headed there this weekend for a conference. my experience (ca. five visits) is that it’s not really a beer town. any places to prove me wrong?
I found two bars (located not far apart) named Beerfest which had some taps of beer I could go for…not a low price place, but decent beer.
My favorite place to have a beer was Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. (941 Bourbon St) - It wasn’t about the beer, it was the ambiance of that place.
There’s a DBA bar (the same owners as in NYC) on Frenchman St. just east of the quarter in Faurbourg Marigny (sp) that has a good beer selection and live music. They have Hopatoulis on tap.
If walking in the quarter stop into the French Market deli on Decatur St. near Phillips for a beer to go. They have a very good selection of singles.
The only brew pub in that area is Crescent City, but I had only OK beers there recently.
Cooter Brown’s has a big selection of beer, bottles and taps.
Martin’s wine cellar has a few locations around the city and they have a good selection. I’ve only been to the Metarie location and it was good. As far as breweries or brewpubs around downtown, cresent city and Gordon biersch is it.
avenue pub is of the top beer bars in america. hands down, no questions asked, the best beer bar south of atlanta.
DON’T MISS OUT AND NOT GO THERE! they are constantly tapping special kegs, casks, rare sours (fou foune), etc…
if you are on facebook, check out their page. they are getting wonderful beers all the time.
check their facebook page for the current stuff, but this is probably real close to up to date…
Currently On Tap:
American Strong Ales
Stone 2009 Vintage Double Bastard
Belgian Style Sours & Abbey Styles
Le Trappe Quad
Belgian Style Wits, American Wheats & Hefeweizens
NOLA 7th Street Lemon Basil Wheat
Witterkerke Unfiltered Belgian Wit
Kapuziner Weiss
Professor Fritz 1809 Berliner Weiss
Blue Star American Wheat
India Pale Ales (IPAs), Imperial IPAs
Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Black IPA
Racer 5
Moylander Imperial IPA
NOLA Hopitoulas
Houblon Chouffe Belgian IPA
Rogue Brutal Bitter
Pale Ales & Bitters
Red Seal Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Bayou Teche LA31 Biere Pale
Northcoast Red Seal
Stouts & Imperial Stouts
Lazy Magnolia Jefferson Stout
Harpoon Oyster Stout
Browns, Blondes, Ambers
De la Senne Zinnebir Unpasteurized Belgian Hoppy Blonde
NOLA Brown Ale
NOLA Blonde
Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan
Sours
Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus
Professor Fritz 1809 Berliner Weiss
Pilsner, Lager & Kolsch
Brooklyn Lager
Sunner Unpasteurized, Hoppy German Kolsch
Sierra Nevada Summerfest (Pilsner)
Coney Island White Albino Python Ginger & Fennel Lager
Covington Pilsner
Scrimshaw Pilsner
Fruit Infused Beer & Ciders
Fox Barrel Pear Cider
Covington Strawberry
Bayou Teche Grenade
Magic Hat #9
Coney Island White Albino Python Ginger & Fennel Lager
Kellerbiers/Altbiers
Mahrs Ungespudet Hefetraube Unfiltered, Unpasteurized German Wheat Beer
Saisons
NOLA Hurricane Saison – American Saison With Belgian Yeast
Page 24 Printemps French Brewery, Hildegard’s Spring Seasonal
Bottles:
In addition to the bottles you see here we offer specialty Belgian and American sours when we can access them. Beers like Cantillon, Drie Fonteneinen and Jolly Pumpkin are available when we can get them!
Saisons & Biere de Garde
Cuvee de 7’eme Wild Yeast Saison
Cuvee des Jonquilles
La Merle Saison
Saison Dupont
Gueze, Lambics & American Sours
Cantillon Classic Gueuze
Drie Fonteinen 2010 Schaerbeeske Kreik
Quelque Chose Cherry Ale 2009
Jolly Pumpkin: Oro de Calabaza, Bam Biere
Jolly Pumpkin: Marcaibo Especial
Giradin Black Label Gueze
Cuvee René Gueze
Cantillon Boscella Grand Cru
Oude Briun, Flanders Red & Sour Stouts
Monk’s Cafe Sour Flanders Red
Duchesse de Bourgagne Flanders Red Ale
Liefmans Cuvee-Brut, Fruitesse
Odin’s Triple Wild Yeast Stout
Bellegems Oude Bruin
Jolly Pumpkin: Madrugada Dark Dawn Stout
Specialty American Craft Bottles
St. Arnold Divine Reserve IPA
Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA
Sierra Nevada Kellerwiess
Northcoast Pranqster Hoppy Golden
Northcoast Old Rasputin
Northcoast Old Stock Ale
Unibroue Don de Dieu
Unibroue La Merle Saison
Unibroue La Fin Du Monde
Belgian & Trappist
Brooklyn Local 1 & 2
Rochefort 8 & 10
Abbot 12
St. Bernardus
Chimay
Duvel
Omer Blonde
Thanks, deepsouth. I’ll have to check that out next time I’m there.
It’s right on the trolley line, too.
Avenue Pub looks worth a visit, thanks. I suspect I’m attending the same event that kgs is this weekend 
Yeah, I saw those places on BeerAdvocate. $10.50 for a pint of Guinness :
Sidney’s Wine Cellar gets good reviews as a bottle shop. Anyone been there?
the two best places to buy beer in new orleans are stein’s deli (also a fantastic place to grab a wonderful sandwich or cheeses) or cork & bottle.
Yeah, I’ve been to Sydney’s before. It’s your best bet if, like us, you’re staying in the quarter and are on foot - very convenient. Also, the folks that work there have always been friendly and helpful and the selection is good.
We’ll be hitting town this Sunday but not for any conference, just a vacation.
it’s only a very short cab ride to avenue and stein’s. if you feel like a short three minute cab ride, it’s worth it.
I had dinner at Avenue tonight and thoroughly enjoyed myself. A really great selection, although I limited myself to NOLA Brewing beers, as I try to follow Michael Jackson’s advice and drink local whenever possible. Their IPA is excellent.
Sidney’s is a pretty good store but I’ve also found a lot of Abita, Lazy Magnolia and Bayou Teche beers at places on Canal Street, which is closer to my hotel. Didn’t make it to Stein’s and they’re closed tomorrow :-[
Carrollton Station - over 50 beers
8140 Willow Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
The River Shack Tavern - Always something good on tap - great muffalettas!
3449 River Road
Jefferson, LA 70121
Franky & Johnny’s - Real local food & beer (I met my wife-to-be here during NHC '96)
321 Arabella Street
New Orleans, LA. 70115
Mid City Lanes Rock & Bowl - always something local and good on tap
An awesome place for live local music… A bowling alley - UPSTAIRS!
3000 South Carrolltoin Ave
New Orleans, LA 70119
Carl, I heard they moved RocknBowl out of that strip mall. I’m not sure it’s still upstairs.
thanks, everyone. In the end this wasn’t a great beer experience for me, but it was a good time anyway. Sometimes you have to go with the flow. Terrific reccs for the next time, though!