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!

Parish Brewing Has 2 Releases Coming Soon

Parish Brewing has 2 releases coming out this month that look interesting:

First is Galactic Ghost. From the brewery:

Introducing Galactic Ghost - a double-haze monster from outer space that delivers out-of-this-world flavors of tropical fruit straight from an intergalactic paradise of our dreams. We loaded this cosmic creation with a generous DDH Ghost-levels of Galaxy, Citra, and Strata hops, creating layers of juicy passionfruit, ripe pineapple, and electric citrus wrapped in a smooth, resinous haze.

Think of it as DDH Ghost in the Machine's cosmic evolution - big, soft, and more tropical than the original. The Galaxy hops bring stone fruit and citrus, Citra adds that signature mango punch, and Strata rounds it out with dank, fruity complexity. Balanced and pleasantly smooth despite its size, this 8% ABV interstellar DIPA goes down easier than you'd expect. 8% ABV

Some beers are earthbound. This one? Pure intergalactic hop juice.

Galactic Ghost: $23 per 16oz 4-pack cans, no limit.

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Shop the presale for Galactic Ghost on Wednesday, December 10, at noon CDT at shop.parishbeer.com. Release day and pick-up will be in our Taproom on Friday, December 12, at 11 a.m., and UPS direct shipping will start next week. You can also find Galactic Ghost on @get.oznr for Taproom pick-up

Galactic Ghost will also be available for purchase at the brewery on Friday, December 12. It will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Second is Quindecennial. From the brewery:

Quindecennial — our cellar-aged toast to fifteen years of Parish Brewing Co.

To celebrate bringing good beer to good people since 2010, we brewed something our cellar has never produced before. We blended three- to five-year aged imperial stouts and let them rest in a carefully selected lineup of oak barrels: Blanton's bourbon, maple bourbon, Buffalo Trace, and rye whiskey finished in ex-tequila barrels.

The result is layers of rich bourbon barrel character, dark roasted malt, vanilla oak, and the slightest bite of tequila on the finish — all wrapped up in a heavy, velvety stout. This drinks like fifteen years of learning, refining, and perfecting our craft.

Fifteen years down. Grateful for every single one. Cheers to what comes next.

Quindecennial: $25 per 500ml bottle

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Shop the presale for Quindecennial & Galactic Ghost on Wednesday, December 10, at noon CDT at shop.parishbeer.com. Release day and pick-up will be in our Taproom on Friday, December 12, at 11am, and UPS direct shipping will start next week. You can also find Quindecennial & Galactic Ghost on @get.oznr for Taproom pick-up

Quindecennial & Galactic Ghost will be available for purchase at the brewery on Friday, December 12. It will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: If your beer is not picked up within one week of the release date, your order will be canceled. All canceled online orders will incur an 8% restocking fee.

UPS Direct Beer Shipping is available to consumers in Alaska, D.C., Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia, with a $20 flat-rate shipping fee for 1-6 4-packs. For more details about UPS Direct Shipping, visit parishbeer.com. 3h

Support Local Beer: Bayou Sara Brewing

This past week, I had the chance to stop by the brand-new Bayou Sara Brewing in St. Francisville. The brewery, founded by Steve and Amanda McKinney, along with partners Doug and Abby Cochran and friends John Kaspar and Jim and Kelly Flavin, opened its doors just a couple of weeks ago.

Located in a renovated old Ford dealership on the corner of Commerce and Ferdinand Streets, the space spans an impressive 7,200 square feet and features brewing equipment sourced from Old Rail Brewing (Mandeville), Red River Brewing (Bossier City), and Urban South Houston.

Head brewer Steve McKinney, who began homebrewing back in 1995 while stationed in Japan with the Army, currently has six beers on tap: New Zealand Pils, Single Hop Citra, West Coast Pale Ale, Bayou Sara Porter, Blonde Ale, and Amber. I tried the New Zealand Pils, and it was a solid pour — crisp, balanced, and refreshing. Being Steve's first time brewing on the large system I would expect kinks here and there but it will definitely get worked out the more he brews on this system

Their kitchen is serving up classic pub fare like smash burgers, pulled pork grilled cheese, and loaded nachos. I went with the smash burger, which hit the spot — though I’ll admit, skipping the pimento cheese and bacon version feels like a rookie mistake I won’t make next time.

Make sure to make the trip out there and visit the newest Louisiana brewery!

Address: 11943 Ferdinand St, St Francisville, LA 70775
Hours:
Tuesday 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–11 PM
Saturday 11 AM–11 PM
Sunday 11 AM–3:30 PM
Monday 11 AM–9 PM

Urban South Venturing Into Non Alcoholic Category

*FULL DISCLOSURE: I WORK FOR THE WHOLESALER THAT SELLS THIS BRAND*

Urban South Brewing is developing Non Alcoholic beers for the market beginning in January of next year. They will make 3 N/A versions of some of their most popular beers- Holy Roller, Lime Cucumber Gose, and Paradise Park and will also have a variety pack called Weekday Pack.

With the sales of N/As booming globally and projected for some serious growth this was inevitable for a craft brewery. Urban South does a great job at innovation so for them to be the first Louisiana brewery to the table with N/A options makes sense.

Urban South has set a release date of December 2025 just in time for Dry January. They will be leading with Holy Roller first with other flavors following.

Support Local Beer: NOLA Brewing

Most of you probably know the story. After Hurricane Katrina, Kirk Coco was sipping a Dixie Beer when he noticed the label indicated it was being contract-brewed out of state. The realization that New Orleans no longer had a brewery of its own didn’t sit right with him. That moment sparked an idea—to bring brewing back to the city. Partnering with former Dixie Brewing brewer Peter Cadoo, Kirk founded NOLA Brewing in 2008, becoming the first craft brewery in New Orleans.

Of course, it wasn’t an easy journey. The team faced plenty of challenges over the years, but their perseverance and passion paved the way for the city’s modern craft beer movement.

NOLA Brewing holds a special place in my heart. My first job in the beer industry was in sales with NOLA Brewing—a short four-month stint where, to be honest, I had no idea what I was doing. But that experience ignited my love for the sales side of beer and ultimately set me on the path to where I am today. Even after moving on, every visit back to New Orleans included a stop at NOLA Brewing, and that tradition continues whenever I make the trip from Baton Rouge.

Today, NOLA Brewing has evolved. They no longer distribute their beer, operating instead as more of a brewpub and gathering spot known for great pizza and live music. Kirk and Peter have both moved on, but one familiar face remains—Derek Lintern, who oversees their incredible sour beer program, The Funk Series, the only true sour program in Louisiana. The beers are still fantastic, the pizza’s solid, and the vibe remains quintessentially NOLA.

For any craft beer lover visiting or living in the New Orleans area, NOLA Brewing is still a must-visit. And make sure you check out the show on Oct 26th. Sunpie puts on a great show!

Address: 3033 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Hours:
Monday 11 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–10 PM
Saturday 11 AM–10 PM
Sunday 11 AM–9 PM

Support Local Beer: Vermilionville Brew House

Recently the family and I took a quick trip to Lafayette for the Vermilionville Living History Museum & Forklife Park. Their mission is to "increase appreciation for the history, culture, and natural resources of the Native Americans, Acadians, Creoles, and peoples of African descent in the Attakapas region through the end of the 1800s".

The property is about 23 acres on the Bayou Vermilion. They have 19 buildings on the property such as restored Creole and Cajun style houses as well as a schoolhouse, church and artisan workshops. Fortunately for me, there’s also a brewery on the property that produces beers inspired by historical recipes, which are served in the onsite restaurant called Restaurant La Cuisine de Maman.

I ordered a flight(which I usually never do) and they brought out the Les Tatailles (molasses brown ale) and the Bouki's Biere De Gingembre (Ginger Beer). They were out of the Le Cauchemar (Satsuma Ale). Both beers were honestly fantastic. The ginger beer which came in at a whopping 8.5% is inspired by a Caribbean recipe and the ginger flavor was defintely strong. The Les Tatailles clocking in at 5.8% was a brown ale but had a nice strong sweetness from the molasses. Apparently they use a bit of ginger in it as well but I didn't catch that.

Overall, Managing Director and Brewer Brady McKellar is doing an excellent job brewing quality beer and preserving Louisiana’s rich beer history at Vermilionville Brew House. If you find yourself in Lafayette, it’s well worth a visit. And don’t overlook the food — I had the fried shrimp po’ boy, my wife enjoyed the red beans and rice, and our kid had the gumbo. Everything was outstanding.

Address: 300 Fisher Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508

Hours:
Sunday- 10 AM–4 PM
Monday- Closed
Tuesday- 10 AM–4 PM
Wednesday- 10 AM–4 PM
Thursday- 10 AM–4 PM
Friday- 10 AM–4 PM
Saturday- 10 AM–4 PM

Cheers!

Parish Brewing Beer Club

If you are having issues getting amazing Parish Brewing beers you now have the Parish Beer Club! $70? Seems like a great deal to me.

Here are the details:

Welcome to the Parish Beer Club!

We’re bringing the freshest, most sought-after Parish brews straight to your door every month. As a club member, you’ll get an exclusive selection of our latest and greatest beers, from the legendary Ghost in the Machine to small-batch releases.

Each shipment includes Parish beers, featuring all of the following:

New special releases & collabs - e.g. DDH Ghost, Ghost Prime, Ripe In The Machine

Ghost In The Machine - every box will include some fresh GITM!

Seasonal offerings like Envie, Canebrake, and more

Welcome Gift included in 1st installment

How It Works

Joining the Parish Beer Club is easy:

Add to Cart

Redirect & Checkout – You’ll be redirected to our trusted fulfillment partner’s site to securely complete your purchase.

Beer Incoming! – Sit back and relax. Each month, you’ll receive a curated box of fresh Parish brews delivered right to your doorstep.

Your subscription will automatically renew each month, and you can pause, skip, or cancel anytime (Note: pausing/skipping/cancelling will only affect future installments, not installments for which you have already been billed).

How many beers in each box, exactly?

The exact mix and quantity of bottles and cans will vary month to month, but rest assured, you’re always getting the same total retail value. One month might be 8 x 16 oz cans and 4 x 12 oz cans. The next month could include 6 x 16 oz cans, a few 12 oz cans, and a couple 500 mL bottles.

Why the mix? Because some of the most exciting stuff Parish brews, from DDH TIPAs to Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stouts, come in different formats. We keep it flexible so you always get the goods.

Support Local Beer: Le Chien Brewing

Wife and I went to Denham Springs a few weekends ago to look for stuff for the house. As usual I looked up "breweries near me" on the old Google and found Le Chien Brewing. Situated right near all the antique stores we originally went for, it just made sense to stop in for some beers.

Co-Owner Brett Dunham said they opened 4 years ago.The location is pretty awesome as it is in an old gas station and the tanks are underground. The space is pretty big with a covered, outdoor seating area, back garage for special events and a space for a food truck. I grabbed a Tail Wagger Belgian Wit which was delicious.

The food truck that is always on site is Pie Eyed Hand Pies. We didn't grab any food but they have a mix of sweet and savory pies, wraps and appetizers like beer battered boudin balls. With the name Le Chien(the dog) you can safely assume it is a dog friendly brewery. On the day we were there they had a petting zoo for kids so it is also kid friendly.

If you end up in Denham Springs for some reason make sure you stop in and grab some beer from these guys. Great beer and cool spot.

ADDRESS:

101 S Hummell St, Denham Springs, LA 70726

HOURS:

Friday 4–10 PM

Saturday 2–10 PM

Sunday 11 AM–2:30 PM

Monday Closed

Tuesday 5–9 PM

Wednesday 5–9 PM

Thursday 5–9 PM

Throwback Thursday

Great throwback to 2011 New Orleans On Tap with Zac from Gnarly Barley. Crazy to think that now this brewery is one of many amazing breweries in my portfolio!

Support Local Beer: Deadbeat Brewing

Back in October, the wife and I took a trip over to Hammond and of course I made a point to find a brewery. We headed over to Deadbeat Brewing and met the owners, Danny, Luke, and Brad. I had tried their stuff previously at a beer fest so was eager to try their beer again as they had just opened the brewery in June of this year.

Danny, Luke and Brad met while attending Southeastern and used to homebrew in Danny's garage before making the leap to brewing as a business. The brewery is a 7 barrel brewhouse nestled on a lake on the property of Blackened Brew restaurant which is where the old Catfish Charlie's was located. Their first year expectation is to brew 300 barrels with very limited self distribution.

Their name, Deadbeat Brewing comes from their time participating in homebrew festivals. They wanted a name which was a play on words that included music, skeletons, and voodoo dolls and Dead and Beat fit. Their logo is a reflection of that, with the voodoo doll playing the drum. They call the voodoo doll Stitch and even have a beer named Super Stitch Wit and use drum sticks as tap handles.

I had the Karate Class Dropout which is a West Coast IPA and Vacation Camo which is a Helles. Both were awesome. Next time you are in Hammond make it a point to stop at DeadBeat Brewing! These guys are doing good things!

14258 W Club Deluxe Rd. Hammond, La 70403

Monday-Closed

Tuesday-Closed

Wednesday 4-8pm

Thursday 4–8 PM

Friday 12–9 PM

Saturday 12–9 PM

Sunday 12–5 PM

The 6 Pack: Bobby Hoyt From Gilla Brewing

1) What is your favorite beer that you guys brew? What's the beer you hate to brew?

A) My favorite is either Ænigmatic Parabol or Crimea River to drink but if we are talking the task of brewing, my favorite would be seltzer or Gilla Low Life just because its the easiest. The beer I hate to drink would be the Not the Gumdrop Buttons or any of the sours. I've never developed the tast for sour beers nor pumpkin/spice stouts. I can't really say I hate actually brewing any beer but our IPAs are kind of a pain in the ass because of the process of cool wort whirlpool hopping.

2) People keep saying craft beer is dying, what are your thoughts on the current state of beer in Louisiana?

A) I wouldn't say craft beer is dying because I think that suggests it'll eventually be dead but there has been a clear retraction with the rise of seltzers, Cocktails in a can, THC drinks and the younger generations just not drinking like the older generations grew up doing. Beer has been around for centuries and I don't see it going away.

3) Other than your own, what is your favorite Louisiana brewed beers right now?

A) That's a tough one. I'm a big fan of The Se7enth Tap Brewing Kolsch and Juiceport. Grain Creation's schwarzbier was fantastic. I don't really have a go to LA beer outside of our own but those would top my list for sure.

4) What is your favorite beer to drink at a crawfish boil?

A) Miller High Life all day.

5) What was your job before Gilla? What inspired you to open a brewery?

A) Well, I still have a fulltime job and it's the same one before Gilla. I am inside sales/procurement for an Industrial Safety and Rescue company. While not a founding owner of Gilla, from the day I started homebrewing, I knew I wanted to own a brewery. I've always wanted my own business and brewing was the only thing I was ever super passionate about enough to make that leap.

6) If you could give some advice to someone who wants to open a brewery here in Louisiana what would it be?

A) Well, in this environment, my advice would be to not do it right away and wait for the economy and beer business to get better. However, if youre gonna do it, be well funded and do it with the least amount of debt you possibly can. Things are more expensive than you ever think, things break and this shit isn't cheap to fix.

When it comes to brewing, keep your ear to what is popular and selling. Some brewers go into it with a mentality that they are gonna brew what they like or gonna brew nothing but traditional beer styles. That ain't gonna cut it these days. We live in a world of haze bros and fruity sour beer lovers. Like Joe Dirt says "Its not what you like, it's the consumers". Brewing for the register allows you some freedom to brew the styles you like. Also, do not try to be cheap or look for too many ways to save cost on brewing itself. Quality matters and it takes quality ingredients and in the right quantities. Being too cheap when it comes to adjucts and hops will result in an inferior product. There are ways to be efficient and save money when brewing but dont skimp on the hops or the adjucts in your flavored/fruited beers.

Lastly, WATER IS IMPORTANT FOR GOOD BEER. Too many people underestimate the importance of water chemistry and I think its one of the most important things to consider when brewing quality beer.

Gilla Brewing

Address: 13025 LA-44 suite 108, Gonzales, LA 70737

Hours:

Friday 11 AM–11 PM

Saturday 11 AM–11 PM

Sunday 11 AM–5 PM

Monday Closed

Tuesday 4–10 PM

Wednesday 4–10 PM

Thursday 4–10 PM

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed reading this please subsribe and stay tuned for more of The 6 Pack.