Red River Brewing Company (Louisiana)
| Industry | Brewing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1723 |
| Headquarters | New Orleans , United States |
Area served | Louisiana, United States |
Breweries throughout Louisiana craft an extensive variety of beer styles, distributed at local, regional, and national levels. These establishments range from small-scale nanobreweries and microbreweries to expansive multinational macrobreweries.
In 2014, Louisiana's brewing industry comprised 37 breweries and brewpubs, supported by 66 distributors alongside numerous retail outlets. This sector directly employed over 15,000 individuals and created more than 10,000 additional jobs in related fields. When including ingredient and equipment suppliers, the total tax revenue generated by Louisiana's brewing industry surpassed $380 million. Furthermore, consumer spending on brewery products contributed upwards of $150 million in tax income. That year, Louisiana ranked 36th among 51 states and territories in craft breweries per capita, with a total of 15 craft breweries.
By the close of 2013, the United States housed 2,822 breweries in total, including 2,768 classified as craft breweries. These were further divided into 1,237 brewpubs, 1,412 microbreweries, and 119 regional craft breweries. The brewing sector employed approximately 43,000 people across brewing and distribution roles nationwide and generated an economic impact exceeding $246 billion.
History
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, New Orleans served as Louisiana’s primary center for brewing activities. The city’s inaugural brewery was La Brassiere, founded by Pierre Dreux in January 1723. In 1852, Louis and Samuel Fasnacht established Fasnacht Brewery on Poeyfarre Street; this brewery was later acquired by Erath and Company Brewery in 1869. The New Orleans Brewing Association was created in 1890 through the consolidation of six breweries at the location of Louisiana Brewing Co. (established in 1885) situated at Jackson Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street. Among its product lineup were brands such as 4-X Beer, Double Eagle Ale, and Eagle Beer.
Other significant breweries included Jackson Brewing Co. (1890) on Decatur Street; American Brewing Co. (1891) on Bienville Street producing Regal beer; Columbia Brewing Co. (1899) on Elysian Fields Avenue; Dixie Brewing Co. (1907) on Tulane Avenue; National Brewing Co. (1911) on Gravier Street; Union Brewing Corp. (1911) located on N. Robertson Street; and Falstaff Brewing Corp. (1936) also on Gravier Street.
The modern era of craft brewing in Louisiana commenced with the establishment of Abita Brewing Co. in 1986. Reflecting national consumer preferences shifting toward craft beer, the early twenty-first century has witnessed a substantial increase in new craft brewery openings throughout the state.
Breweries
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 Regional New Orleans 2016 Taproom Zony Mash Beer Project Microbrewery New Orleans 2019 Taproom| Brewery | Type | Location | Founded | On-site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abita Brewing Company | Regional | 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 | 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 |
Closed breweries
Southern Craft Brewing Company 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 established as American Brewing Company in 1891; renamed American Beverage Company in 1933; reverted back to American Brewing Company in 1934. Known for producing Regal Beer. |
| Cajun Brewing | Microbrewery | Lafayette | 2015 | 2018 | |
| Cane River Brewing | Microbrewery | Natchitoches | 2018 | 2022 | Taproom and operations were acquired by Flying Heart, 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 | Launched as Heiner Brau Brewery in 2005; rebranded to Covington Brewhouse in 2012. |
| Falstaff Brewing Corporation | National | New Orleans | 1911 | 1979 | Originated as National Brewing Company in 1911; underwent several name changes before acquisition by Falstaff in 1936. The former brewery was converted into apartments in 2008. |
| Jackson Brewing Company | Regional | New Orleans | 1890 | 1974 | Founded as Jackson Bohemian Brewery; recognized for Jax Beer. The old brewery building now serves residential and retail purposes. |
| La Brasserie Brewery | New Orleans | 1723 | Unknown | Recognized as the first brewery established in Louisiana. | |
| Louisiana Purchase Brewing Company | Microbrewery | Ponchatoula | 2017 | 2019 | |
|
Baton Rouge 2016 2021 |
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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