Festivals and events!

Cajun Fire Brewing's Jon and Adam having a beer at NOLA Brewing.

The New Orleans International Beer Festival is on Saturday in Champion Square - congrats to Scott LeTourneau who won the ticket giveaway contest here on my blog.

This week's Brewsday Tuesday profiles the Juke Joint NOLA Brewing beer tent at Hogs for the Cause next week, as well as the upcoming Brooklyn Brewing MASH beer-food-arts-culture collaboration extravaganza! I'll be running an interview with Brooklyn Brewing's in-house chef, Andrew Gerson next week. 

Also, the WYES Beer Festival weekend dates have been announced! The Friday night Private Beer Sampling will be held on June 13 from 7-10pm and the big WYES International Beer Tasting will be held on Saturday, June 14 from 6-9pm. They will be held at Mardi Gras world again.

The Friday night tasting is smaller, more intimate, and has more rare offerings. The Saturday night event is huge, and will have samples of local, national, and international beers, as well as upward of half a dozen homebrew clubs from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. Friday night's tickets are $50 and the Saturday shenanigans (which sold out last year) will cost $40 ahead of time and $45 at the door.

Santa Fe Brewing was supposed to celebrate its launch back in January, but all the rollout events were canceled because of the weather shutdown we had at the end of the month. But they will be rolling out next week, starting at the New Orleans International Beer Festival on Saturday. After the Festival, the brewers will be at nearby Borgne for an "afterparty" starting at 6pm. 

Then on Monday, they'll be at the Bulldog Uptown, where Happy Camper IPA, Black IPA, and Imperial Java Stout will be on tap starting at 6pm. (they'll also have other selections in the can available.) At 8pm, they'll move the party up the street to St. Joe's bar (also on Magazine) where Black IPA and Saison 88 will be on tap and other canned beer for sale.

I'm digging on that Black IPA, and am interested in trying it on draft. I'm also intrigued and have heard great things about the Imperial Java Stout. 

I believe Founders is still on track to roll out in April, more info on that as I get it.