Meet the next generation of local brewers: Grant Capone of Laughing Troll

New Orleans homebrewer Grant Capone has been dreaming about opening a brewery since 2011, when he received a Mr. Beer homebrew brewing kit from his wife, Megan. “I brewed two small batches and I was hooked.” After talking to several local brewers and homebrewers, Capone has developed a business plan for a three barrel system brewery and is actively searching for investors and a location. His hope is that the relative small size of the brewhouse will minimize startup costs while still leaving room for future growth.

The name of the brewery is Laughing Troll. Capone says that the name of the brewery as well as his beers - are drawn from pop culture, gaming, and other online sources. Blue Waffle Lemon Party (which I would recommend you NOT google, because what is seen cannot be unseen) is a wheat beer with blueberries and lemon rind, and his award-winning Demaciale is a Belgian dubbel. “I want the beer to be more than something to drink. I want to create an experience and connection through the names of my beers.”

“Nothing’s more relatable than humor,” Capone says. “Everyone likes to laugh. And that’s one way I plan to put my personality into the brewery.”

The Demaciale Belgian dubbel took the third place trophy at the recent BJCP-judged homebrew competition at the annual LASPCA fundraiser, New Orleans On Tap. Although his beer was honored, his perfectionist tendencies are already working to make the beer better by increasing its strength and spice characteristics.

Capone hopes to open in New Orleans, but the city’s red tape and regulations are discouraging to potential small business owners like Capone, who says that everyone he’s spoken to has advised him not to even try to open in Orleans Parish. He hopes that the city will start making the process for opening small local breweries easier, although he’s looking at locations like Elmwood as well. But Capone will try to work with the city at least, saying, “if people like me don’t try, then nothing will ever change.”

Keep an eye on Laughing Troll as Capone continues to pursue financing and get more word of mouth and marketing out in the scene by following Laughing Troll on Facebook.