January 2023

Some people do dry January. This year I did what I would refer to as an underwater January. There were a lot of beers consumed between my birthday, Mosaic’s Puppy Pawty, bottle shares and more. This was the first month that I did not take a trip since the depths of Covid, so there was less brewery hopping but more high quality beers consumed.

This was also my first ever month of using Untappd so I now have super accurate data around my top beers which is really nice. I checked in 131 beers in January (!) and you can follow me on Untappd here.

Here were my top beers in January, in no particular order:

Kyle’s Axe collaboration brew from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY and Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA

Kyle’s Axe is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Nelson and Peacharine hops. It comes in at 8% and is absolutely superb. This is potentially the best IPA I have ever had in my life. I had this brew twice and loved it both times.

The Bones of the Things Around Us collaboration brew from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY and Troon Brewing in Hopewell, NJ + Triple Jasper + Triple Jasper with Nelson from Fidens Brewing

3 juice bombs from the fine folks at Fidens! The Bones of the Things Around Us is a Double IPA with with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo hops. Triple Jasper is a Triple IPA with Citra hops. Triple Jasper with Nelson is a Triple IPA with Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops. These were all insanely delicious beers that I was lucky enough to try a couple of times and loved! Fidens has been absolutely crushing the game lately.

Beer: Barrel: Time (Rye 2022) from Side Project Brewing in Maplewood, MO

BBT Baby! I’ve had BBT once before but the rye version was new to me and exciting to get to try. This is one of the most hyped Stouts in the world so it is always a real treat to get to taste! From Side Project: “We finalized a blend which consisted of 2 different recipes, brewed 3 different times and then finished in 3 different barrels for 18 to 42 months. The younger portion represents threads which were brewed right around the 2020 release in plan to become part of this 2022 blend. The much older threads consist of the exact same brew/barrels from the 2020 release, barrels which we held back and allowed an extended aging. The result of this layering focuses this blend more in line with how we blend our BBT releases, with a showcase of our production over time, layering in age and youth in a way that can only come from time spent in a barrel. Derivation Blend #3 recipe aged in Willett 5 year Rye Barrels since 7/23/18; Vibes recipe aged in Willett 4 year Rye Barrels since 7/2/20; Vibes recipe aged in StilL630 Rye Barrels since 7/28/20.”

Double Dry Hopped Ghost, Holy Ghost and Infinite Ghost from Parish Brewing in Broussard, LA

Double Dry Hopped Ghost in the Machine is an Imperial IPA with Citra hops. Holy Ghost is a Triple IPA dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy and Citra Cryo. Infinite Ghost is an Imperial IPA with hand-selected Yakima Valley Citra hops and Citra Terpenes. The Anniversary Ghost releases are always superb! This year I had each can individually and then also did a blind side by side with my second can of each. My ranking blind was Infinite-Holy-DDH.

100 Triple Dry Hopped with Citra from Burley Oak Brewing in Berlin, MD

This is an all Citra Triple Dry Hopped Imperial IPA. The 100 series from Burley Oak focuses on a single hop at a time and this brew was fantastic. Citra is always a favorite but this was dangerously easy to drink.

The 12° from Lesser-Known Beer Company in Winston-Salem, NC

The 12° is a Czech inspired Pale Lager from the fine folks at Lesser-Known. Their Lagers are fantastic and I highly recommend a visit if you have not checked them out yet. Check out my Winston-Salem beer guide here.

‘22 Three Year Blend from Fonta Flora Brewery in Morganton, NC

This is an Appalachian Gueuze-inspired three year blend of spontaneously fermented ales from the winters of 2018, 2019 and 2020. This is my favorite beer I have ever had from Fonta Flora. There are still some bottles floating around out there so be sure to snag one while you can!

Check back next month to see my top beers of February! Cheers—Alexis

November and December 2022

November and December launched us further into Stout season and into a slue of delicious beers! I spent two weeks in New Zealand drinking a plethora of delicious Hazy IPAs, explored some new breweries and adopted a sweet little brew pup—Mosaic! In no particular order here were my top beers of November and December:

Check back next week for my top beers of the year!

I Heart NYC collaboration brew from Garage Project in Wellington, New Zealand and Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

This is a Hazy Pale Ale combining Other Half’s High Density Hop Charge with Garage Project’s Double Shot co-fermentation technique to create a ‘DSHDHC’ Hazy with Calypso, Citra, Simcoe and Strata hops. Best enjoyed on a trail summit with a killer view in Fiordland National Park.

Barrel Aged Pastrinauts (Four Roses) collaboration brew from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY, J. Wakefield Brewing in Miami, FL, Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim, CA, Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA and Moksa Brewing in Rocklin, CA

Pastrinauts is an Imperial Stout with bananas, molasses, marshmallows and freeze dried ice cream. This version was aged in 15 year old Four Roses Barrels and clocks in at 14% ABV. This was insanely delicious and one of my favorite beers of the year.

Double Barrel Whale Rider from Weathered Souls Brewing in Charlotte, NC

Whale Rider is an Imperial Stout with toasted coconut, coconut and Madagascar vanilla beans. This version was double barrel aged in a Willet 8 year rye barrel and 15 year Woodford Reserve Masters barrel. Weathered Souls opened their Charlotte brewery in November and this was a fantastic beer to kick off their CLT beginnings.

Peter from Parrotdog Brewery in Wellington, New Zealand

Peter is an Imperial IPA. A lot of Hazys in New Zealand were delicious but Peter was a stand out!

Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Notable Ascent from Back Channel Brewing in Spring Park, MN

This is an Imperial Stout with Madagascar Vanilla aged in an Apple Brandy barrels. I am a sucker for apple brandy barrel aged beers and this was a perfect execution of flavors. I enjoyed this brew at Heist’s Night & Day 3 Festival. I need to get my hands on some more Back Channel beers!

Double Dry Hopped Ghost in the Machine from Parish Brewing in Broussard, LA

DDH Ghost is always delicious but this year’s batch was superb. DDH Ghost is a Double Dry Hopped Double IPA with all Citra hops. Juicy, smooth, flavorful and delightful.

Double Barrel Junie from Transient Artisan Ales in Bridgman, MI

This is an Imperial Rye Stout with Violet Sky cocoa nibs and salted caramel aged in Henry McKenna Bourbon barrels and Blis Maple Syrup barrels. Junie is a flavorful barrel forward brew from one of the best breweries in Michigan. I enjoyed this brew at Collect Beer Bar in Detroit!

Triple Eugene’s Axe from Fidens Brewing + Alex’s Axe collaboration brewing from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY and Troon Brewing in Hopewell, NJ

These were both phenomenal beers so I am cheating and doing a two-for-one here. Triple Eugene’s Axe is a Triple IPA with Citra and Galaxy hops. Alex’s Axe is a Hoppy Triple IPA with Nelson, Strata, Peacharine and Galaxy hops that is a collab with Troon. Generally I find Troon to be a bit overhyped, but this brew was incredible.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Bananaversary (2022 Edition) from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

Bananaversary is an Imperial Pastry Stout with wild Thai bananas, coconut, toasted coconut, vanilla and macadamia nuts that is aged in bourbon barrels. I held onto this bottle for almost a full year before cracking it open and it was worth the wait. This has the perfect combination of adjuncts and barrel notes while being thiccc and lucious.

Check back next week to see my top beers of 2022! Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries in Louisiana

I lived in Louisiana for about five years and spent my weekends exploring the brew scene across the state! In ranking order, here are the best breweries in Louisiana:

Parish Brewing in Broussard, LA

The G.O.A.T. of Louisiana beer, hands down. Ghost in the Machine has long been a favorite for IPA drinkers across the country and Double Dry Hopped Ghost has now gained a national reputation as well. Their quaint taproom in Broussard understates how good their beer is and how sought after it is becoming.

Courtyard Brewing in New Orleans, LA

Courtyard is one of my favorite breweries of all time! Their beers are spectacular—specifically their IPAs, but don’t sleep on their other styles as well. They have navigated more hurdles in their 7 years of operation than any small business I know, but they are still grinding and still brewing great beers. Check them out for delicious beers and chill vibes.

Parleaux Beer Lab in New Orleans, LA

Parleaux is located in the Bywater neighborhood of NOLA and has fantastic brews. Their outdoor space is delightful and the perfect spot to spend an afternoon. Their beers are constantly changing, so I would recommend sampling several in order to get a real picture of how well they execute each style.

Great Raft Brewing in Shreveport, LA

Grace and Grit from Great Raft was one of the first IPAs that I truly loved—it is an extremely well-balanced and approachable beer, especially for an 8% Double IPA. Their Belgian series is also something not to be missed. Great Raft has been a powerhouse in the Louisiana brew scene since they opened in 2013 specializing in getting the Western half of the state to “drink real beer” and have since expanded to Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Urban South Brewery in New Orleans, LA

Urban South is a fun spot in NOLA with a frequently changing tap list filled with great beers. They opened their New Orleans taproom in 2016 and just three years later opened their second taproom in Houston. Their specialty seasonal releases are what they do best which are mostly Hazy IPAs and Fruited Sours, but don’t sleep on the Lime Cucumber Gose that took home a gold medal at the 2020 Great American Beer Fest.

Have you explored the Louisiana brew scene? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

October 2021

October is arguably the best month of the year—college football is in full swing, leaves are changing, and the month is full of beer fests! For us October meant two bottle shares, a massive fall beer side by side tasting, Barrel Culture Brewing & Blending’s Invitational in Durham, glamping in Lenoir, and an epic Michigan State football victory over Michigan. All of these obviously also meant delicious beers, so this month’s top beers list is a little longer—check out all of the best beers I had in October 2021 below, in no particular order:

Childish Games from Monkish Brewing in Torrance, CA

Childish Games is a Double Dry Hopped Double IPA with Enigma and Nelson Sauvin hops. Monkish has absolutely nailed the juicy IPA game and this brew is no exception—smooth, flavorful, and fantastic.

2020 Barrel Aged Cuppa Peanut Butter Coconut from Maplewood Brewing in Chicago, IL

This is an Imperial Stout blended from Cuppa aged in Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill and Weller barrels for 12-18 months and conditioned on cacao nibs, vanilla, coffee, toasted coconut and peanut butter. I enjoyed this one at the Barrel Culture Invitational and it reaffirmed my belief in just how good Maplewood is!

Holding This Moment (Blue) collab brew from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY And Horus Aged Ales in OCeanside, CA

Holding This Moment is a Double IPA brewed with Motueka and Citra hops. Fidens is hot right now in the craft beer scene and Horus is always something to be chased after as well, so it’s no surprise this collaboration was incredibly delicious!

Dairelynerweisse: Raspberry, Blackberry, Pomegranate from Salud Cerveceria in Charlotte, NC

Dairelynerweisse is Salud’s Berliner Weisse series and this variant was made with blackberry, raspberry and pomegranate. You can always expect this series to be thicc, fruity, and packed full of flavor. My favorite is still the Mixed Berry version, but this one is excellent too!

Insert Hip Hop Reference Anywhere collab brew from Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA and Monkish Brewing in Torrance, CA

Insert Hip Hop Reference is a single-hop collaboration series from Trillium and this version features Mosaic hops in collaboration with the IPA powerhouse, Monkish Brewing. It is a 10% Triple IPA but is extremely easy to drink.

Watermelon Incipient from Speciation Artisan Ales in Grand Rapids, MI

Watermelon Incipient is a Foeder Aged Solera Sour with watermelon. Speciation always brings the funk! This one is tart, fruity, and light-bodied. I always recommend anything from Speciation that you can get your hands on!

Double Dry Hopped Ghost in the Machine from Parish Brewing in Broussard, LA

Yes I have talked about this beer before, and no I will not be stopping anytime soon. DDH Ghost is an Imperial IPA with Citra hops. I first had this beer when it initially released in 2020 and every time I have it I am continually blown away by how delicious it is. Luckily Parish brought this one to the Barrel Culture Invitational and it was the first keg to kick if that tells you anything about how fantastic it is!

Everything is Connected Collab Brew from The Eighth State Brewing Company in Greenville, SC and Tripping Animals Brewing Co. in Doral, FL

Everything is Connected is a Barleywine with roasted pecans, Cook's Island vanilla, Ugandan vanilla, Ecuadorian cocoa nibs, and graham crackers. Eighth State crushes the Imperial Stout and Barleywine game so it is no surprise that this brew was exceptional! Thicc, heavy on the vanilla, and boozy—everything I wanted out of it.

Get Puft from Liquid Roots Brewing Project in Lenoir, NC

Get Puft is a mango and marshmallow Sour Ale. This was super flavorful! It’s the first in the new sour series at Liquid Roots so I look forward to seeing what other flavors they develop. In the meantime I’ll take 64oz of this fruit bomb!

Flat Dayz collab brew from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY and Commonwealth Brewing in Virginia Beach, VA

Flat Dayz is a Double IPA with Citra in the whirlpool and dry hopped with Motueka, Waimea, Riwaka and Kohatu hops. Juicy, fruit-forward, and smooth. Another banger from Other Half with the help of Commonwealth.

Eunoia Batch 6 from Phase Three Brewing Company in Zurich, IL

Eunoia Batch 6 is a Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with Tugboat coffee, maple syrup and Ghana cocoa nibs. Phase Three is a Chicagoland powerhouse and Eunoia is arguably their best series. The coffee comes through strong but not in an overpowering fashion while the maple and chocolate even everything out. Highly recommend this brew!

My Top Beers in February 2021

February brought A LOT of good beers! A trip to Asheville + a shipment of all of Other Half’s anniversary beers + some amazing goodies from friends means that this month’s list is a little longer than normal because it was just impossible to narrow things down!

In no particular order, here are my top beers of February 2021:

Toasty Camp Flight at Forestry Camp by Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, NC

Okay so yes this is totally cheating to have 4 beers as one selection but they were all so good! I will narrow it down to my top 2: Lecha Reserva from Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim, CA and Rogue in Exile from Eighth State Brewing in Greenville, SC in collaboration with Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, NC. Lecha Reserva is an Imperial Stout aged in tequila and bourbon barrels with chili pepper blend, cacao nibs, cinnamon, vanilla beans, and lactose. The spice perfectly flavors the chocolate base and adds a nice punch. Rogue in Exile is an Imperial Stout with caramel, toasted coconut, Mexican vanilla, honey dates, halawi date, and milk sugar. The flavors combine for a brownie-like thiccc sipper.

Vera Mae (2019) from Hill Farmstead in Greensboro Bend, VT

Hill Farmstead never ceases to impress! Vera Mae is a Farmhouse Saison with organically grown grains, American hops, Vermont wildflower honey, dandelion flowers from the Hill Farmstead fields, and their unique farmhouse yeast. The 2019 edition was aged in oak puncheons and wine barrels for two months and then bottle conditioned for more than a year. The result is a slightly sweet and earthy bottle of goodness.

Triple Juicy Diamonds collaboration from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY and WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley, CO

You know it’s a juice bomb when two of the best in the game come together for a Triple IPA collaboration! Other Half and WeldWerks both individually crush the IPA game and this one is no exception. This is an Imperial IPA with Citra, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops. This one might end up on my best beers of 2021 list at the end of the year, it was so good!

Ken Burns Presents: Guava, Passion Fruit, and Apricot from BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul, MN

BlackStack is so insanely underrated! I visited their taproom in 2018 and had the best IPAs of my trip to the Twin Cities. Since then I have been lucky enough to get some beer mail to continue to try even more of their beers. Their ‘Ken Burns Presents’ series of smoothie style Berliner Weisses has been incredible. This is the 11th edition of the series and is a Foeder-Fermented Fruited Berliner Weisse with guava, passionfruit, apricot, and milk sugar.

Holy Ghost from Parish Brewing Co. in Broussard, LA

Holy freaking Ghost! I am a huge Parish fan after living in Louisiana for almost 5 years so I was thrilled when they released this special version of their best beer—Ghost in the Machine—for their 10th anniversary! This is a Triple IPA with oats, raw wheat, and dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, and Citra Cryo hops. Fingers crossed this one makes another appearance at some point like the Double Dry Hopped version has!

5th, 6th, and 7th Anniversary from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

Okay yes I’m cheating again by picking 3 beers in one BUT how can you possibly not include all of this amazing juiciness in a top beers selection?! 5th Anniversary is an Imperial IPA with oats and Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, and Citra Cryo hops. 6th Anniversary is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Mosaic, Sabro Incognito, Galaxy, Cashmere, Riwaka, Strata T-90, Cashmere, Tomahawk, and Citra Cryo hops. 7th Anniversary is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Citra Cryo, Motueka, Riwaka, Cashmere, and Eukanot hops. I loved being able to do a side by side tasting of these stellar beers to pick out the small differences between them. I’d love to see Other Half continue to release years past anniversary beers each year to see how things change over time!

Devil’s Edge collaboration from Devil’s Logic Brewing and Edge City Brewery in Charlotte, NC

Devil’s Logic and Edge City are both newer to the Charlotte beer scene, with Devil’s Logic opening in December 2019 and Edge City in April 2020. They’ve each jumped right into the mix of 40+ breweries in the CLT area with impressive beers and nicely curated taprooms. Together they created Devil’s Edge, an Imperial IPA with Citra, Simcoe, and Vic Secret hops. This juice bomb is perfectly hopped and incredibly tasty. You can enjoy it on tap at either location or snag a crowler to enjoy at home.

check back next montH to see mY top beers Of march! Cheers -Alexis

The Best Weekend Trips from New Orleans

There are a ton of great places to check out for a couple of days within driving distance of New Orleans. These recommendations range anywhere from an hour drive to six hours for more of an escape!

For my New Orleans Guide, click here!

The North Shore, LA

Covington and Mandeville are the two main towns north of Lake Pontchartrain. I lived in Covington for six months and got to explore all the North Shore offers! Here are my top recommendations:

Visit Abita Brewing for small batch brews from Louisiana’s largest brewery. Also check out Old Rail Brewing Co, a brewery and restaurant with delicious food options. Chafunkta Brewing Company is a small brewery with tasty brews as well!

Opt outside: Explore Fontainebleau State Park—Camp, kayak, hike, or lounge at the lake shore. Bike the Tammany Trace! It spans 31 miles across the North Shore. Float the Bogue Chitto River—there are several companies that have setups for BYOB tubing. Just keep your eyes peeled for gators and snakes!

Barley Oak is a lakefront bar with a small food menu. A fun spot to hang out! The Chimes is a restaurant with a large tap list and delicious spinach and artichoke dip!

Lounge on the outdoor patio at Coffee Rani, which has delicious coffees and a small food menu. Another great spot to start your day is Liz’s Where Y’at Diner, which is a great spot for breakfast!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour

Bay St Louis, MS

Lounge at the beach! This is the closest beach getaway from New Orleans.

Grab food and drinks at The Blind Tiger, a fun spot right on the water!

Visit Lazy Magnolia Brewery, it is just north of Bay St Louis in Kiln and has fantastic dark beers!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola, FL

Start your day at The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company. The view of the bay is fantastic!

Lounge at the beach—Pensacola has incredibly soft and white sand to relax on!

After the beach head to Pensacola Bay Brewery. They are located right downtown and have great beers!

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours

Lafayette, LA

The main reason to go is to visit Parish Brewing in neighboring Broussard, LA. They are one of the top breweries in the country and put out insanely good IPAs.

Another great spot to hang out at is The Wurst Biergarten!

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours 15 minutes

Southern Prohibition Brewing

Hattiesburg, MS

Hattiesburg is a small little Southern town. While in the area be sure to check out Laurel, MS as well!

Southern Prohibition Brewing is arguably the best brewery in Mississippi and located right downtown in Hattiesburg.

Hike in De Soto National Forest while in the area!

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours

Baton Rouge, LA

Go up for an LSU game, concert, or just to hang!

Relax at Tin Roof Brewing. They have a wide array of delicious beers, outdoor seating, and frequent live music.

Check out my other tips here!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour 15 minutes

Great Raft Brewing

Shreveport, LA

Shreveport and Bossier are right next to each other and both have plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained.

Great Raft Brewing is the main attraction you want to be sure to check out. They make incredible IPAs and have a really fun atmosphere!

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Natchez, MS

Natchez is a small historic and charming town!

Start your day at Steampunk Espresso Bar, it is cute and they make great coffee!

Check out the Antebellum mansions like Longwood and Stanton Hall.

Hang out on the river! Spend some time lounging by the water (hopefully with a beer in hand).

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours

Natchez, MS

Birmingham, AL

I am still surprised by how much I enjoy Birmingham. It is an up and coming city with plenty of things to do!

I highly recommend the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute!

There are several good breweries to check out, such as Trim Tab Brewing, Cahaba Brewing, and Avondale Brewing.

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Houston, TX

Houston is incredible massive so be sure to plan ahead for your visit!

There are a tonnnn of breweries in the Houston area—my top recommendations are Urban South, Buffalo Bayou, Saint Arnold, SpindleTap, and B-52.

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Ocean Springs/Biloxi/Gulfport, MS

This stretch of Gulf Coast has pretty nice beaches and is conveniently close to New Orleans.

In Ocean Springs The Shed BBQ has live music and a fun atmosphere!

In Gulfport Chandeleur Island Brewing Company is located right in the heart of town with a variety of beers on tap.

Time from central New Orleans: 1.5 hours

The Center for Civil and Human Rights

Atlanta, GA

ATL is another massive city with a ton to see and do, be sure to plan ahead to make the most of your visit.

Monday Night Brewing is one of my favorite breweries in the US and has two locations in ATL!

The Vortex is a touristy restaurant but absolutely delicious! I prefer their location in the Little 5 Points neighborhood. The Porter Beer Bar is right around the block and has a wide variety of beers to choose from.

The Center for Civil and Human Rights allows you to explore the Civil Rights Movement and human rights movements around the world.

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 6.5 hours

Orange Beach, AL

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have the nicest beaches on the Gulf Coast aside from the Florida Panhandle, plan to spend most of your time on the sand!

Flora-Bama is a fun bar on the border of Florida and Alabama. It is very country style and can be a wild place so visit during the day if that’s not your scene.

Check out Fairhope Brewing on your way out of town.

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours

Memphis, TN

Check out the Blues capital of the world! Memphis is more than just Beale Street so be sure to explore!

Wiseacre Brewing has great beers, be sure to check them out while you’re in town!

Check out my other tips here!

Time from central New Orleans: 6 hours

What are your favorite weekend trips from New Orleans? Let me know in the comments!