Bayou Beer Fest back for another round

Heart & Soles half-marathon going strong
November 11, 2014
USO-style fun Nov. 15 at military museum
November 11, 2014
Heart & Soles half-marathon going strong
November 11, 2014
USO-style fun Nov. 15 at military museum
November 11, 2014

After a tremendous success one year ago, the Bayou Beer Festival is back for another round.

That’s because the second annual event produced by the Bayou Beer Society will take place Nov. 15 on the grounds of the historic Southdown Plantation in Houma.

The Bayou Beer Festival will feature more than 200 craft beer selections from breweries as close as Thibodaux and as far as California.


“It’s just fun. It’s enjoyable if you really appreciate craft beer and all the nuances of it,” event organizer and Bayou Beer Society board member Charles Gaiennie said.

Samples from nearly all of Louisiana’s breweries are expected, including those from Mudbugs, Chafunkta, 40 Arpent, Covington Brew House, Bayou Teche Biere, Great Raft, Red River, NOLA Brewing, Abita and Parish Brewing. Popular regional brewers such as Lazy Magnolia and Crooked Letter out of Mississippi will also be present with samples.

As for Mudbugs, a fledgling brewery out of Thibodaux, its very first batches will be debuted at the event.


Adding to the fun will be about 20 home brewers providing samples, some as joyfully but oddly obscure as a “Tootsie Roll Porter” or an “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Beer Cream Ale,” among other funky combinations.

“You get to speak directly to the brew masters and to the home brewers,” Gaiennie explained. “You can talk shop, if you will, and there’s so many different fun combinations. You get to hang out with a lot of other people who are really enjoying that, too.”

Some artsy and unusual beers will be specifically brewed for the event, and the festival will be the only place where the public can taste them.


For those interested in home brewing, there will be a brewing demonstration during the event.

“Making beer is kind of like making a gumbo,” Gaiennie said. “You have to put all your ingredients, there’s a certain order to it, but it’s very much finesse and the fun to it is adding things to the end and just seeing what it turns out like.”

About 1,000 people attended the inaugural beer fest last year, including someone from as far away as Alaska, and organizers are expecting about 1,500 this year.


Food will be provided by Cannata’s, and Soul Creole, an authentic Cajun band, will produce entertainment, according to Gaiennie.

“Everything they sing is Cajun French – not an English word among them. They have an accordion, a triangle, a guitar, just real authentic stuff,” Gaiennie said.

Proceeds from the event will benefit veterans in some capacity.


“We’ll make a decision after the event. It’s intentionally held around Veterans Day [Nov. 11] to support our military,” Gaiennie said.

Last year the event generated 5,000 for the Homeless Veterans Shelter in Houma, Gaiennie said.

“We feel real special with our work with the veterans,” Gaiennie said. “A lot of us empathize with the military through family or friends. We just have such a deep respect and affection for anybody that puts on a uniform. It pleases us greatly to be involved around Veterans Day and have the military be involved in what we do.”


The Nov. 15 event runs from 12 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate. Designated drivers may attend for $15.

“It’s a great reason to come to Houma, to Terrebonne Parish. Really. last year the weather was beautiful, and it’ll be beautiful again this year.” Gaiennie said. “It’s a really nice time to be here, and people come, they stay in the hotels, they eat in our restaurants, they got to know us more, and, of course, Southdown is a beautiful place. The home and the grounds are just so nice.”

Online at bayoubeerfest.com or call (985) 262-4634 for more information.


Patrons enjoy good beer and good times at the 2013 Bayou Beer Fest. Organizers expect this year’s event to be bigger and better.

COURTESY