Arnaudville beer tops Southern Living’s list

“Straight out of Cajun country, this pale ale will make you want to throw a crawfish boil!”
That’s how Southern Living Magazine started its announcement that Arnaudville’s Bayou Teche Brewing’s LA-31 Biere Pale has been named the best beer brewed in Louisiana.
The magazine’s June issue serves as a State of the Union Address on all things related to food culture in the South.
The magazine is accompanied by a 32-page, A-to-Z guide to some of the South’s most exciting people, places, provisions and trends. The letter B in the guide is completely devoted to Southern craft beer and Bayou Teche Brewing represents Louisiana on the list of best beer in each state.
“This section of the magazine highlights the rise of craft beer production in the South, and its contribution to Southern food culture,” said Karlos Knott, president of Bayou Teche.
“The print section leads you to a state-by-state guide to the Southern Living staffers’ favorite craft beers – and we are excited that our Biere Pale was the top pick.”
Hannah Hayes, the magazine’s Assistant Food Editor said of the LA-31, “It’s the perfect combination of lawnmower beer and a beer with more nuance. It’s perfect for summer and crawfish boils.”
Noting that the cubical next to her is filled from top to bottom with Southern beer, Hayes added, “Let me tell you there was a lot of research.”
Southern Living is fully on board the Southern craft beer movement. Executive editor Hunter Lewis is a huge craft beer fan, and Hayes herself is an avid beer lover. The magazine understands that more and more mainstream culture is recognizing breweries are the new watering holes of the South.
“They’re about more than just beer, they’re places to gather and talk,” she said.
Southern Living says that after many grassroots efforts to revise the laws governing beer production, the South is now a veritable hop heaven and a craft beer destination with the highest annual production rates of any region in the country.
“That is not too surprising, as we know folks down here really like to drink their beer – and that once given a choice, they would gladly enjoy a superbly-crafted local ale,” said Knott.
He suggests that you pay your local brewery a visit – Louisiana now has nine breweries to visit and summer may be the best time of the year to enjoy a local Louisiana crafted beer right where it is brewed.
Knott said that among new features to see at Bayou Teche Brewing’s Arnaudville brewery is a just-installed bottling line – one of the most state-of-the-art in the Louisiana. They have also recently added additional fermentation tanks nearly doubling their breweries cellar space. After a tour, they will happily pour you a pint of their LA-31 Biere Pale to toast its recent recognition as the best beer brewed in Louisiana. The brewery is at 1106 Bushville Hwy, Arnaudville.
For more information contact Karlos Knott at (337) 303-8000 or karlos@bayoutechebrewing.com.