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

Brew Dogs New Orleans Episode Airs Tomorrow

Tomorrow 08/20 the Brew Dogs episode that was filmed here with NOLA Brewing and Bayou Teche Brewing will be airing! Most of you know about the event because, well, you were there.  

I have to admit the beer was not that great but the experience was awesome.  Really great of these guys to pick New Orleans to be represented among all the great beer cities.  

Here is a quick synopsis from Esquire:

In the NOLA episode of BREW DOGS, hosts James Watt and Martin Dickie create a New Orleans-inspired beer using local ingredients like Rose of Jericho (the "resurrection plant") and mayhaw fruit, brewed entirely on the back of a fan boat in the bayou. After a brief timeout from brewing to compete with Bayou Tech Brewing to see who can make the best craft beer pairings with local Cajun cuisine, the BREW DOGS then continue to the French Quarter to reveal their revival beer and convert a few local craft beer fans along the way.

I was lucky enough to see an advance screener for the show and will admit it was pretty awesome. Much better than the beer!  I saw a lot of familiar faces in the show as well!  Get ready cause if you were there you are probably in this episode!


Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

TWO SCOTTISH CRAFT BEER RENEGADES. TEN AMERICAN BEER LOVING LOCALES.

BREW DOGS RETURNS FOR SEASON TWO ON ESQUIRE NETWORK JUNE 25

LOS ANGELES – June 6, 2014 – James Watt and Martin Dickie, founders of the UK’s fastest growing brewery and creators of the world’s strongest ale, return to create more craft beer anarchy when season two of BREW DOGS premieres Wednesday, June 25 at 9/8c on Esquire Network.

In each of the 10, one-hour BREW DOGS episodes, James and Martinvisit a different American beer town, celebrate distinctive craft beers andcreate their own locally-inspired draft. Along the way, they break every rule in modern brewing, seek out (sometimes bizarre) local ingredients for theirbrew, and challenge American brewers to help them create the most outrageousbeers on earth.

BREW DOGS episodes include:

·       Alaska – Cut off from civilization in the Alaskan wilderness, James and Martin brew a survivalist beer with glacier water, spruce tips, winterberries, and a few old airplane parts.

·       Chicago -- In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, James and Martin team up with Revolution Brewing in Chicago to create the “greenest” beer ever, and not just in terms of color. For the brewing process, they enlist the aid of an engineer to build a wind-powered brew system atop one of the manyhigh rises in Chicago’s famous skyline.

• Colorado – After meeting with an archeologist and scaling giant pine trees, James and Martin brew a modern take on an ancient beer style using primitive brewing equipment that they’ve actually built themselves.

·       Delaware -- James and Martin visit Dover Speedway, where they team up with Dogfish Head Brewery’s Sam Calagione and attempt to brew an all-new beer in the back of a truck racing around the Monster Mile—the world’s fastest one-mile oval.

·       Las Vegas -- In Las Vegas, where millions are won and lost every day, James and Martin brew the most expensive beer ever—even if that means melting down gold, shaving truffles, and finding water from halfway around the world.

·       Los Angeles – The BREW DOGS go head-to-head, competing alongside local home brewers to make the best new boundary-pushing beer in LA. Each team must successfully design their own brew, sourcing local ingredients.

·       Maui – Sugarcane and toasted coconut flavor James and Martin’s newest brew, a Hot Lava Rock beer based on the lifestyle and history of Maui—and brewed amid hula skirts and fire dancers at a local luau.

·       New Orleans – The BREW DOGS turn to swamp fruit and a voodoo priestess to create a revival beer in New Orleans. To capture the true bayou experience, they build a mobile brewery on the back of a fan boat.

·       NorCal – In an RV in Northern California, James and Martin make impromptu craft pairings with campfire food and create the ultimate collaboration beer with Sierra Nevada and Bear Republic, and brew it with the help of a local professor, the “Pope of Foam.”

·       North Carolina -- James and Martin brew the most caloric beer ever, a Maple Bacon Ice Cream Stout, in Durham, NC. And they do it on bikes. Burn calories while brewing calories.

BREW DOGS is produced for Esquire Network by Custom/Redtail Partners LLC. Executive producers are Steve Stockman, Chris Burke and Jared Cotton.

Brew Dogs Filming At NOLA Brewing

So file this one under Holy Shit Balls!  James Watt and Martin Dickie from BrewDog Brewery and Brew Dogs TV show will be brewing with NOLA Brewery for one their episodes!  I copied this straight from NOLA Brewing's Facebook page.  Why not right?

Brew Dogs will be making a trip to New Orleans! James Watt and Martin Dickie, from the Scottish brewery BrewDog, will team up with our brewers and brew one hell of a crazy beer to be filmed for their show on Esquire Network. The free tasting party will feature this collaboration beer and we will also be showing them how a crawfish boil is done! Please take note, that this party will be filmed so please no hats and shirts with major logos.
To learn more about Brew Dogs, take a look here: http://tv.esquire.com/shows/brew-dogs.

Hell yeah!!  See you there!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Introduces Rebirth Pale Ale Benefiting The Roots of Music Official Release Party Wednesday, April 16

Received this press release from NOLA Brewing today! For the past five years, NOLA Brewing Company has been bringing the history and tradition of beer back to New Orleans. Founded on the concept of helping rebuild and develop commerce in post-Katrina New Orleans, the NOLA based brewery offers a variety of beers made with the finest available hops, malts and unique yeast blends.

Continuing in this tradition, NOLA Brewing is proud to unveil its latest brew – Rebirth Pale Ale on draft – benefitting The Roots of Music. The company’s first pale ale pays tribute to the Rebirth Brass Band while supporting music education for New Orleans' youth through the non-profit organization, co-founded by Rebirth drummer, Derrick Tabb and Allison Reinhardt.

“We decided to name the brew Rebirth for a number of reasons,” explains Kirk Coco, CEO of NOLA Brewing. “A big part of the meaning comes from the rebirth of the city post-Katrina and being a part of that process. Another is that the Rebirth Brass Band is a shining example of music from our city. We wanted to give back to the community with our beer, and The Roots of Music was a perfect fit – helping kids in the city where music education is vital, and supporting the music everyone at the brewery loves!”

Derek Tabb adds, “We're excited and honored that NOLA Brewing would pick us to represent them in its latest beer, while also supporting an organization that's most near and dear to our hearts.”

In celebration of the release, the brewery invites imbibers to sample the new beer on Wednesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. in the taproom at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street. Admission is free and open to the public (21+up) and will feature complimentary light bites, live entertainment and $3-$7 beers. In attendance will be the talented kids from The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders along with Derrick Tabb and members of the Rebirth Brass Band.

Rebirth Pale Ale is a sessionable, American-style pale ale that uses five different malt varieties and desirable hops including Cascade, Simcoe and Citra. The pale ale is wonderfully balanced and its flavorful hop taste and aroma allows for more than one indulgence at a time, coming at only 5% ABV.

To help raise money for The Roots of Music’s mission to teach, support and empower New Orleans’ youth through music education, a portion of all beer sales at the release party,well as a portion of ongoing retail sales of Rebirth Pale Ale, will be donated to the organization. Stay tuned for a soon-to-be released 6 pack 12 oz. can set of the Rebirth Pale Ale to debut this summer. For more information on NOLA Brewing visit www.nolabrewing.com.

NOLA Brewing Turns 5!!

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

  NOLA BREWING TURNS FIVE NOLA Brewing Set To Celebrate Fifth Anniversary New Orleans, LA (February 20, 2014) - NOLA Brewing Co. (New Orleans, LA) will be turning five years old in March and the brewery is celebrating with an anniversary party on March 14 dubbed Five Years of Beers.

Although the brewery’s construction started in 2008, the first beer did not get produced until March 3, 2009. The brewery has since doubled production just in the past year, opened a new on-site tap room and has expanded its distribution into Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. To celebrate this milestone, the NOLA Brewing team invites you to join them at the brewery located at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street in the Irish Channel on March 14 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for some good music and craft beer.

The Quickening will open up 5 Years of Beers at 5 p.m. followed by Colin Lake Band at 6 p.m. and Alvin Youngblood Heart’s Muscle Theory at 7:30 p.m. The night will close out with Earphunk beginning at 9 p.m.

There will also be a limited edition Anniversary Ale, a session white IPA brewed with Galaxy hops, for sale exclusively during this event. Crescent Pie & Sausage Company will be catering the event with a wide variety of cuisine as well. Tickets are $10/advance or $15/door and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/five-years-of-beers-tickets-10663347359. Must be 21+ to attend.

New Orleans Beer Book Cover Preview and Party Announcement

 

Ok, so here is the cover of the New Orleans Beer book.  We are looking at a release date of March 4th, 2014.  Mardi Gras Day! 

 

The release party will be held at NOLA Brewing on Saturday March 8, 2014 from 12-3pm.  La Cocinita Food Truck will be there providing some food and our publisher History Press will be providing some free beer.

 

If you can't make this event we are working on a bunch of other events.  For you Northshore folks we will be working on one with Abita Brewing as well!

 

For those of you out of town you can purchase it via Amazon.com or at the History Press website.

 

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Cheers!

 

The Beer Buddha

Chillin' with Greg Koch

So recently I received an email from Stone Brewing's Public Relations Specialist Sabrina LoPiccolo about meeting with owner Greg Koch at Avenue Pub before the Stone Tap Takeover this past Thursday night during Louisiana Craft Brewers Week.  I think I was expected to do a professional sit down interview but yeah, that's just not really me.  Just sitting down, drinking beer and chatting about beer was all I wanted to do.

I have to admit I got that opportunity.  What a great time.  I had the opportunity to try their The Tiger Cub saison and we just chatted about beer.  I did inquire about his thoughts on our lack of craft breweries in the state compared to other states.  His answer was a good one when he stated he isn't from here so doesn't know.  Honest answer.  He did throw in that San Diego alone has over 80 breweries compared to Louisiana's 7.  Ugh.

He stated he had an amazing meal at Cochon and enjoyed some beers at NOLA Brewing.

He also apparently LOVED Parish Brewing's Farmhouse IPA.  Here is a pick courtesy Avenue Pub:

Polly also mentioned that despite being really tired he set his alarm for 4:30am and came back to the Pub at 5am in order to greet the oil/gas workers and medical workers that work the night shifts. Classy move Greg, classy move!

Thanks for coming to New Orleans and I hope you enjoyed your time here Greg!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Follow Up Post To NOLA Brewing Getting Sued: The Toho Should Chill Out Edition

So if you read my last post about NOLA Brewing being sued by Godzilla creater Toho Co Ltd. you may be interested in these brands from other breweries.

Terrapin Hopzilla

Ithaca Brewing Cascazilla

Bert Grant's Hopzilla IPA

So is Toho just randomly picking on a small New Orleans brewery or is there more to come?  How could they just pick on NOLA Brewing and not these other breweries?  I'm no lawyer nor do I have all the facts in this case but it seems like Toho should just chill out and drink a Mechahopzilla.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Being Sued Over Mechahopzilla

Just read here that NOLA Brewing is being sued by the Japanese company that owns the rights to Godzilla.   Toho Co Ltd is claiming that, "NOLA’s 'Mechahopzilla' beer violates Toho’s copyrights for the famed Japanese monster Godzilla's mechanized counterpart Mechagodzilla."

They also claim, "NOLA unlawfully attempted to take advantage of the popularity and public recognition achieved by Toho’s fictional characters for the purpose of attracting attention to itself and its beer brand"

So now does this mean we can finally sue every Japanese company for taking American ideas and improving on them?  And after that god awful Matthew Broderick Godzilla remake you would think Toho would be happy with Mechahopzilla bringing attention BACK to the Godzilla franchise.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Taproom Grand Opening Sept 10, 2013

In 2009 when NOLA Brewing first opened selling beer from the brewery itself wasn't even an option.  Thanks to a change in law or as I hear it maybe a reinterpretation of an already existing law(welcome to Louisiana)  NOLA will now be able to sell beer on premise. 

I received this announcement from them this morning:

NEW TAPROOM OPENS AT NOLA BREWING

NOLA Brewing Announces Taproom Grand Opening New Orleans, LA (August 29, 2013)

- NOLA Brewing Co. (New Orleans, LA) will be opening a taproom on September 10, 2013 at 4 p.m. to sell beer directly to consumers. The taproom will have 16 beers on tap, comprised of eight beers from NOLA’s regular line-up and eight specialty beers that will rotate regularly. It will also have a food truck schedule and music on special occasions.

Beer will be available in pints or flights and growlers as well as six or four packs can be purchased to take home too.

Its doors will open at 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The brewery will still host their $5 brewery tours every Friday where guests can keep their NOLA pint glass and drink beer for free until 3:30 p.m. ###

Love this and am really excited!  Congrats to NOLA Brewing and all the breweries in Louisiana!  It really is a good time for breweries here in the state.  Now if only New Orleans was more businessf friendly!  Hopefully we will see more opening!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

5 Awesome Louisiana Game Day Brews

Found this one floating around on the internet.  Not sure who did the original.

Another football season is right around the corner and nothing goes better with football than beer.  If you're drinking wine or cocktails you're doing it wrong.

And just because Bud, Miller and Coors like to pay billions in advertising to capture your taste buds doesn't mean you have to drink it!

Drinking local Louisiana beers while cheering on your Saints just makes sense.  Hell, who knows, maybe it'll bring some good luck to the team this year.

According to the Beer Institute Louisiana ranks 11th in the country in per capita beer consumption. With only 7 Louisiana breweries in production we need to do everything we can to support them!

Below are my 5 picks of great Louisiana brews to drink while supporting the Who Dats.  I based my picks on drinkability, availability and price.  I also chose beers I felt would be accepted by those who mostly drink mass marketed brews and may be willing to branch out and drink local.

NOLA Brewing Hopitoulas

If you're looking for nice hoppy brew this one fits the bill.  Perfectly balanced but be careful because at 6.7% ABV it packs a punch.  Comes in convenient 16oz cans which is perfect for your tailgate!

Bayou Teche LA 31 Biere Pale

If you're tailgating at a Saints game most likely you're serving some amazing Louisiana cuisine like jambalaya, boudin or some ettoufee.  It's just how Louisianians tailgate.  This pale ale has a wonderful balance between hops and malts and there possibly isn't a better beer to go along with our cuisine than Bayou Teche's LA 31 Biere Pale.

Abita Amber

This classic Munich style lager is another beer that goes great with our Louisiana cuisine.  With a 4.5% ABV it's easy to drink a bunch and still be able to support your team without being the obnoxious drunk fan like the Falcons have!  It also comes in a can and I'm pretty sure this is the only Louisiana craft beer being sold at the Dome during the game.

Tin Roof Blonde

The Baton Rouge based Tin Roof Brewing produces the light, crisp Blonde ale which is a great game day brew that comes in a can!  I hear that this one is also a staple at LSU tailgates!

NOLA Brown Ale

NOLA's Brown Ale is a tasty malt bomb with a nice, low ABV which makes it the perfect sessionable brew to have while watching the Saints.  It's also a fantastic choice for tailgaiting as it comes in a can as well.

Remember, these are just my picks.  What local beers will you be drinking while watching the boys in black this season?  What are your favorite tailgate food and beer pairings?

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Teams Up With New Belgium for Louisiana Craft Beer Week

NOLA Brewing will be teaming up with New Belgium Brewing on a collaboration brew for Louisiana Craft Beer Week which begins September 23rd.  The beer will be a Belgian single and will be made with Muscadine grapes.  The name of the brew is Swamp Grape Escape.  The release will kick off the week and is shceduled to be hosted at Avenue Pub.

Really looking forward to this one!  Sounds fun!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Just Tweeted Out This Pic

Holy shit, NOLA Brewing just tweeted out this pic!  Probably never been more excited about a local release.  Honestly.

CAN'T WAIT TO BUY THESE BITCHES!!!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Pics from NOLA Brewing Easter Keg Hunt

Yesterday was NOLA Brewing's annual Easter Keg Hunt. We got some great pictures and the team I was on, Team Mixed 6 achieved the ultimate honor! Last place!!! You have no idea how difficult it truly is to get last place. It was a great time and I look forward to doing it again next year!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Ban The Southern Craft Beer Conference

So if you haven't been paying much attention let me fill you in. Apparently some Texans decided to hold a Southern Craft Beer Conference and the debut will be here in New Orleans. Today is the first I have heard of it. Today is the first everyone involved in the craft beer community in New Orleans has heard of it. I just received word that NOLA Brewing hasn't heard of this event. Not off to a great start.

Want to know how I found out? Eater New Orleans did a wonderful piece called The Guy Behind Disastrous Houston Beer Fest to Hold 'Beer Conference' in New Orleans. Yes, you are reading that title correctly.

The people that can't run a beer fest properly in Houston or Austin want to hold a beer event here in New Orleans. Folks, I can't let that happen. People have worked really hard here in New Orleans to establish our beer scene and I refuse to allow some Texans who have been run out of their own state to come into ours and use it to make some money. Not gonna happen.

I am calling for a ban of this event. These guys are just attempting to cash in on the growing craft beer experience and since they can't do it in Houston or Austin they want to use New Orleans. We need to stand up and say no. That means breweries, distributors, bars, retail stores, bloggers and anyone else who enjoys craft beer. We need to unite and make sure this Southern Craft Beer Conference does NOT happen.

Below is some more reading of the colossal fuck up that was Austin Beer Fest. The Yelp page is quite a fun read.

Austin Beer Fest Yelp review

Austin Eater Austin Beer Fest

Just say no to SCBC!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Review: NOLA Brewing/Stone Brewing Pour Me Somethin' Mistah

Hype Slang
n.

1. Excessive publicity and the ensuing commotion: the hype surrounding the murder trial.

2. Exaggerated or extravagant claims made especially in advertising or promotional material: "It is pure hype, a gigantic PR job" (Saturday Review).

Hype. It can be a really bad thing. We get so excited about something that we are chomping at the bit to get to it and no matter what we will always be let down. And it's our own fault. We are letting ourselves down.

I think that Pour Me Something Mistah has fallen prey to hype. My own to be exact. I think I went into this expecting WAY too much. It's not that this beer was bad but maybe my expectations were too high? Hell, when Jesus shows up to a beer release how do you NOT expect something to be mind blowing.

Jesus standing in line to get some Pour Me Somethin' Mistah

My first taste of the beer was just a kick to the taint. A friend standing behind me(not naming names)asked me my thoughts and I think I stammered a bit before just staring at him and shaking my head back and forth. I went outside and some other people(again no names) sampling the beer had the same reaction. We were all a little stunned. It just....wasn't that great. Not horrible mind you just not what we expected. Thankfully after the beer warmed up it DID get better. This is a beer that MUST be served at room temperature.

The Baton Rouge Krewe. Yes, that's Jay from Bite and Booze and Eric from Baton Rouge Beer Scene. And that dude with the mustache had the awesomest mustache ever.

But there is a moral(yes, a moral) to this story and it is to never expect too much. We can be excited about things but we need to remember that we can ruin shit by getting too excited. I think this clip from Tommy Boy sums up how we can get all excited and ruin shit.



We are all "blowing it" by letting hype overtake our senses. Perhaps if I had gone into drinking Abita's 25th Anniversary thinking it will taste like Budweiser I would have enjoyed it more. Maybe I should do that with all beers.

This is where being a blogger becomes difficult though. I know, I know, how can being a beer blogger be difficult. Free beer, free beer fest tickets, invites to celebrity only events, hanging with P. Diddy, threesomes with Victoria's Secret models. Yeah it can be awesome but it's tough too. I support ALL local craft breweries and I know a lot of the people that work for the breweries. It becomes personal then. I've hurt feelings and pissed people off. I hate it. I want to be everyones friend. And I will wrestle(just like I did with the Abita 25th Anniversary post)with the idea of not posting anything.

I know I'll catch some shit with this review. Some people will say I have a duty to craft beer and especially local craft beer to not be so opinionated and give people a break. I can't do that. I feel that I would be doing a disservice to not only my readers but the brewery themselves by lying. In the end it's just my opinion and my taste buds. You have to judge for yourself and not let me or even Jesus sway your opinion. Anyway my review is below:

Brewery: NOLA Brewing/ Stone Brewing

Beer: Pour Me Something Mistah

Style: Imperial Porter

ABV: ???

Louisiana Availability: VERY limited.

Appearance- Served in plastic cup(it's Mardi Gras). Poured a nice medium brown, ruby color. No head present(beer had been poured already and had been sitting due to how busy it was).

Smell- Slight smell of burnt malt, coffee, slight hoppiness(expected more since it is Stone) with hint of sweet molasses.

Taste- Very strong, sharp burnt malt flavor. Bordered on being acrid and astringent. I was not impressed after first taste. After letting it sit for about 10 minutes or so the flavors seem to balance out and the beer improved. The sweetness of the molasses balanced out the roasted malt flavor. Slight citric acidity from the satsuma peel. Hop presence seemed distant. I wanted(and expected) more hoppiness.

Mouthfeel- Medium body with medium carbonation.

Overall- I'll admit, although a good beer I was a little let down as were some others drinking it with me. Still awesome to have a collaboration brew with NOLA and Stone!!

Score: 3.5 out of 5 Buddhas

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Pour Me Somethin' Mistah Logo

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

HOLY S%#T!! SOME SERIOUS NOLA BEER HAPPENINGS!!!

Holy shit we have some seriously awesome beer happenings going on in the next couple of months! Be ready my friends be ready. Have your liver prepared!!! Check it:

February 3, 2012 6:00PM

New Orleans Can Release Pub Crawl

Be among the first ever to drink Abita out of cans! Join us for our pub crawl through some of New Orleans' best bars as we unveil Amber, Purple Haze and Jockamo IPA before they're available in stores and bars. Each beer purchased during the pub crawl is only $2!

February 4, 2012 1pm

Flambeau Red Ale to Release Feb. 4 with French Quarter Bar Crawl

NEW ORLEANS, La. (January 30, 2012) This year for the release of Flambeau Red Ale NOLA Brewing Company is having a Bar Crawl through the historic French Quarter before the Krewe du Vieux parade. The Krewe du Brew Bar Crawl theme will be "Mardi Gras on Fire" and costumes are encouraged.

The Bar Crawl is set to begin promptly at 1:00pm starting at R-Bar (1431 Royal St). From R-Bar the Bar Crawl will then head over to Balcony Music Club (1331 Decatur St) at 2:30. After Balcony Music Club the Bar Crawl will meet at Turtle Bay (1119 Decatur St) at 3:45. Then to end the Bar Crawl everyone will meet at Molly's at the Market (1107 Decatur St) at 5:00. Each bar will be serving the Flambeau Red for $3.00 a pint during our hour there. The Krewe du Vieux Parade starts at 6:30 so everyone will be in perfect position.

Flambeau Red Ale™ differs from the classic red ale style by the addition of a rich malt bill and hops. “We feel the hop addition plays well with the mix of pale and dark malts to create balanced, hoppy red ale,” said Kirk Coco President of NOLA Brewing Company. NOLA Brewing Company will offer Flambeau Red Ale™ only as a Spring seasonal so enjoy it while it's here. The company already boasts a number of high-quality microbrews including Hopitoulas™, Irish Channel Stout™, Hurricane Saison™, NOLA Blonde™, NOLA Brown™, 7th Street Wheat™ and Smoky Mary™.

March 24, 2012 2pm

New Orleans International Beer Festival

So do you remember the Top of the Hops festival that they held on the North Shore last year? It was a good festival but it was on the North Shore. Yeah I know, some of you readers are on the North Shore but to me it just doesn't make much sense. Hold the festival in New Orleans. I complained both years about them holding this event over there and apparently some others did too because they decided to move it to New Orleans. They also changed the name.

Please welcome the New Orleans International Beer Festival! It appears tickets are $40 and you can get the via Ticketmaster. The event will be held at the newly built Champions Square which is awesome. Get your tickets now before they sell out! Have fun!

Now I know Avenue Pub is doing some events for Mardi Gras but I can't access their website right now so check back later!

EDIT: Here are the Avenue Pub events! Thanks Polly!

Beer events for the first four parades at Mardi Gras

Our balcony, great beer!

For the second year we have taken the first week of Mardi Gras to line up some great beer events. This is the weekend that the balcony is open to the public. We, of course, want our beer peeps up there and the best way to get them to show up and watch the parades with us is to line up some great beers. Drinking the beers will get you access to the balcony for the parades(first come first serve of course) there will be lots of industry people in town for these events and I'm sure they will be even more fun that last year!

Friday Feb 10th

Saint Arnolds night: Divine Reserve 11 & the rollout of their Newest beer Bitter Belgian.
Krewe of Oshun parade start 6pm, by the pub by 8pm


Saturday Feb 11th

Stone Brewing & NOLA collaboration rollout:" Pour Me somethin' Mistah" on cask and in draft. plus a couple of other goodies that stone is sending and a special cask of their wheat with grains of paradise.Krewe of Ponchatrian parade Start 2pm, by the Pub 330pm
Krewe of Sparta parade start 6pm, by the Pub 730Pm
Krewe of Pygmalion parade start 6;45pm, by the pub 830pm
http://www.facebook.com/AvenuePubNOLA?sk=notes_drafts#!/events/228247680590591/

Sunday Feb 12th

Sierra Nevada Releases Torpedo on Draft!
Krewe of Carrollton parade start 12 noon, by the pub 130pm
Krewe of King Arthur parade start 1pm by the Pub 3pm
http://www.facebook.com/AvenuePubNOLA?sk=notes_drafts#!/events/351036021582176/

Wens Feb 15th

Abita night!
Rum Barrel Aged Abbey Ale & Double dry hopped Jackamo on cask.
Krewe of Druids parade start 630, by the pub 8pm
Krewe of Nyx, parade start 7pm, by the pub 830.



Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Mechahopzilla

NOLA Brewing Mechahopzilla. Don't know much about this. But it is without a doubt the coolest tap handle I have ever seen. Take note of the hop juice falling on the Superdome. This will probably be the best beer ever.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

When The Gargoyle Comes Marching In....He Brews With NOLA Brewing.

Do you remember in my Beerodamus' New Orleans Beer Scene 2012 post when I said, "NOLA Brewing will team up with another southern brewery to make a kick ass collaboration beer. I really feel this one. For real." Remember that? Well, it turns out I was right. Sort of.

I did say another Southern brewery but I didn't specify what South. At least this is what I am going with. Turns out NOLA Brewing is brewing a collaboration brew with Stone Brewing Company. That's right, you kept hearing from Polly over at Avenue Pub that Brewmaster Mitch Steel was coming to town and now you know why! I know, I know. You're thinking, "Stone Brewing isn't a Southern brewery you dumbass". But here is where I win on a technicality. Technically, Stone Brewing IS a Southern brewery. A Southern California brewery. Winning.

The beer they are brewing is going to be an Imperial Porter called Pour Me Something Mistah and is made with satsuma peels and Steens cane syrup. It will only be available on draft and will be available(tentatively) on February 11th. Avenue Pub will be hosting the release party. When I get more details I will let you know.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha