NOLA, Parish, Tin Roof, Bayou Teche, Covington and Abita joined by Great Raft and Red River in Louisiana craft beer pubation

363 Jul 01, 2013 NOLA Brewing Co, a photo by Omunene on Flickr.

"Last year, Louisiana had six craft breweries: NOLA, Parish, Tin Roof, Abita, Bayou Teche and Covington Brewhouse. By the end of 2013, that number could jump to 10," wrote Times Picayune reporter Todd Price in May, 2013. He continued:

For years, fans of flavorful suds grumbled that Louisiana was a beer backwater. The state only had a handful of breweries. Many of America’s most celebrated beers never crossed our border. As American Craft Beer Week runs from May 12–19 with tastings and events around the state, however, it would be hard to argue that Louisiana isn’t catching up with the rest of the country.

Four years ago, Kirk Coco founded NOLA Brewing on Tchoupitoulas Street. It was, and continues to be, the only package brewery in the city since Dixie Brewing Co. stopped making beer in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. NOLA has already doubled the size of its operation, taking over the building next door. Even Coco is surprised by how quickly the state’s craft beer scene has matured.

“We’re still not Seattle or San Diego,” Coco said, “but we’ve probably grown 10 years in the last four years.”

Read on . . .

And, in Shreveport: Great Raft and Red River.