It's Mardi Gras! Here are 5 Local Louisiana Beers You Should Be Pairing With King Cake

The Beer Geeks Guide to Mardi Gras was getting to be the same places every year so I made it a page rather than something I release every year. I still wanted something to release today for the start of Mardi Gras season!

Here are 5 local Louisiana beers that pair well with king cake.

Note: Everyone's taste buds are different and food and beer pairing is subjective. Let me know your favorite local beer and king cake pairings in the comment section.

1. Urban South Carnival Time Sour Ale

Style: Sour Ale brewed with cinnamon and cream cheese

Why it works:

Urban South Brewery created this beer in collaboration with New Orleans’ Dong Phuong Bakery to capture the essence of cinnamon and cream cheese king cake right in the beer itself which makes it one of the most directly complementary Louisiana beers for king cake on this list. It's bright, tart sourness also helps cleanse the palate between sweet bites.

2. Parish Brewing Canebrake

Style: American Wheat Ale brewed with local sugar cane syrup

Why it works:

Canebrake’s light wheat body and subtle honey-spice notes from Louisiana cane sugar mirror king cake’s brioche sweetness without overpowering it. A wheat beer’s crispness also balances rich fillings like cream cheese or praline.

3. Bayou Teche LA-31 Bière Noire

Style: French Saison

Why it works:

This deep, dark brew carries roasty malt character with subtle coffee and chocolate notes, which can complement the cinnamon and sweet bread of king cake without completely overpowering it.

5. Great Raft Reasonably Corrupt (Black Lager / Schwarzbier)

Style: Black Lager (dark lager)

Why it works:

This darker lager has malty sweetness and roasted notes but a crisper body than many stouts/porters. That balance means it can stand up to the sweet spice in king cake without feeling overly heavy. Great if you are looking for a more sessionable dark beer for the parade route.

5. Gnarly Barley Korova Milk Porter

Style: Milk Porter (Baltic Porter)

Why it works:

Porters like this often bring chocolate, coffee, and toffee flavors with a hint of sweetness (from the milk sugar in this case), which mirrors king cake’s richer elements like praline or cream cheese fillings.

Hope you enjoy this list and have a great Mardi Gras! Let me know what you're drinking while munching on king cake!

Cheers!

Support Local Breweries This Holiday Season

Now more than ever, it’s important to support your local brewery. Small and large breweries across the country are struggling. Sales are down, margins are tight, and too many taprooms are closing their doors. The holidays are a crucial time to show up for the places that pour our favorite beers.

Here are a few easy ways to help keep your local brewery going:

🍺 Buy beer to-go

Grab crowlers, growlers, six-packs, or cases for holiday parties and family gatherings.

🎁 Give brewery gift cards

They’re easy, flexible, and keep money flowing during the slow months.

👕 Buy merch

Hoodies, hats, glassware, and shirts make great gifts—and often have better margins than beer.

📅 Attend events

Trivia nights, holiday markets, tap takeovers, and release parties all help drive traffic.

🤝 Choose local when you go out.

Ask bars and restaurants to carry local beer—and order it when they do.

📸 Spread the word.

Share posts, leave reviews, tag the brewery, and tell friends where you’re drinking.

🍻 Join mug clubs or beer memberships.

Recurring support can make a huge difference for small operations.

🚗 Make it a destination

Instead of another big-box purchase, plan a brewery stop while running holiday errands.

Every pint matters. Every purchase helps. Support local. Drink local. Keep your breweries alive.

Cheers!!

Gnarly Barley Releasing Barrel Select #1

From Gnarly Barley:

We’re thrilled to introduce a new dimension to the Gnarly Barley lineup — one that expands beyond our hop-forward reputation and highlights our barrel-aging program. Meet Barrel Select No.1, an English-Style Barleywine aged in Bulleit Bourbon barrels. This rich, complex beer represents a perfect meld of barrel and beer, available exclusively in Louisiana. Born from our partnership with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Barrel Select No.1 showcases the craftsmanship and collaboration that define both our brands. We aim to hit retailers between the holidays, 1st or 2nd week of December.

Can't wait to get my hands on this one!