A hot meal is nothing without something cold to wash it down with.
Nowhere is that more true than in Louisiana, where the jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp creole is hot enough to make you want to Slap Ya Mama. Some may prefer a cold glass of sweet tea, coca-cola or lemonade, but an increasing number of Louisianians are turning to the state’s burgeoning craft brewing industry to satisfy their thirst.
According to Baton Rouge Business Report, “In 2014, Louisiana’s craft breweries produced 197,853 barrels of craft beer, ranking the state No. 23 nationally”.
While some of this beer flew off shelves out of state, most of it cooled in ice chests around LSU tailgates, Mardi Gras parties and dinner tables throughout the state. Furthermore, the companies “had an economic impact of $462.2 million and employed 3,838 people, ranking it No. 30 nationally in economic impact per capita, according to the Brewers Association.”
According to Business Report, the craft brewery community in Louisiana believes it has gotten such positive feedback because the companies have put Louisiana culture at the forefront of their business models.
It all starts with the names of the companies.
There is the Abita Brewing Company, Parish Brewing Company, Red River Brewing Company, Tin Roof Brewing Company, Mudbug Brewery, Bayou Teche Brewery and a whole host of others. Each of these names elicits certain images of “Louisiana Saturday Nights.”
The names of the beers and the processes for making them are also deeply rooted in a Louisiana identity.
The Gnarly Brewing Company’s most famous brew, the “Catahoula Common” evokes the state dog, the Catahoula leopard dog. Bayou Teche Brewery of Arnaudville just announced its Ragin’ Cajun Genuine Louisiana Ale. The ale, according to University of Louisiana at Lafayette representative Aaron Martin, “mixes local rice with the traditional base ingredient of barley — an addition to lighten the body a bit.”
Adding rice, a staple in the Louisiana agricultural economy, shows how committed Gnarly is to including the culture of Louisiana into every facet of the company.
The microbrewing industry in Louisiana is relatively new, as Abita was the only microbrewery in Louisiana for a significant amount of time. The industry did not grow in earnest until the mid to late 2000s.
William McGehee and Charles Caldwell decided Louisiana’s drought of locally sourced beer was over. According to Business Report, this was necessary as the state ranks 42nd when it comes to the number of craft breweries per capita.
A vibrant community of craft breweries exists now, and as Andrew Godley, the owner of Parish Brewing Company notes in Business Report, when “every brewery in South Louisiana is selling 100 percent of what they can make,” the camaraderie makes for a good business climate.
The state government has also made a commitment to this industry by promoting the Louisiana Craft Brew Trail. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne spearheaded this initiative, and more can be found at libations.lousianatravel.com
Seeing industries outside of tourism, agri/aqua-culture and the oil and gas industry develop in Louisiana is welcomed news to those who believe this state has better days ahead. Involving and engaging young people in the business sector allows the corporate community to shake off its dusty image and propel itself forward.
The emerging craft brewery industry in Louisiana is further proof old dogs can not only learn new tricks but also have fun while doing so.
Garrett Hines is a 21-year-old political science senior from Monroe, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @garrettH_TDR.