New year, new beer. Beer fans were — quite literally — foaming at the mouth this month when Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager hit the shelves again, marking the arrival of another batch of seasonal brews. But with so many options, the casual drinker might not know where to start. The Daily Reveille went to the staff of The Bulldog, one of Baton Rouge’s first stops for a wide selection of drafts, for some recommendations of the best spring beers.
The Beer Gurus:
Nikki Merritt, Bartender
Remi DeMatteo, General Manager
Carter Cauley, Shift Manager
Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager
Merritt: “My first recommendation is always Abita Strawberry. It’s classic. People look forward to it all year, and they’ll stick with it all season.”
DeMatteo: “It’s from a local brewer, and it’s made with real Louisiana strawberries and fruit juice. It’s a lager made with pilsner wheat malt so it has a crispness to it, but it still has the fruit presence that’s really refreshing for the Louisiana weather.”
New Planet 3R Raspberry Ale
DeMatteo: “We thought it was interesting that there was a whole class of beer drinkers that was alienated because they didn’t have any options available. [Gluten-free] is a new and exciting trend in beer that you have these beers that people with gluten sensitivities can drink.”
Cauley: “If you like Abita Strawberry, it’s another great option.”
Blanche de Bruxelles
DeMatteo: “Probably the pinnacle of its style in terms of wheat white ale. … It’s a really light beer with a lot of citrus on it, so if you like a Blue Moon or a Harpoon or a Hoegaarden, this is the quintessential beer in that style.”
Cauley: “You have two different tiers [with a white ale]. You have the orange peel side of things where you see the Blue Moons and Shock Tops, and then you have your lemon peel focus which is a Hoegaarden or the Blanche de Bruxelles. That’s where it gets its nice, light, citrus flavor from.”
Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp
DeMatteo: “You get some of the floralness of an IPA, you get the refreshing quality of a Belgian beer, and you mash them together. This beer is phenomenal, probably my favorite beer on this list.”
Cauley: “It’s another one done with a hint of orange peel so it’s got a nice citrus flavor. It’s going to be a great introductory beer for people who aren’t so used to the bitter beers, specifically pale ales and IPAs. … The orange comes through and gives it a nice crispness.”
