list. Will update as establishments open up and any suggestions are welcomed to make this as informative as possible. Baton Rouge should really have its own Guide...I could make a very competent guide myself, but I really think it needs a natives touch.
What's distributed in Louisiana that isn't in my state?
-Check out Seekabrew, it will give you a good idea of what to expect.
What's on tap?
-While only a few establishments use it, the ones that matter keep it up to date: beermenus
Also, many places update their websites.
Breweries:
New Orleans
New Orleans Lager and Ale Company
-One of LA's best breweries. Taproom on site serving regular and seasonal lineups, as well as hosts of experimental brews found only there. Canned and growler beer to go. Tour on Friday.
Mandeville
Chafunkta Brewing Co.
-Currently not open to the public, but a solid up and coming brewery worth seeking out, especially the Old 504 coffee porter.
Covington
Covington Brewhouse
-Tours on Saturdays. Under new ownership that looks to be taking the brewery in an exciting new direction.
Abita Springs
Abita Brewing Company
-Louisiana's oldest craft brewery and likely needs no introduction. Tours on Wednesday through Saturday. Look out for their draft-only Select Series around town for some solid experimental releases.
Bars and Restaurants:
New Orleans
The Avenue Pub
-Voted one of America's best bars time and time again by various publications throughout the state and the country. Safe to say that it would be a crime against humanity not to visit.
The Bulldog (Mid City and Uptown locations)
-Equal parts restaurant and beer bar, a solid choice for good food and good beer.
Cooter Browns
-Extensive amount of taps housing usually solid offerings. Great atmosphere and a bottle selection that rivals a lot of retail shops.
d.b.a.
-Excellent live music venue, boasting more than solid draft offerings and an extensive bottle list.
Barcadia
-A great place for food, suds and fun, Barcardia is a full service restaurant offering an arcade stocked with classic games and a pleasing tap list. What more could a kid-at-heart beer geek ask for?
Crescent City Brewhouse
-Brewery restaurant serving only their in-house brewed beers. In the somewhat beer-starved French Quarter, this can be a welcomed deviation from wandering the streets.
Gordon Biersch New Orleans
-Semi-national brewery restaurant specializing in German Style beer. Located on the outskirts of the French Quarter, it also makes for a welcomed deviation. The food is quite good, as well.
Metairie
Lagers Ale House
-Basically "The Bulldog" of Metairie, it as well has great food and a solid beer selection.
Mandeville
The Barley Oak
-Located on the beautiful Mandeville Lakefront, the view is amazing, the tap list is one of the Northshore's greatest, and they have a Rueben that is to die for.
Old Rail Brewing Co.
-Also in Old Mandeville, this brew pub brews some solid in house beers, including seasonals, with a barrel program in the works.
Covington
The Chimes
-Located near downtown Covington, the huge venue backs up to the river, has a tap list of over 70 beers, staggering amounts of bottles, great beer atmosphere and an excellent food menu.
Columbia Street Taproom
-Large tap list and impressive food menu. Plays host to Covington Brewhouse's test batches.
Mellow Mushroom
-While a somewhat small tap list, most are quality. The pizza and pretzels are worth the trip alone.
Abita Springs
Abita Brew Pub
-Though not owned by Abita anymore, this was their first place of operations and the Brew Pub still houses the original brewing system. Great food and you can always find the current Select on tap.
Stores and bottle shops:
New Orleans
Stein's Deli
-Hands down the best shop for bottles. If its new or limited, Stein's will have it. Place will be packed during lunch, you have been warned.
Whole Foods - Magazine
-As most know, a worthy place for beer.
Cork & Bottle
-Though not the degree of Stein's, a solid shop for bottles.
Metairie
Whole Foods - Veterans
-Personally, I find this location to be better beer-wise.
Martin Wine Cellar
-The more extensively stocked of their stores, hitting here and Whole Foods is a worthy combo.
Slidell
Habanos Wine Cellar
-While really only worth trip if you're in Slidell, this little shop puts forth a solid effort with beer. Limited stuff has been known to pop up from time to time and the selection is solid for what it is.
Mandeville
Martin Wine Cellar
-Pretty much one of the only shops for beer in Mandeville. The selection isn't stellar, but sometimes you can find some gems.
Covington
Acquistapace's
-Best bottle shop on the Northshore. If you find yourself on this side of the lake, it is worth the visit.
Hope this guide helps all you thirsty travelers out there heading to south Louisiana. Please feel free to comment or make suggestions.
Cheers,
Evan
What's distributed in Louisiana that isn't in my state?
-Check out Seekabrew, it will give you a good idea of what to expect.
What's on tap?
-While only a few establishments use it, the ones that matter keep it up to date: beermenus
Also, many places update their websites.
Breweries:
New Orleans
New Orleans Lager and Ale Company
-One of LA's best breweries. Taproom on site serving regular and seasonal lineups, as well as hosts of experimental brews found only there. Canned and growler beer to go. Tour on Friday.
Mandeville
Chafunkta Brewing Co.
-Currently not open to the public, but a solid up and coming brewery worth seeking out, especially the Old 504 coffee porter.
Covington
Covington Brewhouse
-Tours on Saturdays. Under new ownership that looks to be taking the brewery in an exciting new direction.
Abita Springs
Abita Brewing Company
-Louisiana's oldest craft brewery and likely needs no introduction. Tours on Wednesday through Saturday. Look out for their draft-only Select Series around town for some solid experimental releases.
Bars and Restaurants:
New Orleans
The Avenue Pub
-Voted one of America's best bars time and time again by various publications throughout the state and the country. Safe to say that it would be a crime against humanity not to visit.
The Bulldog (Mid City and Uptown locations)
-Equal parts restaurant and beer bar, a solid choice for good food and good beer.
Cooter Browns
-Extensive amount of taps housing usually solid offerings. Great atmosphere and a bottle selection that rivals a lot of retail shops.
d.b.a.
-Excellent live music venue, boasting more than solid draft offerings and an extensive bottle list.
Barcadia
-A great place for food, suds and fun, Barcardia is a full service restaurant offering an arcade stocked with classic games and a pleasing tap list. What more could a kid-at-heart beer geek ask for?
Crescent City Brewhouse
-Brewery restaurant serving only their in-house brewed beers. In the somewhat beer-starved French Quarter, this can be a welcomed deviation from wandering the streets.
Gordon Biersch New Orleans
-Semi-national brewery restaurant specializing in German Style beer. Located on the outskirts of the French Quarter, it also makes for a welcomed deviation. The food is quite good, as well.
Metairie
Lagers Ale House
-Basically "The Bulldog" of Metairie, it as well has great food and a solid beer selection.
Mandeville
The Barley Oak
-Located on the beautiful Mandeville Lakefront, the view is amazing, the tap list is one of the Northshore's greatest, and they have a Rueben that is to die for.
Old Rail Brewing Co.
-Also in Old Mandeville, this brew pub brews some solid in house beers, including seasonals, with a barrel program in the works.
Covington
The Chimes
-Located near downtown Covington, the huge venue backs up to the river, has a tap list of over 70 beers, staggering amounts of bottles, great beer atmosphere and an excellent food menu.
Columbia Street Taproom
-Large tap list and impressive food menu. Plays host to Covington Brewhouse's test batches.
Mellow Mushroom
-While a somewhat small tap list, most are quality. The pizza and pretzels are worth the trip alone.
Abita Springs
Abita Brew Pub
-Though not owned by Abita anymore, this was their first place of operations and the Brew Pub still houses the original brewing system. Great food and you can always find the current Select on tap.
Stores and bottle shops:
New Orleans
Stein's Deli
-Hands down the best shop for bottles. If its new or limited, Stein's will have it. Place will be packed during lunch, you have been warned.
Whole Foods - Magazine
-As most know, a worthy place for beer.
Cork & Bottle
-Though not the degree of Stein's, a solid shop for bottles.
Metairie
Whole Foods - Veterans
-Personally, I find this location to be better beer-wise.
Martin Wine Cellar
-The more extensively stocked of their stores, hitting here and Whole Foods is a worthy combo.
Slidell
Habanos Wine Cellar
-While really only worth trip if you're in Slidell, this little shop puts forth a solid effort with beer. Limited stuff has been known to pop up from time to time and the selection is solid for what it is.
Mandeville
Martin Wine Cellar
-Pretty much one of the only shops for beer in Mandeville. The selection isn't stellar, but sometimes you can find some gems.
Covington
Acquistapace's
-Best bottle shop on the Northshore. If you find yourself on this side of the lake, it is worth the visit.
Hope this guide helps all you thirsty travelers out there heading to south Louisiana. Please feel free to comment or make suggestions.
Cheers,
Evan