Any recommendations on breweries near the French Quarter?
Have not been there since 2008, so no info from me, but I really want to get back down there, and so does my lady as she has never been. Such a great town!
Not much near the French Quarter at the moment. Crescent City Brewhouse and Gordon Biersch are it right there at the moment. I highly recommend GB though. The brewer is given a lot of latitude for experimental stuff besides doing a great job on the regular lineup. Nice guy too if you get a chance to chat. His name is Sonny Day.
That being said, there are several beer spots and breweries that you should try to get to.
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The Avenue Pub - In my opinion, it’s the best beer bar in the gulf south. Good whiskey selection too. It’s on St. Charles Avenue, so you can get on the St. Charles street car at the corner of Canal and Carondelet. Get a day pass for $3 a person. The Avenue is at the corner of St. Charles and Polymnia.
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NOLA Brewing - On Tchopitoulas by the 7th Street Wharf. Really nice 2 story tap room. Friday tours are from 2-4 featuring free beer.
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Courtyard Brewery - Small scale brewery serving their own beer and lots of guest stuff. Scott’s from San Diego originally, so he brews a lot of hoppy stuff, but has some other stuff from time to time.
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Urban South - Just opened officially. Right now they have an IPA and a Wit on.
Shameless plug of a friend’s article:
http://www.nolabeerblog.com/p/up-to-date-list-of-all-louisiana.html
Thanks. I will be traveling in late June and no virtually nothing about the city at this point. I quick google search brought these up in the area as well:
Crescent City
Jackson Brewery Bistro Bar
Brieux Carre Brewing
Do these exist?
NOLA brewing is a complete and absolute must. The beer was absolutely fantastic and the flights were very affordable. And the staff the time I was there was phenomenal. Talked brewing for almost 4 hours with my wife and I.
I visited the Avenue Pub based on recommendations from this forum and loved it. One of the top bars I’ve visited while traveling. It’s easy to get to from the French Quarter on the streetcar.
Crescent City is the first one I mentioned. Their thing is German beer and food. For the most part, they’re good, but not great. Similar to how I would have described Gordon Biersch before Sonny got there. GB only had a few OK brewers between Sonny and another guy a few years prior to him. Skip the Jax Bistro. It’s not going to have anything you can’t find in any other bar in the Quarter. Its name is because it’s located in the mall that used to be the Jax brewery a long time ago.
I would have mentioned Brieux Carre, except that they’re not really anywhere near being open (target is Mardi Gras 2017). The list at Nora’s link is current, so if it’s not listed on there, it’s not in production yet. If you get your dates and schedule nailed down, let me know. I’m always looking for an excuse to head to New Orleans.
Awesome thanks. I think we are going to stay in the Merigny area so that we can be close to Frenchman and the French Quarter.
Good choice on staying in Merigny, but we always stay in the CEntral Business District at the Residence Inn. It is close enough to walk to the Quarter and the museums (and a short walk to the Avenue Pub), but is not tourist central.
Listen to everything Toby said.
We were just there last month and enjoyed NOLA Brewing quite a bit. It kind of looks like they built their tasting room last week.
In New Orleans, it’s not so much about the beer as it is about the food. If you happen to find yourself somewhere with a lean beer selection, have a Sazerac.
If you’re staying in the Marigny, a stop by dba on Frenchmen will net you much better beer options than the Jax Bistro. Note the correct spellings. 
Decent spot. Anything that’s a short walk to the Avenue is great in my opinion. There’s a little B&B a block away that we like a lot.
[quote]We were just there last month and enjoyed NOLA Brewing quite a bit. It kind of looks like they built their tasting room last week.
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This past summer. The former tap room became a private event space (it’s a real good spot for bottle shares). Also McClure’s BBQ on site is awesome.
[quote]In New Orleans, it’s not so much about the beer as it is about the food. If you happen to find yourself somewhere with a lean beer selection, have a Sazerac.
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Solid recommendation. Skip the sugary tourist drinks. Also not a beer place, but 212 Loyola Ave (about a block off of Canal) is a place called the Krewe Lounge. If you go, try a Firestarter (he does have some locals on tap also). Tell JP I sent you. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him since we haven’t been downtown in a while (we went to school together).
I have centered trips around beer in the past which is definitely not going to be the case this time. I just want to make sure that I don’t miss a good spot if I am near it. I want to try as much traditional local food and drink as possible…
If you can get to Willie May’s scotch house, I believe in the 9th Parrish, GO! Best damn fried chicken you will ever eat but get there early- lunch, they don’t do dinner cause they run outta food;)
I went with friends, and they and everyone else said - “take a cab”. We walked everywhere else.
There are many bars where you can find good food food and at least an Abita or another local beer.
The best meal of one trip was at Cochon. We saw Mario Batali at another table, so even a TV chef would go there.
Been to NOLA a few times - heard great things about Willie May’s but never got there. I do highly recommend Domilise’s - best po boys I’ve ever had (Toby might disagree). So much amazing food in NOLA. Best food city in America IMO. I know this thread is about beer, but damn, the food is good there!
When I go to NOLA its all about the food, sure there’s good beer to be had but the food really shines!
It’s in the 7th Ward (wards were the old voting subdivisions within parishes).
How can I disagree that it’s been the best you’ve had? lol That being said, Domilise’s and Parkway are pretty much the standard for po boys. The best po boys ever though aren’t in existence any more. There was a small place in Lafourche Parish called Philip George’s. There are still people that bring them up in po boy conversations in those parts. Their roast beef po boys were perfect. The cook also made the best popcorn balls on the planet every year for Halloween. But you had to go to her house to get them. I’m biased though.
Fair enough ;D I just meant that you might not agree they’re the best. I want to try Parkway next time, heard great things.
Honestly, po boys are like women (or men depending on your orientation) or beer. What one person may like, another person may not. So, I generally don’t argue ‘best’ about that sort of thing. It’s more of a “this is what I like, so here’s what is along those lines” or “tell me what you like, and I’ll point you in that direction” sort of thing.
Parkway’s Roast Beef is similar to Mother’s. It’s messy. Stein’s Deli is also a really good sandwich spot. They have a packaged beer room out the back door to the right for stuff to take home. Two things to remember, though. They’re closed on Mondays, and don’t try to buy packaged beer during a lunch rush (Dan might get a little testy with you).
Yum, love me,some Mothers, smothered in debris
Visit Cooter Brown’s, a pub that’s Uptown at the Riverbend. It’s definitely on the dumpy side as far as venues go, but the beer list is killer http://www.cooterbrowns.com/beers.html and their raw ersters are great.
Get a one-day streetcar pass for $3. Stop at the Columns Hotel and spend a lazy hour on the front porch with a snack plate watching the world go by (or, inside in their fabulous bar) with the help of a few Sazeracs. Then go further uptown to Cooter Brown’s for sumbeers and ersters; and mosey a couple of blocks over to Camellia Grill.
Two blocks off the St. Charles streetcar is Commander’s Palace. Go for lunch or brunch for the best bang for your buck. Food and service are the best, and for lunch you can order $.25 Martinis (full martinis, not small or watered down). But limit 3, “cause that’s enough.”