I will be leaving this week on a trip that will include stops in New Orleans, Mobile, Destin, and Jackson. SWMBO pretty much has the non-beer related adventures covered, but I’d love to hear of any must stop beer places in any of these cities.
We just got back from a week in Pensacola with a quick stop to visit my sister-in-law in Gulfport MS.
Mississippi has some decent beer but it’s illegal to sell it at their brewery - you can tour and do samples though but it’s normally late in the week in the afternoons. I went to Lazy Magnolia (on your way East from New Orleans) but it wasn’t really worth the stop imo. They have good beer but it’s out in the middle of no where and it’s just a warehouse (as they all are probably). Their flagship Pecan Brown is certainly worth getting in a restaurant and I would not hesitate to recommend you stop by a Walmart and pick up a 6 pack so long as you like ambers/browns. It’s not going to totally wow you (a calmer version of Rogue Hazelnut), but its an everyday beer if I lived down there.
They also offer a variety pack but I find their saison too barnyardy and their ipa too grassy/catty for my personal liking. YMMV of course.
It’s worth stopping in Gulfport MS at Murky Waters bbq if it’s lunch time and don’t mind getting 10 minutes off the interstate. Their food was pretty decent but their beer menu was large by anyone’s standards, much less in the middle of BFE.
If you can swing it, you also need to go to Pensacola on your way to Destin and visit the Pensacola Bay Brewery. Small but nice people and high quality beer given their size (no food). If you really have time to kill and want a “dining experience”, you can go to Hemmingway’s restaurant in Pensacola Beach. We eat out a lot and this is the best restaurant I have ever eaten at and recommend getting 3 courses & sitting outside. You can check out my Yelp Review I posted earlier this week if that interests you.
We didn’t get as far as Destin so I can’t help you much there.
I would think anyplace with air conditioning and beer would be fine.
Off the beer topic, but as you approach Pensacola on Highway 10 consider stopping at Uncle Sandy’s Macaw Bird Park just north of the highway.
http://macawbirdpark.org/
It’s a non-profit volunteer based organization that rescues parrots. the appearance makes it something you’d drive right but. You get to hold some birds (this cockatoo a couple weeks ago was a riot, he kept wanting to be bounced up and down) and feed macaws peanuts. It takes an hour
We were gone for over a week and this was the highlight of the trip handsdown!
NOLA, Avenue pub, dba, Crescent City (decent house Pilsner).
In New Orleans, I like The Avenue Pub for good beer, but beer is not really the reason one goes to NOLA. Have fun and eat well!
In the FL panhandle, look for Proof Brewing (Tallahassee), Pensacola Bay Brewing and stop in at McGuires (either Pensacola or Destin) if not for the beer then for the ambiance. They have been using the same yeast there for a couple of decades from what I understand.
In New Orleans there’s a deli on Decatur near Jackson Square that has a very nice beer selection. Grab a “go cup” and enjoy a good beer while you walk the neighborhood.
The only brewery I know of down that way would be “Fairhope Brewery”, I know some of the owners. (It’s basically a suburb of Mobile) Nice guys. Beers aren’t always great but some are ok. BTW: You can get Yellowhammer in Mobile. 
Southern Prohibition in Mississippi is really good. They are in Hattiesburg which may be too far north for your trip.
By the way, Southern Pecan is Lazy Mag’s flagship. It’s not called Pecan Brown. It is very good.
Crooked Letter Mystery Romp is a very well received coffee stout. They are in Ocean Springs which is of IH-10 between New Orleans and Mobile.
In New Orleans, Abita is the big dog. They have a lot of good beers.
Macguire’s is a brew pub in Destin. There beer is OK. Nothing hoppy. Porters, Stouts, Irish Red, and an American Light Lager (which sucks). The first 3 are OK. The steaks and atmosphere at Macguires are great.
Props in Ft Walton (next to Destin) is an average brew pub. They have a typical selection of blonde, Amber, multiple IPA’s, etc. nothing stood out.
Grayton Beer Co near Destin is not so great. Last time I went they didn’t have a tap room. Now they do.
Dewey Destin is good seafood (not a beer destination). If you like hole in the wall places go to the original location. I liked it.
Man, I just can’t stand more than a couple ounces of Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan.
That would be enough for me too.
Jackson, MS? My suggestion would be not to go there!
I went to a brewpub there, it was awful, but it was a long time ago. A google search didn’t bring it up so hopefully it has closed.
Yelp might be your friend in this case:
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Beer+Bars&find_loc=Jackson%2C+MS
You may be thinking of Stein’s Deli, but it’s on Magazine. The front coolers are singles for consumption on or off premise, but mostly on since they’re in the deli section. The beer room out of the back door to the right is where the real selection is.
May be too late since I was out of town last week and didn’t see this, but in NOLA:
- Avenue Pub. Must stop.
- NOLA Brewing. New tap room is nice with onsite BBQ.
- Courtyard Brewery. Scott is a transplant from San Diego, and his beer shows it. The only place you can get their beer is at the Brewery.
- Stein’s. Get some grub and beer.
- Gordon Biersch actually has a legit brewmaster now, so they are an option.
The Northshore across the Causeway has some gems also. Old Rail at the Mandeville Trailhead is a fantastic brewpub. I would go there over Crescent City Brewhouse 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.
Just realized that you’re probably referring to Central Grocery. It’s in that area, but Stein’s whips its ass, IMO.
Crescent City works when you are in the quarter without a car.
I’ve been there, done that ;D. I liked Crescent City on that visit (10 yrs ago) but it was crazy hot and humid that day, too. I maybe wasn’t as objective as I could’ve been. I remember having a Dort lager that I liked.
EDIT- Disclaimer - I may or may not have had, ummm…several beers before going in there.
Crazy hot and humid, are you being Captain Obvious?
We were there at Quarterfest with Mike and Annette (some of you know them), and Mike said lets get some Pilsner at Cresent City. Not the best I have had. But pretty good when in the Quarter and you have been walking too long.
Toby, I have made a note to myself to ask you for the inside lowdown the next time we are there with a car, passing through to South Texas. I will gladly go with your advice.
No, I was told that weekend by the locals that it was especially unbearable, even for NOLA. I’ve been there since a couple times and nothing held a candle to that weekend. Awesome city, though.
Yes, but thanks for the reference. I will check out Stein’s next time I’m in NOLA.
Jackson, MS now has one brewery; Lucky Town.