A Few Good Beers Part One

Like I promised here is the long awaited "Few Good Beers" I've been talking about.  Just to start off I'm going to  brag about my rich heritage and wonderful homeland by reviewing local beers!  If there is one MAJOR reason to come down to New Orleans and the surrounding areas is to try the most amazing beer on the planet.  We have New Orleans Lager and Ale (NOLA) in the heart of the city, Lazy Magnolia out of Kiln, MS; the home of Brett Favre, Covington Brewhouse and Heinerbrau in Covington, LA where I live, and Abita which is not only my personal favorite beer but it's also just a few short minutes to my east from my house!

So sit back, grab your favorite brew and get ready to open your mind and start buying plane tickets.  You'll want to be here in time for Mardi Gras this upcoming March and I'll let you know exactly what to grab while you're here!

New Orleans Lager and Ale Co.  Hopitoulas India Pale Ale

First is NOLA.  Previously available on tap only, it is now conveniently sold in draft packs in stores locally for around $34 for a 5.7 Liter package.  The one beer that really stands out in the crowd with these guys is the Hopitoulis IPA.  What the Hell does Hopitoulas mean you ask?  Well NOLA is located on the corner of 7th street and Tchoupitoulas (pronounced CHOP A TOO LUSS) St. in New Orleans, and like the name implies, the taste is much like walking down a street paved with hops.  You get all the good bittersweet fruitiness that you would find in such IPA's like Sierra Nevada's Torpedo without having the ultra thickness that comes with it.  The best part is, it's always on tap in the comfort of your own home!  If there is one beer on this list you can absolutely not get anywhere else but NOLA, it is NOLA draft Hopitoulas IPA!

Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan Ale

Sorry for the lack of picture but the best way to image Southern Pecan is sparkling coffee with no cream or sugar added!  Solid black with nearly no visibility and the creamy foam head is much like the nutty white top on freshly brewed espresso.  The taste is almost exactly what the name implies, and even though it is brewed in Mississippi, the pecans are grown here in Louisiana!  It is fresh and crisp but has some serious depth and complexity as far as a beer goes.  Much like Samuel Smiths or other nut brown ales, it holds a very serious bold taste of roasted pecans and hazelnuts, but the smooth refreshing taste of a lighter lager.  You can usually find this brew for about $7.99 per 6 pack (12oz bottles)

Lazy Magnolia is also the mastermind behind another wonderful brew called LA 31 Biere Pale but is brewed under the name Bayou Teche.  Since they have their own blog, I'll leave the good news up to them on that one. But it is another great beer that you cannot pass up!

Covington Brewhouse Pilsner and Bock

This one I'm going to keep kinda short because not too much can be said about these two.  Recently released in 2010, I've only tried each a few times.  Unfortunately I wasn't too impressed with either one.  The Pilsner was seriously lacking in flavor and body and had me craving a Miller Lite.  The Bock on the other hand was very packed with a heavy boiled-peanut type flavor.  Not the most desirable when it comes to beer.  I would love a second opinion of these two and just hoping that I may have come across a bad brew....  Retails for about $8.99 per 6 pack (12oz bottles).

Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

I know what you're thinking, "Another Pecan beer?"  And the answer is, "YES!  ANOTHER PECAN BEER!!!"  You don't understand!  Pecans are the best thing since sliced bread down here.  And we make sliced bread with pecans too!  A little different from Lazy Magnolia's brew, Abita's Pecan Ale has a little more bitterness to it because of it retaining so much of it's natural hoppy flavor and is a little bit more smoky due to its heavy infusion of the pecan's natural oils.  A great beer to drink with any kind of boiled seafood or creamy cheeses..  Another great brew from my favorite brewery on the planet.  Be sure to pay attention for the second half of this update to come in just a few short days for a follow up on Abita's other brews.  Also retails for about $7.49 per 6 pack (12oz bottles), about 50 cents cheaper than the normal line.

Hope you enjoy!  And ever more so I hope you all can find some of these great beers out towards you!  If not, let me know, we'll see what we can do!

(Just to note, used all photos without permission from the owner)