Top Things to do in Louisiana
Things to do in Louisiana, United States: The Best Breweries
Louisiana tourism is centered on New Orleans and the North Shore region in the southeastern corner of the state near the Florida border. West of New Orleans is the Great River Road, with the I-10 running to the Mississippi River port capital city of Baton Rogue. West of New Orleans along the Gulf of Mexico, the I-10 cuts through Lafayette and Lake Charles on its way past Abbeville to Texas. Central Louisiana is Lake Country, and home to cities like Alexandria and Natchitoches. In northern Louisiana, the I-20 runs west from Monroe to Bossier City, Shreveport, and East Texas. Unless Louisiana is very familiar and frequent territory, New Orleans will be the top choice for a Louisiana vacation. Though Mardi Gras, music, and the winning ways of the New Orleans Saints football team get the spotlight, there is much more to explore in New Orleans. Within New Orleans choose among Bourbon Street, Royal Street, the Upper and Lower French Quarters, the Warehouse and Central Business District, the Garden District and Uptown, and Mid-City. With street car lines linking the French Quarter to the Garden District, Convention Center, and everywhere else, it is easy for the whole family to get around. If long walks are your exercise, explore the scenic city on foot. An easy two-hour drive from New Orleans brings you to Baton Rogue, Natchitoches and Lake Country. Explore old Beauregard Town in downtown Baton Rogue, the historic homes of the Baton Rogue Garden District, and tour one or several working plantations. Walk the 33-block Historic Landmark District and tour the historic homes and churches of Natchitoches. Relive Spanish Empire history in Louisiana at Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site. Heading west from New Orleans is Cajun Country and Lafayette with its mix of French, French Canadian (Acadian), Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. Besides Cajun and Creole cookery, explore the Civil War heritage at the Lafayette Museum. Stop by Abbeville to view the courthouse designed by Hayes Town, St. Mary Magdalen Church, and have a seafood meal. With 75 annual festivals Lake Charles is Louisiana's Festival City, and home to the Creole Nature Trail Scenic Byway. Shreveport and Bossier City in northwest Louisiana are casino and entertainment centers. Shreveport is renowned for hosting the Louisiana State Fair in the fall. Plus floral centers, art galleries, and museums. Monroe in the northeast also has notable gardens.
Restaurants in Louisiana
1. Mudbug Brewery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
2. Southern Craft Brewing Co.
3. Low Road Brewing
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Low Road Brewing is a microbrewery in Hammond, Louisiana with 30 taps! At least 15 of those taps are Low Road brews, sometimes more when we release seasonal/specialty beers. The rest are filled with other fantastic guest beers. Children & Pets welcome in our outdoor seating area. Come have a beer with us!
Reviewed By Travel4Beers - Ocean Springs, United States
Nice little brewery just getting its legs. You can go in and they have 30 beers on tap with at least 10 of their own and then other local beers on tap, so they have something for everyone. It is a small area but great conversation with the bartenders, brewers, and owners. Beer is pretty good as well, not mind blowing but it is great to sit back and drink and enjoy. They do a few styles really well such as their red.
4. Abita Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 377 reviews
Founded in 1986, Abita was the first craft brewery to open in the Southeast. Today, we produce 160,000 barrels of beer annually in a range of great tasting, unpretentious styles including Abita Amber, Purple Haze, and Wrought Iron IPA. Located just north of New Orleans, we recently completed a three-year, $30 million state-of-the-art expansion of the brewery that will increase our capacity to 400,000 barrels while introducing groundbreaking environmental advancements to the brewing process.
Reviewed By 82marlav - San Juan, Caribbean
Very easy to get there. Fun and friendly employees will take you to a very informative and interesting tour. The beer tasting was really good. Great amount of options. You’ll leave very satisfied. Definitely recommend it.
5. Great Raft Brewing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Great Raft Brewing is a Shreveport, Louisiana based craft brewery dedicated to making creative, authentic beer and helping to build a great beer culture within communities it serves. We brew and package everything on site. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering patio seating (up to 50 people, 21+ only) and to-go ordering for curbside pick-up. Order in advance at grbtogo.com.
6. Parish Brewing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Rancor418 - Mandeville, United States
Parish Brewing is one of the top craft breweries in the state of Louisiana. Would definitely recommend trying one of their rare stouts or some of their IPAs.
7. Covington Brewhouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
8. The Courtyard Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
New Orleans' first nanobrewery serves handcrafted, small-batch beers made on site as well as specialty draught from around the world.
9. Bayou Teche Brewing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
What happens in the swamp ought to be in your cooler! Bayou Teche Brewing Tap Room & Beer Garden was founded on this simple dream: to craft beers that complement the cuisine and lifestyle of Cajuns and Creoles. Located at Bayou Teche Brewing Cajun Saucer Wood Fired Pizza will delight you with pizzas made with love and devotion!
Reviewed By BrianStreetwalker
Recently, I was guiding Gondwana Ecotours Cajun Country Adventure with a co-guide and designated driver--lucky me--and we had the absolute pleasure of a private tour of Bayou Teche Brewing by one of the owners, Stephanie. Accompanied by our pints of choice, she showed the six of us the inner workings of her establishment with insight, wit, intimate knowledge and fun, inside tidbits on what it's like to own and run a brewery. Also included for each of us: a flight of beers to enjoy afterward and a souvenir glass. At $100 for the up-to first 10 guests, if you have a sizable group, you're crazy not to drink this Cajun Kool-Aid and experience more facets of this bayou gem. Revealing Oz behind the curtain, I am a cocktail aficionado. I found the beers I sampled, however--without any mumbo jumbo about flavor profiles--straight up enjoyable. But what particularly caught my attention were their sour brews and hard seltzers. And I don't like hard seltzers. The kiwi hard seltzer was enticingly short of imbibing a lovely cava or prosecco in this alternate reality of, "What happens in the swamp ought to be in your cooler!" And, if I have this correct, you can't pick-up BTB's hard seltzers retail to populate your cooler. Ya gotta get'em on site at the brewery. Lucky you...
10. Second Line Brewing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
A beer exploratorium / brewery with an assortment of beers on tap and available for purchase in cans and bottles. Located in a warehouse off of the Canal Street streetcar line, Second Line is easily accessible from all neighborhoods in New Orleans and adjacent Metairie. Enjoy a cold beer in the brewery’s beer garden which is family and pet friendly.
