Chafunkta Brewing Company
| Industry | Brewing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1723 (first brewery in New Orleans) |
| Headquarters | New Orleans , United States |
| Products | Beer |
Louisiana's brewery sector encompasses a wide variety of beer types distributed at local, regional, and national levels. This includes establishments ranging from small-scale nanobreweries and microbreweries to extensive multinational macrobreweries.
In 2014, Louisiana was home to 37 breweries and brewpubs. Alongside 66 distributors and numerous retailers, these businesses directly employed more than 15,000 individuals, with over 10,000 additional jobs supported in related industries. The combined business and personal tax revenues generated by these breweries and their suppliers surpassed $380 million, while consumer spending contributed an extra $150 million in tax income. That year, Louisiana ranked 36th nationwide in craft breweries per capita, hosting 15 craft breweries.
By the conclusion of 2013, the United States had a total of 2,822 breweries, of which 2,768 were classified as craft breweries, including brewpubs, microbreweries, and regional craft breweries. The brewing industry provided employment for approximately 43,000 Americans and had an economic influence exceeding $246 billion.
History
During the 19th century and into the early 20th century, New Orleans served as the central brewing location in Louisiana. The city’s inaugural brewery was La Brassiere, founded by Pierre Dreux in 1723. Fasnacht Brewery was established in 1852 by Louis and Samuel Fasnacht before being acquired by Erath and Company in 1869. In 1890, six breweries merged to form the New Orleans Brewing Association at the site of the Louisiana Brewing Company (originally established in 1885), which produced well-known beers such as 4-X Beer and Eagle Beer.
Prominent breweries during this era included Jackson Brewing Company (established 1890), American Brewing Company (1891), Columbia Brewing Company (1899), Dixie Brewing Company (1907), National Brewing Company (1911), Union Brewing Corporation (1911), and Falstaff Brewing Corporation (1936).
The contemporary craft beer movement in Louisiana commenced with the founding of Abita Brewing Company in 1986. This event initiated a statewide expansion of craft breweries that continued into the early decades of the 21st century.
Breweries
| Brewery | Category | Location | Established | On-site Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abita Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Covington | 1986 | Taproom |
| All Relation Beer | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2019 | Taproom |
| Bayou Teche Brewing | Microbrewery | Arnaudville | 2010 | Taproom |
| Brieux Carré Brewing | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Broken Wheel Brewery | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Marksville | 2015 | Taproom |
| Chafunkta Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Mandeville | 2013 | Taproom |
| Courtyard Brewery | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2014 | Taproom |
| Crescent City Brewhouse | Brewpub | New Orleans | 1991 | Taproom |
| Crying Eagle Brewing Company | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Lake Charles | 2016 | Taproom |
| Faubourg Brewing Company | Regional Brewery | New Orleans | 1907 | Taproom |
| Flying Heart Brewing & Pub | Microbrewery | Bossier City | 2015 | Taproom |
| Flying Tiger Brewery | Microbrewery | Monroe | 2016 | Taproom |
| Gnarly Barley Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Hammond | 2014 | Taproom |
| Gordon Biersch Brewing Company | Brewpub (National chain) | New Orleans | 2004 | Taproom |
| Low Road Brewing | Microbrewery | Hammond | 2017 | Taproom |
| Miel Brewery and Taproom | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2018 | Taproom |
| Mudbug Brewery | Microbrewery | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 2014 | Taproom |
| New Orleans Lager and Ale Brewing Company (NOLA) | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2009 | Taproom |
| Oak St Brewery | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2021 | Taproom |
| Old Rail Brewing Company | Brewpub | Mandeville | 2013 | Taproom |
| Ouachita Brewing Company | Microbrewery | West Monroe, Louisiana | 2015 | Taproom |
| Parish Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Broussard, Louisiana | 2010 | Taproom |
| Parleaux Beer Lab | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Port Orleans Brewing Company | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Red River Brewing Company | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Shreveport | 2013 | Taproom |
| Royal Brewery (New Orleans) | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2017 | Taproom |
| Second Line Brewing | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2015 | Taproom |
| Tin Roof Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Baton Rouge | 2010 | Taproom |
| Urban South Brewery | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2016 | Taproom |
| Zony Mash Beer Project | Microbrewery | New Orleans | 2019 | _taproom_ |
Closed breweries
New Orleans Brewing Company Inc. Southern Craft Brewing Company Baton Rouge 2016 2021 Wayward Owl Brewing Microbrewery New Orleans 2016 2018| Brewery | Category | Location | Established | Closed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 Arpent Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Arabi | 2014 | 2017 | |
| American Brewing Company (New Orleans) | Regional | New Orleans | 1891 | 1962 | Initially launched as American Brewing Company in 1891; renamed American Beverage Company in 1933; reverted back to American Brewing Company in 1934. Famous for Regal Beer. |
| Cajun Brewing | Microbrewery | Lafayette | 2015 | 2018 | |
| Cane River Brewing | Microbrewery | Natchitoches | 2018 | 2022 | Operations were absorbed by Flying Heart Brewing, based in Bossier City. |
| Chappapeela Farms Brewery | Microbrewery/Brewpub | Amite City | 2015 | 2015 | |
| CottonPort Brewing | Microbrewery | Sterlington | 2016 | 2016 | |
| Covington Brewhouse | Microbrewery | Covington | 2005 | 2018 | Originally established as Heiner Brau Brewery; rebranded Covington Brewhouse in 2012. |
| Falstaff Brewing Corporation | National | New Orleans | 1911 | 1979 | Started as National Brewing Company; acquired by Falstaff in 1936. The brewery facility was converted into residential apartments in 2008. |
| Jackson Brewing Company | Regional | New Orleans | 1890 | 1974 | Founded as Jackson Bohemian Brewery; later marketed as Jax Beer and then Jackson Brewing Company. The site is now a mixed-use development. |
| La Brasserie Brewery | New Orleans | 1723 | Unknown | Recognized as the first brewery established in Louisiana. | |
| Louisiana Purchase Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Ponchatoula | 2017 | 2019 | |
|
New Orleans 1890 1949 Started as New Orleans Brewing Association; renamed New Orleans Brewing Company in 1900; incorporated as New Orleans Brewing Company Inc. in 1933. |
See also
- Beer in the United States
- List of microbreweries
- List of cideries in the United States
- List of defunct breweries in the United States