Evil_Keith Reviews - The Beer Mapping Project

Cooter Brown's Tavern

Evil_Keith - score: 76.7 — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:51:22 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:51:22 EDT

Overall Score: 76.7
Selection: 4.25 | Service: 3.75 | Atmosphere: 3.5 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

I found Cooter Brown’s to be much larger on the interior than I had expected. This place was easily twice the size I had expected. There is a large wooden bar with roughly 20 stools. Picnic table-style seating is also available in the main room.

This place does not have a huge number of beers on tap, maybe 25? Where this place excels is their bottle selection. Imagine the best stocked beer store reach-in coolers you have ever seen. That’s what it looks like behind the bar. Picture if you will cooler, next to cooler, next to cooler. Some 400 beers in total can be had here.

I was with some new friends so we had to order some of the more obscure Belgian and European styles that they had never tried. We had Lambics, Kreiks, Dubbels, you name it.

There was a large number of HD TVs around the bar area, pool tables, and good eclectic mix of music. I heard some rock, classic rock, punk and a bit of R&B too. The crowd was mainly made up of local and regional folks. The crowd was friendly and clearing enjoying themselves.

On this particular evening the bartender was very knowledgeable and attentive. He was even able to make suggestions for our next beer. Luckily he even remembered to call us a taxi and let us know when it arrived.

I had a great time here. Looking back I wish I had gotten there earlier and not had this as my last stop of the night. If and when I head back to New Orleans this is someplace I’d like to spend a bit more time at. Good people with great beers, what else could you ask for?

Tell them Evil Keith sent you and save me a bar stool.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Luke

Evil_Keith - score: 76.7 — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 2:25:01 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Tue, 05 Oct 2010 2:25:01 EDT

Overall Score: 76.7
Selection: 3.75 | Service: 3.75 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 4.25

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

Luke is located on the first floor of the Hilton Hotel. The restaurant itself was smaller than I had expected. The best way for me to describe the atmosphere at Luke would be to call it casually elegant. The floors are done in patterned parquet. The table clothes are white.

The bar is beautifully made of heavy dark wood. Civil war era swords are displayed in cases above the bar. Behind the bar there is an ornately hand carved masthead-like sculpture. The ceiling fans were belt driven.

On this visit there were four beers on tap with 25 selections in bottles. Several of the regional beer available here included selections from Abita, Heiner Brau, Covington and Lazy Magnolia. I spotted Aventinus on the menu and had to have one.

A vast majority of the people here were there for the food which consisted of a raw bar featuring fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the other items on the menu are made with locally acquired ingredients. Overall, you might say the menu is Creole/French fusion.

I had to start with the raw oysters (P&J). Then I moved onto something I could not pronounce to save my life. For my entrée I had the Shrimp and Grits, these were not the grits I had previously been served at the local waffle House. The food was amazing!

Oh well, back to my Aventinus…my beer arrived and I poured as much as I dared into the glass. After a few sips I began tilting and swirling the bottle, occasionally tapping it on my palm before pouring the rest into my glass. While I was tilting, swirling and tapping I noticed that the couple at the next table were watching me closely. Finally they had to ask what the hell I was doing.

I explained that this was a Weizenbock and I needed to get the yeasty funkiness into my glass. They immediately ordered two Aventinus bottles and poured them like I had. When they finished they asked ‘what should we order next’. I knew I had made new friends.

As my new friends learned that night never, and I mean never, say “two more beers and I’ll be ready for Cooter Brown’s”. After those two beers that’s where we headed to next.

In a nutshell; Luke has amazing food, a decent selection of beers and the prices were reasonable.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Avenue Pub, The

Evil_Keith - score: 80.0 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:41:29 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:41:29 EDT

Overall Score: 80.0
Selection: 4.25 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 3.75

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

The Avenue Pub was a place I had been hearing about beer-wise and I had to stop in and see if it was a good as I had been hearing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the rumors were true. I was quite amused on this visit to witness a newcomer realize that they were in a ‘real beerbar’ and then ask for an Amstel Light. The answer from the bartender, of course, was ‘we don’t have that’.

This place has a nice old heavy wooden bar accented with copper. On the main floor there also a scattering of tables with chair, a pool table and a jukebox with a nice selection of music to choose from. The whole bar area is surrounded by French doors.

The first floor bar features 50 beers on tap, nitro taps and a beer engine. Draft selections included Scrimshaw, selections from Rogue, Stone, Bear Republic, Unibroue, Ayinger and a few nice Belgians. They also feature 85+ beers in bottles. On this visit they had Aventinus, Brother Theo, Point 2012, Lenny’s and many more. You can get barleywine here too.

I was introduced to Polly, the owner of this establishment and had a very nice conversation with her. I was able to learn that she prides herself on the fact that she can acquire unpasteurized import kegs that nobody else in Louisiana can get their hands on. Some of the kegs she mentioned having had in her place were ones I have never seen on tap anywhere.

At one of my first stops in Louisiana I had been told that Polly was solely responsible for the full line of Stone beers being available in the state. I asked her about that claim. She adamantly denies any personal responsibility for this but does admit to having a very good relationship with the importers of many of her rarer kegs.

There is food available here from a separately owned and operated business in the same building. On this visit I had the Sirloin Bites which was served with a Chimichurri sauce with a side of guacamole and chips that are cooked on site. The portions are intended to be somewhat larger than an appetizer without being a full meal. The food was very nicely done and now I find myself wanting to see what else Chimichurri sauce would be good on. They are famous for their ‘St. Chuck Duck’, ‘Best Fish Plate Ever’ and the ‘Crunchy Duck Balls’. On my next visit I intend to dive a bit deeper into the food menu.

The crowd was diverse with regard to age and background but most were locals with a smattering of regional folks. There is seating outside on the rear patio and there is also additional seating on the second floor indoor or outdoor. The crowd on the second floor was quite boisterous and must have been alums of either UNC or LSU who were playing on the televisions up there. There are six additional taps up there with no repeats of what is available downstairs.

Someone here came up with what they call “Beer Crack”. This is a mixture of Stone Ruination and Stone RIS. I had a great time here. The staff and Polly were very nice people. These folks know and enjoy the beers they carry. This place has a very nice vibe and is the type of place I could stop in and stay for an entire evening…as a matter of fact that’s exactly what I did.

Whenever I come back to New Orleans I will definitely have to stop back in. Tell them Evil Keith sent you…and save me a barstool.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Barley Oak, The

Evil_Keith - score: 75.0 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:59:00 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:59:00 EDT

Overall Score: 75.0
Selection: 3.75 | Service: 3.5 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 3.5

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

Barley Oak sits across the street from Lake Ponchatrain. The building itself was erected in 2008 specifically to house this beerbar.

The perimeter of the property is surrounded by an ornate iron fence. The lower level and courtyard are used mainly for special events, like the upcoming Oktoberfest celebration. The courtyard feature arched entryways, ornate gas lamps, tables and well manicured landscaping.

The main bar area is located on the second floor which is accessible using either the cast iron stairs or the elevator. The stairs lead up to the deck which overlooks Lake Ponchatrain and the Causeway. A continuous flow of joggers, dog walkers and bicyclists stream by. Spanish moss clings to the nearby trees.

The main bar room features a large wooden bar with a copper top. Exposed wooden beams support the roof and the ceiling also copper. There are HD TVs throughout the bar all of which were turned down. The music here was classic rock.

Currently there are 47 taps and +100 bottles to choose from. The selection of micro, craft and imports was fairly impressive. I was able to have Jefferson Stout on nitro tap, which was a real treat. Draft beers are available by the glass or by the pitcher.

On this visit there was steady flow of customers many of who had been out walking along the lake shore. The outdoor seating area gives you a fantastic view of the lake and causeway. The deck features HD TVs, ceiling fans, seating along the perimeter, tables and a nice sound system.

There is no wait staff here. If you want a beer you go to the bar. The same applies to food, you place your order with the bartender and are given a coaster that will light up and vibrate when your food is ready. Then you pick it up at the end of the bar. I thought this was a little unusual but it does work.

On this visit I ordered the hot Cajun sausage sandwich which was served on a toasted Kaiser roll. On the side I had their unique version of potato salad which came with a sprinkling of Cajun seasoning. I thought the food was very nicely done.

Since I arrived when they opened at 11:00am I was not able to enjoy the sunset that draws many locals and visitors to this establishment. This is a place that I really would like to visit again and see their continuing growth.

RUMOR: has it that a new brewery is planned adjacent to the Barley Oak. If the brewery comes through I would expect great things from them. I will have to check back.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Columbia Street Tap Room

Evil_Keith - score: 76.7 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:12:12 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:12:12 EDT

Overall Score: 76.7
Selection: 3.75 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

The Columbia Street Tap Room was a place I really enjoyed myself in. The interior features exposed brick walls and a heavy dark wooden bar. There are approximately 20 stools and tall tables with stools along the walls and interior space.

The walls are decorated with sketches of local structures and beer memorabilia. Toward the front of the room there is a small stage where bands play on a couple nights a week. There is also a second, more upscale room off to the side. I did not venture into that side of the bar.

There are a total of 30 taps and 40+ bottles available here. Some of those were items I had never seen before like beers from LA31 and Heiner Brau. Other selections include Abita, Anchor, Blanch De Bruxelles, Delerium, Fuller’s, Gordon B, Hoegarden, Lazy Magnolia, Monty Python, NOLA, Paulaner, Sierra Nevada, Stone and Dixie.

On this visit the boisterous crowd consisted mainly of locals. My choice of barstools put me between two of the regulars. Once the woman seated to my right understood that I was taking notes and am a beer geek the game was on. Whenever I turned my back or went to the washroom there would be two glasses of beer on the bar.

She was buying beers in the bottle and pouring half for me, half for her. Then it was my turn to tell her the beer style, describe the flavors and characteristics of the beer. When I could I would also tell her the name of the beer and/or the brewery it came from. We had a great time.

I did try an appetizer while I was there. The crab/shrimp/mushroom Au Gratin was incredible. Other menu choices included soft-shell crab with remoulade & Shrimp Creole.

The main bartender really knew his beers, friendly and very helpful. This place is smoke-free as required by state law. There is free wi-fi and live music on the weekends.

If you visit the Abita Brewery or Abita brewpub this place is not too far away. I would recommend this as a great place to enjoy a pint to two. Good beer, great food and really nice people. I really hope to visit here again some day.

Tell them Evil Keith sent you, though I’m not sure if this would help or hurt you.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Abita Brew Pub

Evil_Keith - score: 80.0 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:05:22 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:05:22 EDT

Overall Score: 80.0
Selection: 3.75 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 3.25

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

On this visit I arrived in mid afternoon after the tour at the brewery. There is parking in a shared lot across the street. The exterior of the brewpub is not nearly as colorful as the comic book-like pictures on their website. There is available seating out front under a large canopy/awning.

The brewpub is located in the same building that once housed the entire Abita brewing, bottling and marketing operation. Several large tanks that had been used to brew Abita still sit at the rear of the brewpub.

The walls are decorated with murals depicting the brewpubs exterior and scenes in a brewery. Tap handles and a number of collectible liquor decanters were also on display.

The bar itself is long and had roughly 20 stools. The main room of the brewpub had approximately a dozen or so tables. An additional few tables are set up in a smaller side room.

As you would expect, the beers being featured were from Abita. There was one guest tap from Rogue on while I was here. I was able to find out that as new or seasonal beers come out they are first available at the tasting room. Then they will make their way to the brewpub. As an example I was able to try the Double Kolsch which was not available at the tasting room.

There are three HD TVs in the bar area with the volume turned down. Classic rock was the music playing from the sound system. Considering that the brewery tour had just ended I was surprised that just three people besides myself made our way to the brewpub.

On this visit I had the fried artichoke heart appetizer. It was addictive and I finally had to ask the bartender to get the basket away from me.

The brewpub is non-smoking, as required by Louisiana law. This place is family friendly and there is free wi-fi.

The bartender as helpful, friendly and she knew her beers. This is a nice place to have a pint or two. Currently the brewpub still has bottles of SOS on sale. I left with a few bottles, some magnets and a t-shirt from the gift shop.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Mockingbird Cafe

Evil_Keith - score: 73.3 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:20:21 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:20:21 EDT

Overall Score: 73.3
Selection: 2.75 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4.25 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

On this visit I arrived in the early afternoon. The parking consisted of roughly five off-street spaces and room for a couple more vehicles in the front. The building itself is a converted home that was built in 1812.

The interior of the restaurant was a series of smaller rooms that at one time would have served as the dining room, parlor or bedroom. The walls are covered in framed photos and paintings by local artists. The items displayed in this gallery range in topic from local wildlife, landscapes and architecture. These items are for sale.

The bar area is toward the rear and through a doorway you can see the interior of the kitchen. The bar itself is a small wooden counter with two barstools. The paint on the bar is well worn or carefully ‘aged’. Adjacent to the bar is an area set up with couches, comfy chairs and a coffee table.

Mockingbird Café is the first place I have been to that carries all five of Lazy Magnolia’s year-round beers on tap. There are a total of six taps with the last one being PBR. Wine is also available here by the glass.

On this visit I did not try the food but the menu contained specialty coffees, freshly baked muffins and pastries. There were also salads, sandwiches, burgers and a variety of wraps available.

This place is not huge, the variety of beers is fairly limited but, it does have a certain warmth and southern charm to it. If you are in the area and in the mood for a bite to eat and have a craving for a pint of Lazy Magnolia or PBR this could be the place for you.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Abita Brewing Company

Evil_Keith - score: 80.0 — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 3:23:49 EDT

Brewery
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 3:23:49 EDT

Overall Score: 80.0
Selection: 4 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

Abita's tasting room was very impressive looking. The bar was made of highly polished heavy wood. The stools at the bar were niced padded and upolstered in leather. The brass footrail was also a nice touch. There were also tall bar tables and chairs throughout the bar area. Additional seating on the patio.
Behind the bar was done up in stainless steel, marble and mirrors. Overall it felt like a well appointed private club. Classic rock on the sound system.
There were two HD TVs that were used for the video portion of the tour.

It was alright there. I enjoyed myself for the most part but the free beer did tend to bring in quite a number of non-beer folks. This was fairly obvious by their rapid pour, taste and dumping beer down the sinks.

This really is a class setup. There is also a 'gift shop' next to the bar area. All the Abita swag you could possibly want. Keep in mind they only take debit or credit here and do not sell any beer. Its all free!

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Mellow Mushroom - Mobile 2

Evil_Keith - score: 80.0 — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:30:03 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:30:03 EDT

Overall Score: 80.0
Selection: 4 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

On this visit I arrived in the middle of the afternoon. There is a large parking lot with plenty of off-street spaces. The outside of the building appeared to be newer brick construction with large windows around the perimeter. A spacious outdoor covered seating area features a bar with 10 stools and a scattering of cast iron tables and chairs.

Upon entering I was greeted by the familiar pleasant scents of garlic, yeast, freshly baked bread and their signature pizzas. The interior of the building was very clean and featured a healthy portion of natural lighting radiating in from three sides of the bar. The floors appeared to be bare concrete and the walls were covered in glazed colored tile. Booths surround the space along the perimeter of the restaurant side with tables filling in the interior section.

The interior bar is made of highly polished heavy wood and has room for 10 stools. There are 21 beers on tap which on this visit included Bell’s, Abita, Abt 12, Chimay, Great Divide, Gordon Biersche, Sam Adams Seasonal, Sweet Water, Rogue, Back Forty and the obligatory Guinness and Stella. They claim just over 50 bottles to choose from. Bottles selections included Sierra Nevada, Unibroue, Delirium tremens, Avery, Bell’s Terrapin and many others.

This location opened in June of 2008 and was built to Mellow Mushroom’s newer corporate business plan. This one is in a larger building with more off street parking than older Mellow Mushroom locations.

I came in here with the plan of reviewing this place and having two pints while I did it. I am happy to report that I did in fact only have two pints before leaving. The part where they got me was the display case filled with really cool Mellow Mushroom T-shirts. I ended up leaving with a small pile of those too.

Overall, I would say they have a respectable selection of beers. The bartender on this visit was friendly, seemed to know his beers and was quite accommodating to this beer pest.

Save me a barstool, I will be back.
Tell them Evil Keith sent you (though I’m not sure if this would help or hurt you…)

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Brews Brothers

Evil_Keith - score: 80.0 — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:44:28 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:44:28 EDT

Overall Score: 80.0
Selection: 4.25 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 3.75

Reviewer: Evil_Keith

On this visit I arrived later in the afternoon during an ugly thunderstorm. The Brews Brothers sign was difficult to miss even in the heavy downpour. “No Crap on Tap” is their motto which is proudly displayed along North Navy Blvd. Their parking lot has ample off-street parking. Outside of the front doors is a large awning with quite a few picnic tables set up.

Walking in to Brews Brothers was not quite what I had expected the inside to be like. With its close proximity to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola I guess I half expected something straight out of the movie ‘Top Gun”. It wasn’t like that at all.

Brews Brothers is sort of a mixture of a beer bar/sports bar meets Hooter’s kind of place. By this I mean there are TVs everywhere and beer memorabilia on the walls. The swag on the walls includes beer signs, mirrors and even T-shirts.

As I was sitting there I kept noticing pretty girls walking in. All of them were wearing shorts and tank tops. Eventually I realized that they were the wait staff getting ready for a packed house during a UFC event. I learned that a majority of the wait staff and clientele were active U.S. Navy personnel from the base just down the road.

The interior was clean and well-lit. While I was there children were having a late lunch/early supper with their parents. There is free wi-fi and as is the case everywhere in the state of Florida, indoor smoking is not allowed.

Anyway back to the beer. There are 80 taps, of which most of them are craft beers from across the region, across the country and Europe. In bottles they claim 150 to choose from. Choices includes selections from Choc, Sam Adams, Red Brick, Holy Mackerel, Dale’s, Red Hook, Nola, Victory, Left Hand, Southern Tier, Star Hill, Sweet Water, Lazy Magnolia, Bell’s, Rogue, Kona, Hoegarden, Erdinger, Paulaner, Yuengling, Abita, and three Stone’s. Arrogant Bastard, IPA and Smoked Porter.

I know I have not listed all the brands that were available on tap or in bottles. There were plenty to choose from. On this visit I started with a pint of Stone IPA. I ordered a bacon-cheddar burger and fries. There was no possibility of me finishing that huge burger. The portion I was able to eat I washed down with a Red Hook Long Hammer IPA.

Overall, I would say they have a respectable selection of beers. The food I tried was very good. After I placed my order I spotted the sweet potato fries. I’ll have to remember to order those on my next visit. Save me a barstool, I will be back.

Tell them Evil Keith sent you (though I’m not sure if this would help or hurt you…)

Link to this Review at beermapping.com