Sunday, February 24, 2013

Beer Review: Abita Spring IPA




Alright, so at this point I have been able to try the Abita Spring IPA a couple of times. I have to admit it's pretty damn good. Abita made the bold decision to replace their spring seasonal Red Ale with this "West Coast" style IPA. I didn't see much complaining when this was announced except from a few people.  I think the Red Ale's sales may have been lacking.

I will be honest my only complaint is calling it a West Coast style IPA. In my opinion if it ain't brewed on the West Coast there ain't nothing West Coast about it. Instead they should call it a Gulf Coast style IPA. That would be pretty rad to have our own style of IPA. Granted I'm not sure what would make a beer a Gulf Coast IPA but then again what makes a beer a West Coast IPA?

Abita did a solid job with this brew. I feel that they are seriously beginning to tap into the talent they have brewing in that building. I'm really looking forward to seeing some more new products from them.  Their next one should be the lemon wheat which will be replacing the regular wheat.   I seriously hope they make the decision to bottle their Black IPA.


Here is my review:

Brewery: Abita Brewery

Beer:  Spring IPA

ABV:  6.25%

Availability:  Seasonal.  Spring.  I assume everywhere with Abita's strong nationwide presence.

Price Range:  $8.99

Appearance:  Golden brew with a frothy white head.

Smell:  Huge hop presence.  Wonderful floral and citrus aromas.

Taste:  I found it to be pretty hoppy.  Not DIPA hoppy but enough to make your back teeth ache a bit.  A little unbalanced but not enough to make it bad.  Hop heads should like this one.  Easy drinking IPA.

Mouthfeel:  Medium body with medium carbonation

Overall:  Overall I have to say great job Abita.  This is a solid brew that really stands out in the crowd of awesome brews we are seeing in the Louisiana craft beer market.  I'm sure others won't agree and that's cool.  They can start their own beer blogs.  My blog, my opinion right?

Score:  3.5 out of 5 Buddhas  Photobucket


Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Friday, February 22, 2013

Brooklyn Brewing's The Mash: Beer Edition


Okay, so yesterday I posted about The Brooklyn Brewery Mash event being held here in New Orleans.  Some of you probably caught the what the fuck undertone in the post.  Don't get me wrong I think it's awesome that they are doing this.  I really do.  But where is the fucking beer stuff?  Seriously?  You're a brewery!

Well, apparently there will be more beer stuff during this event.  Not sure why it wasn't on the website but whatever.  Here it is.  And it's all at Avenue Pub! Duh.


Tuesday: Beer & Bourbon.

- Cuvée Elijah aged in Elijah Craig barrels for a year, Elijah Craig 12 single barrel 12 yr and Elijah Craig 20 yr.  

Wednesday: Beer & Cheese.

- Brooklyn beer paired with St James cheese and a discussion of beer pairing by their chef.

Thursday: Brooklyn Black out night

-  Brooklyn Black flip cocktials, Black ops and Brooklyn Black Chocolate stout.

Friday: Brooklyn's silver anniversary

- Brewmaster reserve rollout and Brooklyn cask ale.

Well okay now THIS looks more like brewery events!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Brooklyn Brewing The Mash Coming to New Orleans: Meh



Okay, so Brooklyn Brewing is holding some sort of hipster, foodie thing here in New Orleans.  I'm assuming they'll have beers but they really don't talk too much about it. The information below is straight from their website.   They say beer but not what kind of Brooklyn beers.  I'm gonna be an ass here and say I would rather drink some awesome beers at Avenue Pub.

 03/13: Vendy Awards New Orleans @ The Historic French Market

Celebrate the street vendors who serve New Orleans every day, and who bring so much culinary and cultural life to NOLA's streets and public spaces.

 03/14: Local, 2 Ways @ Maurepas Foods

Multi-course beer dinner celebrating regional cuisine interpreted two ways: by Chef Michael Doyle of Maurepas Foods and Brooklyn Brewery House Chef, Andrew Gerson.

 03/14: NY Night Train Soul Clap & Dance-Off @ Siberia

Superstar DJ Mr. Jonathan Toubin takes you back with his soul 45s, then invites you onto the dance floor for his famous contest. King Louie One Man Band to open.

 03/14 - 03/15: Found Footage Festival @ La Nuit Comedy Theater

"Skull crushingly funny" odd and forgotten videos presented for your enjoyment.

 03/16: Farmers Market Workshop w/Brooklyn Brewery House Chef Andrew Gerson

 Our House Chef risks his skin and cooks outdoors using Farmers Market produce and such while you do your shopping.

 03/16: Togather's Books & Beer w/Liddabit Sweets & Poppy Tooker

 Poppy Tooker in conversation with Liz Gutman & Jen King of Brooklyn's Liddabit Sweets

 03/17: Slow Supper with DinnerLab, a benefit for Slow Food New Orleans

 A Secret Swamp To Table Feel Good Dinner Party. The Beer Shall Floweth.

 03/17: Chaos Cooking 100+ course meal. Your dish is one of them. The location is secret. The guests are strangers.


If you go have fun!


Cheers!


The Beer Buddha

Friday, February 15, 2013

Beer Rumor: Abita Wheat Being Replaced By Lemon Wheat



Okay, so I heard today that Abita Brewing will be replacing their wheat beer with a lemon wheat.  Not sure what's going on over there at Abita but it appears they are making some serious changes to their regular lineup. I like the idea of a lemon wheat.  Great for a hot Louisiana summer.   I will let you know when I find out anything else.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

EDIT:  It has been confirmed they will be using a Biere de garde yeast. Nice!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Win Free Tickets to the New Orleans International Beer Festival

You wanna win free tickets to the New Orleans International Beer Festival?  Go here.  This is the official Beer Buddha Facebook page.  You'll see the picture above.  Click "like" and then share it.  If you don't have a Facebook page comment on this post.  Leave your name.  I'm not giving tickets to anonymous.  These are two general admission tickets.  Good luck!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

New Orleans International Beer Festival March 9, 2013

Mardi Gras is over.  So what next?  Easter?  St. Patrick's Day?  Nah!  You don't have to wait that long!  The New Orleans International Beer Festival is Saturday March 9th!  And THIS year it won't be held the same day as Hogs For The Cause or Zapps Beer Fest!!

Like last year they will have about 175 beers, a VIP area and a "cask" beer section but this year they are planning on having a "cider garden" too.  I'm not sure what a cider garden is but I won't be there.  I will be drinking beer!

Start time is 2pm and end time is 6pm.   This is a great amount of time to sample some amazing beers.  Gives you enough time to pace yourself and not be a complete drunky douche.  Seriously.  Don't be that person.  Water folks, water.

Tickets are on sale now for $40 for general admission tickets and $75 for VIP tickets.  They will also be doing discounted tickets for designated drivers which I think is awesome since my wife doesn't drink and is always my DH.

OR you could be awesome and win tickets from me!  I teamed up with NOIBF and will be setting up a contest for you to win tickets to the event!  Stay tuned!  I should have the contest set up this week.  If you haven't signed up to get The Beer Buddha sent to your email do so now!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

New Orleans Craft Beer Spotlight: Elio's Wine Warehouse


Address: 6205 S Miro St New Orleans, LA 70125 
Phone: (504) 866-1852

I'm always looking for new places to buy craft beer here in New Orleans.  As you already know my go to store is Steins Deli but I'm always looking for places to promote here on the site.  Just because I like Stein's doesn't mean you will or maybe you will be looking for something closer to you.

Not too long ago I was posting stuff about the Parish Brewing Grand Reserve and Andrew Pollack pointed out that Elio's Wine Warehouse had some.  Now as a Tulane grad this came to me as a bit funny.  I remember Elio's being the place to get your cheap beer while in college.   I have never thought of Elio's as a place to go to get good craft beer.  I was wrong.



The wife and I decided to stop by Elio's on our way to pick up our daughter from school.  I just wanted to check out Andrew's recommendation and see if Elio's truly was another craft beer destination for New Orleans.

Upon walking in it's all wine and liquor but off to the left is shelves and a cooler full of beer.  They also have a large section of large bottle format beers.


Off to the right is a nice selection of 6 packs.


And they also have a cooler for cold beers.


Obviously they had tons of macro beer but being that it's Mardi Gras and also right near a college campus you should expect those things.  The important thing for me is that they had a nice selection of craft beers.  Green Flash, Bayou Teche, NOLA Brewing, Sierra Nevada, etc.

They also have a huge back cooler for kegs.  This may be the place to go for kegged craft beer.  I spoke with owner Tim and he said they can special order craft beer kegs for his customers.  As usual most craft beer kegs have to be special ordered so plan ahead.

Overall I was impressed.  Elio's has definitely changed since I was in college.  Very clean, bright and great customer service.   If you are in the area make sure you stop by and check it out!  Buy some beer and let them know The Beer Buddha sent ya!  Okay, don't.   They probably won't care.

Oh and bonus, they are right across the parking lot from Felipes Taqueria

You can follow them on Twitter and/or Facebook!

 Twitter:  @eliosneworleans
Facebook:  Elio's New Orleans

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

NOLA Brewing Release Potential Can Design for Mechahopzilla and It Kicks Ass


HOLY BALLS this can design looks awesome!  There isn't much else to say.  Speechless.  

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Monday, February 4, 2013

Bayou Teche Brewing Releases New Beer for Crawfish Season

This came to me from Bayou Teche today!



 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 BAYOU TECHE BREWING RELEASES NEW BEER FOR CRAWFISH SEASON

Arnaudville, February 1, 2013 – Arnaudville’s Bayou Teche Brewing is releasing Saison d’écrevisses, (crawfish season ale) almost certainly the first beer expressly crafted to pair with boiled crawfish. This limited edition beer pays tribute to what is one of South Louisiana’s legendary signature meals. The beer is brewed as a Saison - a centuries old Belgian style of farmhouse ale. The new beer is the first in Bayou Teche Brewing’s new Lagniappe Series of limited-release beers. Lagniappe is the Louisiana Creole word that denotes the little bonus that a friendly shopkeeper might add to a purchase – an unexpected gift or benefit – and Bayou Teche Brewing promises a little lagniappe in every bottle. Says brewmaster Gar Hatcher, “For our inspiration, we brewed many five gallon test batches of this beer on the propane rig our brewery uses for weekend crawfish boils. We wanted to craft a beer to complement the spicy epitome of Cajun cuisine.” Saison d’écrevisses is a Belgian-style Saison spiked with a generous amount of rye malt and then fermented with a distinctive Belgian yeast that gives this beer its dry and peppery finish. The ale is finished with imported French Aramis hops. The crawfish season ale is 6% alcohol by volume and has 24 IBUs. The brewery states that the new beer is available in 22 oz. Belgian-style bottles and on draft. Quipped Gar, “We wanted to put this beer in bigger bottles so you won’t have to make as many trips to the ice chest.”

Saison beers are becoming quite popular – nationally many micro-breweries offer up a least one version - and are a very complex style of beer. Many of examples are very fruity in the aroma and flavor. The brewers at Bayou Teche suggest drinkers look for earthy yeast tones and a moderate tartness. Their own version offers up hint of spice and a medium bitterness. Saison d’écrevisses is semi-dry with a small addition of un-malted wheat added to calm the heat of all the cayenne pepper in an accompanying platter of boiled crawfish. Says one of the brewery’s founders, Karlos Knott, “We may be the only brewery in America who has our own crawfish pond – most weekends during the season we boil the catch from my brothers Byron and Dorsey. For us, boiling crawfish is not only a meal, but an event. With every batch boiled, Cajuns delight in the gathering of their family and friends. We can’t ever get enough boiled crawfish – we dread the arrival of June when crawfish season is nearing its end.”

It was only natural that the brewers would craft a beer to go with their favorite meal. Bayou Teche Brewing’s limited edition release of Saison d’écrevisses is available in 22 oz. Belgian-style bottles and on draft during the traditional crawfish season (January to May) across Louisiana. The brewery expects to be able to offer the beer soon to their distributors in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and New York.

I will be looking for this one for sure!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Glazers Distributing Selling Beer Portfolio to Southern Eagle

So Todd Price from NOLA.com announced today that Glazers Distributing will be selling it's beer portfolio to Southern Eagle.  What can I say other than I told you so and it's about time.

If you have been following this blog and following me on Facebook you knew I had issues with Glazers.  Not the people but the company.  I hated seeing Glazers focus on wine and spirits and not give as much attention to its beer division.  They had some really nice beers like Rogue, Shiner, North Coast and Ommegang.  But then again they weren't a beer distributorship.  Beer doesn't make as much money as wine and spirits and that's fine.  But as I said before SELL IT to someone who cares.  Finally they did.

The real sad part is that they had some great sales people who were passionate about their beer.  What's going to happen to them?  I just hope that Glazers takes care of them in all this.

Good job Southern Eagle for acquiring this portfolio.  You've added some great beers to your lineup.  Remember though:  Don't forget your local breweries.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha