Nora McGunnigle

I've been published in this week's Gambit reporting on ACBW and putting together a calendar of events for the week: behold! ACBW in New Orleans story ("Coming to a Head.") Listing of ACBW 2013 events in New Orleans, Metairie, and the Northshore ("Tap That.") However, I've been getting small bits of changes after my submission deadline and I plan on keeping the listing updated on a special page on this blog. Look at the top of the page above the tiny German beer-drinking Nora and you'll see a tab that says " ACBW 2013 Events. " That will bring you to the most complete updated page of events in the area. Spread the word!

Yesterday was a beautiful day to go out and enjoy the sunshine and lack of horrible rain. So we went across the lake to the Barley Oak. Chafunkta Brewing decided to do a little celebration for Saturday, 5/04 , by promoting their Old 504 Porter and donating a portion of the proceeds to St. Tammany Humane Society. Local beer, puppies, and sunshine... it was the perfect Saturday. View from the Barley Oak balcony Old 504 Summer the cutie pie puppy! Josh and Jamie also told me of a delicious concoction they were calling the "Old Ray" which is their Voo Ka Ray topped, black & tan style, by the Old 504. The beautifully poured Old Ray Stone's Enjoy By! Hooray! (been looking for bottles of this for weeks) Josh and Jamie Erikson from Chafunkta and me in my awesome new Chafunkta T-shirt In conclusion, best Saturday outing ever! Local Louisiana beer, good friends, awesome dogs, and the sun (finally) shining. It's nice to get out of the city and...

Today I hopped over the lake on the causeway to celebrate the Northshore distribution debut of New Belgium. From what I hear, getting New Belgium here in Louisiana was a long time in the making, so everyone at Champagne Beverage Co. (who hosted the event and will be distributing the brand) was very happy and very relieved that all went well. And it did go well! It was a super event. Had a canoe full of crawfish, shrimp, potatoes, and corn; tables of BBQ and fried seafood, and of course, stands serving 5 of New Belgium's beers - Fat Tire, of course, Ranger IPA, Shift (a pale lager hopped with Nelson Sauvin), Sunshine Wheat, and Trippel Belgian style ale. sample display of the Sunshine bombers Shift, a canned pale lager which may have been my favorite of the night Man, New Belgium's marketing is so awesome They didn't have this at the event but it is RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS Thanks go to the always wonderful Vanessa Gomes, the new head of Craft Beer Manag...

Been fully neglecting my duties as faithful beer blogger while... chasing down info that I can blog about. Here's some quick info: Went to the Northshore this past Saturday to check out Abita, Covington, and Chaunkta. Was warmly welcomed by all breweries and had the opportunities to talk to brewers at Covington and Chafunkta. Lots of changes coming up for those two... one, which has just been announced publicly  is that Chafunkta just got their permit to brew and serve beer approved by the Commissioner of the LA ATC! NOLA Brewing had a Superbowl party that I was able to swing by and try Bayou Teche's new crawfish season beer (in big bottles) - Saison D'Ecrevisses. I only got a little sip but it was pretty good. Looking forward to seeing this come out on the market. NOLA also just got the can design for MechaHopzilla approved, so that is a go! Those will be some high-test cans of beer. In conclusion, Super Gras.  Be merry and safe! And dr...

I first heard about the Barley Oak's plans for a brewpub almost a year ago, during the Swedish Beer event at the Avenue Pub. Vanessa Gomes, the high energy, friendly, and beer-loving Director of Marketing at the Barley Oak told me they had broken ground the previous summer (of 2011) and were building a brewpub, called The Old Rail, from the ground up. Fast forward to today - the brewpub is built, the brand new steam powered 10bbl brewing system is installed, the head brewer is hired, and a new chef brought on especially to create and serve a menu of beer enhancing food. However, since they are still waiting on final approval from the federal government (ATF) they have yet to start brewing. They'd hoped for the summer of 2012. Then the fall. Then the winter... now they are hoping the process will allow them to start brewing and serving thirsty and beer-loving patrons on the North Shore in the Spring of 2013. Behold, photographic evidence of the early days of brewpub construc...

Top 10 Louisiana Beers of 2012 This is according to Jay D. Ducote, Baton Rouge blogger and personal role model of mine. He asked me, Jeremy " Beer Buddha " Labadie, Polly Watts from Avenue Pub , Vanessa Gomes from Barley Oak , Eric Ducote , and Brenton Day  to submit our top 5 beers of the year brewed in Louisiana and created a Top 10 from our replies. I think I'm attributed in the blurb for every beer on the list that I had a part in nominating. Anyway, GO CHECK IT OUT ! It's awesome to see more an more advocating around craft beer in Louisiana. THAT'S THE DREAM! Check out the other blogger's blogs as well, and make them a part of your Louisiana beer blog reading. ALSO! Stay tuned this week for a write up of what Barley Oak in Mandeville is up to with their new brew pub, The Old Rail. I talked to Vanessa Gomes, the public face of the Barley Oak (formal title: Director of Marketing and Event Coordinator), Nick Powers, the owner of both establishments, ...

Over the causeway and through the woods... Tom and I went to Mandeville to pick up some excellent beers being donated for the Beers Not Bullets fundraiser that's happening THIS FRIDAY ( Have you got your tickets yet??? ). Driving across the causeway always makes me feel so sleepy. Doubly so on the way back after having stopped at the Barley Oak Old World Draught House . The Barley Oak is a big supporter of the event, so I've been going back and forth with them via email about sponsorship stuff. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to go visit the place after all our communication! The location was beautiful and it was an ideal day to go. It's right on the edge of the lakeside so it was just blue sky and water as far as the eye could see. We ate and drank inside, but it was breezy enough to enjoy a beer out on the patio in the shade very comfortably. Tom said that it reminded him of an English pub- especially the wallpaper that covered about half of the interior ...