NOLA Brewing and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation Easter Keg Hunt

From NOLA Brewing:

After the huge success of last year's Scavenger Hunt, we've decided to do it again this year -- only bigger and better!

NOLA Brewing is teaming up with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation to create the First Annual Easter Keg Hunt! We're going to throw you one hell of a party -- the only catch is you have to find it using the clues we give you!

We will kick off at 12:00 NOON at Woldenberg Park, where teams will complete their registration. At 1:00 PM, we'll give out the first clue and send you on your way to find the FREE NOLA beer at the last stop on your hunt!

This year's course will be in the French Quarter/Marigny area -- which means participants will walk/run through the area (NO DRIVING!) from location to location, finally arriving at the undisclosed location of the Easter Kegs!

Here's what we want you to do:

1. Form teams of 2-6 people and come up with a clever team name (best team name wins a prize!) and pick someone to be your Team Captain. Submit your Team's Name the day of the event.

2. Have each participant begin their registration process online. Online registration will shut down on March 26th, so do it early! Anyone not registering online will have to wait in line to register the day of the Easter Keg Hunt and pay their $5 in cash (ALL of which goes to the cause). Registration will be capped at 600 people, so reserve your spot early. Register at:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2rbn8ktdbf06ec3

3. Put on your drinking shoes the day of the event and head on down to Woldenberg Park to check in your team and give us your clever Team Name (registration is from 12:00 NOON until 1:00 PM). Your Team Captain will receive your first clue & a set of rules, and all teams will open their clues at the same time.

YOU MUST REGISTER ONLINE AT THE ABOVE LINK, CLAIMING YOU ARE ATTENDING ON THIS PAGE DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU A SPOT. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO 600 AND SPACES WILL FILL UP QUICKLY.

Happy Keg Hunting!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Hurricane Saison Release

NOLA Brewing will be releasing a new beer for the spring called Hurricane Saison.  The official release date is going to be March 16th and will be held at Avenue Pub.  Below are two descriptions sent over to me from NOLA's Vice President of Dylan Lintern.

Brief

Hurricane Saison is a Belgian-style farmhouse ale brewed with 5 different malts and 3 hops. This golden colored ale has a spice driven aroma created by the unique blend of spices and expressive yet slightly funky yeast strain selected by the brewers at NOLA. We hope you enjoy this 6.5% ABV spring seasonal release, as it is the first of our seasonal beers that we will be rotating throughout the year!



Full



The word Saison is the Flemish word meaning “season” and was originated in Wallonia in southern Belgium. They were brewed at the beginning of winter in a farmhouse brewery in order to quench the thirst of the farmhands who worked the fields in the summer. These beers had to survive the spring heat without becoming too infected by summertime. That is why this type of beer until this day is still fermented at higher temeratures.



We use 3 different types of wheat in our saison, including one un-malted or raw wheat, along with pilsner and aromatic malts. The three types of hops used are Sterling, Kent Goldings, and Styrian Goldings. Although there are more hops used in this style than most Belgian ales, the hops are added more for their aroma than bitterness. The use of various wheat malts makes for a smooth, balanced beer. The yeast strain chosen provides a dry finish, complemented by a unique blend of spices added in the kettle that includes cumin, black pepper, and grains of paradise.



The Hurricane Saison will be released in the middle of March and it will run through the springtime. It will be available in 5 gallon kegs as well as our draft packs for purchase in the store. We will come out with our summer seasonal 7th Street Wheat that is an unfiltered wheat beer brewed with lemon-basil.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Boulevard in Louisiana Rumor Just a Rumor

So I wanted to verify the rumor that Boulevard Brewing was indeed coming into the Louisiana and after a brief phone call I found out some bad news.  They are not coming into the Louisiana market and won't be for the next couple of years.  Very disappointing news.  Anyways I'll keep up on trying to find who is attempting to come into the state and will make sure you are informed!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Video Of The Month: March 2010

Great online commercial from Yazoo Brewery in Tennessee.



Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Review: Abita Strawberry

Abita Strawberry is probably one of Abita's best selling seasonal offerings.  Every year "Strawbita Heads" flock to local grocery retailers to get their hands on this seasonal elixir in the hopes they can get it before it sells out.  Abita Strawberry has a history of selling quickly and each year Abita ends up brewing more than the year before.  This year they are brewing 99,000 cases of Strawberry which is up from the 88,000 they brewed last year.

Now I'm sure many of my die hard craft beer readers are getting their panties in a bunch because I'm reviewing this beer.  Just wait to you see how many Buddha's it gets.  That'll really bother you!  As I've said before one of the reasons I have this site is to show that beer is fun and to take the snobbery out of it.  Abita Strawberry is what it is.  A strawberry lager.  And as strawberry lagers go....well, read my review and you'll see what I think.

Brewery: Abita Brewing Co.

Beer: Strawberry

Style: Fruit Beer

Glassware: Pint glass

Appearance: The beer pours a golden, straw color with foamy, white head which dissipates quickly. I expected a rosy tint because of the strawberries but no, there wasn't.

Smell: How do I say this? It smells like Strawberry Shortcake's vagina would probably smell. Like strawberries. Ok so that's just gross. I apologize. It smells like strawberries, strawberries and more strawberries. And then again more strawberries.

Taste: The lager flavor here is completely overwhelmed by the taste of...you guessed it, strawberries. Not neccessarily in a bad way especially if you like strawberries but it is a bit too sweet. I can only have one and then I'll switch to something else. This is a great beer to pair with a salad or to drink perhaps on a really hot, sticky Louisiana afternoon after you've spent your day walking around the Quarter.

Mouthfeel: Medium high carbonation with a somewhat thin to medium body.

Overall: As I've said before not a bad beer for a hot Louisiana day or maybe to go with a salad. Abita Strawberry is still one of Abita's best seasonal brews. if you can get your hands on it I say give it a try!

Score: 3.5 out of 5 Buddhas

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beeradvocate US South LIF #9

Here you go ladies and gentleman.  In order to win you have to name as many of the 14 beers that I have on here.  In order to win you must be a member of Beeradvocate and live in a state in the US South Group.  DO NOT ANSWER ON HERE IT WON'T COUNT! Good luck!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Wars On Demand

Hey local beer nerds.  I was scrolling through my cable On Demand last night and saw that Beer Wars was on there.  If you missed this film now is your chance to see it.   It is a must see and may open your eyes to beer issues we are facing right here locally in Louisiana.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Rumors

 

So yesterday I told you about Schmaltz Brewing coming into Louisiana.  Well get ready because it looks like we may have two more coming as well.  Rumor has it that both Magic Hat Brewing and Boulevard Brewing are coming to Louisiana possibly in April.  I really can't express my excitement that these new beers are coming especially Boulevard.  I really enjoy Boulevard brews particularly their special releases.  Saison-Brett is one of my favorites!

Louisiana is definitely getting better in terms of its beer selection.  If we can maintain this steady growth of local breweries and out of town breweries coming I foresee New Orleans becoming a cultural hub for beer nerds everywhere.  We already have the best cuisine the US has to offer so it just makes sense that we have a great beer selection as well.  Get ready cause the times, they are a changing.  I can feel it!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

PS Be ready for April 22-25 for a Stone Brewing Jazz Fest extravaganza.  It'll be held at Avenue Pub and I hear they will have some cask beers, aged beers and possibly some rare bottles. More details to come!!

March Beer Madness

March is going to be a great month for beer here in Louisiana.  Get your liver ready because there is going to be A LOT of beer consumption going on.  In addition to the two beer festivals I mentioned in my last post we have some official brewery roll outs and Avenue Pub is going to be a madhouse of brew.

Events at Avenue Pub

February 27th

NOLA Dry hopped Hopitoulas on Cask this Saturday @ 5pm

Craig and Kimmie have come up with an amazing special to go with this;
Frenched Lamb over Barley in a chicken cheddar Reduction with Sauteed Green beans.
The dinner special starts today and will be available all weekend. It was designed for the IPA but it goes pretty damn well with the new whiskey barrel aged Rogue too.

March 11th 

The First Top 100 beers tasting 

Dieu de Ciel! Peche Mortel on draft

Cantillon St Lamvinus

La fin Du Monde

Bells Hopslam*

3 Floyds Dreadnaught*

Goose Island Bourbon Country Stout*

* Pulled from Polly's private stock will be and not available for individual sale.

March 27th 

The Second Top 100 Beer Tasting

Olfabrikken Porter

Fantome Saison

St Bernardus

Founder's Breakfast Stout*

Great Divide Old Ruffian*

* Pulled from Polly's private stock will be and not available for individual sale.

Other Draft Beers Coming in March to Avenue Pub

Dieu du Ciel! Péché Mortel Stout
Dieu du Ciel! Aphrodite
Dieu du Ciel! Dernière Volonté
Mikkeller Simcoe Single Hop IPA
Cantillon Vigneronne

Brewery Roll Outs

Bayou Teche Brewery

Enters the New Orleans market March 18th

Schmaltz Brewing Company

March 24,25,26- Three day roll out event.  Avenue Pub will have some really cool kegs just for the event.

NOLA Brewing Company

Releases their highly anticipated(and delicious I might add) Hurricane Saison.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Beer Dinner: La Cote Brasserie March 24th

I received the following information from La Cote Brasserie regarding a beer dinner they will be doing in March.  I just copy and pasted the info below.


Chuck Subra, Executive Chef of La Côte Brasserie, has crafted a 5-course menu in harmony with two regional brew houses, Lazy Magnolia and Heiner Brau. Each brand will feature several of their varietals, one with each course. This Southern Beer Dinner will be held on March 24, 2010 at 7:00pm and is $60 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity.

Southern Beer Dinner Menu: Reservations are required and can be made by calling the restaurant, 504-613-2350.

I
Red Fish Ceviche - Bechnel Farms Myer Lemon, Red Naval, Pear Tomatoes
Heiner Brau - Kolsch Unfiltered

II
Spiced Pecan Salad - Mache, Candied Apples, Stilton, Sherry Vinaigrette
Lazy Magnolia - Southern Pecan

III
Lacquered Pork Belly - Celeriac Slaw, Satsuma Reduction
Lazy Magnolia - Indian Summer Spiced Ale

IV
Veal Paillard - Butternut Squash Pasta and Sage Beurre Noisette
Heiner Brau - Festbier

V
Marzen Poached Plums - Marzen Ice Cream, Louisiana Brown Sugar Tuille
Heiner Brau - Marzen

Lazy Magnolia, founded in 2003, is the state's first local brewery located in Kiln, Mississippi. They are dedicated to providing the best possible products through our tireless efforts, our superior motivation, and our Southern heritage. The line of beers is made in true Southern Style, complementing the traditions of the South and remaining true to Southern tastes. They include: Southern Pecan, Southern Gold, Red Ale, Jefferson Stout, Indian Summer and Gulf Porter.

Heiner Brau boasts one of the only German Brewmasters in the United States, Henryk "Heiner" Orlik, who has been brewing since 1972 and opened in Covington, Louisiana since 2005. Year-round beers include: Kölsch, Maerzen and Strawberry Ale. There are also several seasonal specialties, such as: Mardi Gras Festbier, Maibock, Hefe-Weisse and Festbier Oktoberfest.

Native Louisianan, Chef Chuck Subra Jr., Executive Chef of La Côte Brasserie, has a passion for pairing the abundant seafood available in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico with local and international flavors. He has been recognized as Epicurious.com's "Top 5 Hot Spots in New Orleans," the Times Picayune "Top Dining Guide", Louisiana Cookin' Chefs to Watch, Jamie Shannon Award recipient (given to New Orleans Chef for strong community involvement), a World Championship Gumbo Cookoff participant and will be cooking at the James Beard House in March 2010.

La Côte Brasserie is located at 700 Tchoupitoulas Street in the New Orleans Arts District. Phone: 504-613-2350. Website: www.lacotebrasserie.com / Facebook / Twitter. Free Valet Parking at the Renaissance Arts Hotel.