Tuesday 16th of September 2014 08:38:07 PM

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This is Abita's brew pub, about a mile from the main brewery. I had the premium sampler there - there was also another sampler option that included some of the lighter beer options. I tried the following:
Andygator - Seemed a bit sweet for an 8% beer. It was good, but not something I'd drink every day.
Restoration Pale Ale - Strong, prominent taste of cascade hops, but not overly strong.
Jackamo IPA - Not too hoppy, smooth, pretty good overall.
Turbo Dog Brown Ale - Strong toffee flavor. I liked it. This wasn't part of the sampler but I was able to swap it in.
Oktoberfest - Milder than a typical oktoberfest. Not too impressive.

The staff was friendly, and there were plenty of guests. I didn't eat the food, but everyone else eating seemed to be happy with it.

Sunday 11th of December 2011 10:29:30 PM

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Charming little place, great for cajun cuisine and delicious beer! Abita Brewing Company was founded in 1986 and has been a steady favorite of brave southern beer drinkers. There is a special place in my heart for this brewery ""nestled in the piney woods 30 miles north of New Orleans."" While living on the Gulf Coast, I started beer hunting in 2001, and this was the first brewery tour I ever experienced. I am always thrilled to discover new creations from Abita. Their line-up includes Amber, hearty Bock, sweet AndyGator Doppelbock (8%), crisp Golden, hoppy Jockamo IPA, malty Red Ale, Fall Fest, Christmas Ale, and dark Turbodog. Abita also excels at crafting flavored beers such as Strawberry Lager, Satsuma Harvest, Pecan Harvest, and their famous raspberry Purple Haze.

I last visited the brewpub in 2013, and I am consistently impressed with the NOLA inspired menu, also with great burgers and salads. The service is inviting, friendly and fast. When you get to the brewpub, park in the free gravel lot across the street. In front is a red awning and a shaded patio area with several tables. Inside on the left is a small gift shop, and ahead is their 18-chair wooden bar with several flatscreen televisions and a tap handle collection. On the right and further back are mid sized dining rooms with plenty of tables. The place has concrete floors, pale wooden trim and a black tile ceiling. In the back of restaurant is their old, now decorative, brewhouse with several small stainless steel brewing vessels. The brewhouse is no longer in service, as all the brewing takes place at the main brewery just down the road. The bar features 16 taps of Abita beer, plus a guest tap, and they have several varieties available by bottle. Abita has a quintessential relaxing, easygoing, brewpub atmosphere.

Thursday 9th of September 2010 07:05:22 PM

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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.

Thursday 27th of March 2008 08:54:29 AM

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The site of the original Abita Brewery has been turned into a brew pub. Not only do that have a nearly complete line-up of Abita brews on tap, they have guest taps as well. Sometimes they have a cask.

The brew pub has a different ownership than the Brewery down the road, but the two businesses are symbiotic. At the brew pub you'll see the original brewing system used by Abita's founding owner/brewer team. Not that this is a sacred relic or anything, but it's nice to look at and remember the good old days when Abita was a smaller more interesting brewery.

No beer is made at the brew pub despite its name. It's a very good restaurant with a lot of Abita taps and a fully stocked gift shop. You can buy bottles and growlers to go.