50 Best Beers in Louisiana: Best Brews of the Pelican State

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Pungent grapefruit, mango, passion fruit, and saturated Citra aroma meet a soft body and restrained bitterness. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Drink it very fresh in a tulip before sweeter or darker beers. Pair it with blackened redfish or spicy fried chicken; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Chocolate malt, caramel, toffee, and light roast build a smooth brown ale with enough dryness to remain food friendly. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Let the bottle warm slightly above refrigerator temperature in a nonic pint. Pair it with jambalaya or smoked sausage; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Orange, mango, peach, and a soft resin note ride a plush body while enough bitterness keeps the finish focused. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Check the can date and drink it fresh from a tulip. Pair it with spicy pizza or fried chicken; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Soft wheat, honeyed sugarcane, lemon peel, and a gentle Cascade-hop finish make this refreshing without becoming plain. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cold in a wheat glass as an early-flight opener. Pair it with boiled crawfish or grilled shrimp; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Toasted bread, caramel malt, and restrained German hops form a smooth amber lager whose balance explains its decades of staying power. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cool in a mug or pint and give the malt aroma a moment to emerge. Pair it with red beans and rice or grilled sausage; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Grapefruit, pine, orange peel, and a steady malt backbone deliver the firmer bitterness of an earlier American IPA tradition. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Drink it fresh from a tulip before the sweet or sour beers. Pair it with hot sausage po’boy or sharp cheddar; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Espresso, bittersweet chocolate, toast, and a firm hop edge produce a dry, substantial stout built for more than dessert. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Let the can warm slightly and use a nonic pint. Pair it with chargrilled oysters or chocolate cake; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Pilsner malt, light honey, pear, and gentle German hops hide considerable strength in an unusually pale and polished doppelbock. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Sip from a goblet and save it for the stronger final third of the flight. Pair it with crawfish étouffée or roast pork; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Mango, lychee, orange, and grapefruit rise from a soft pale-ale frame with enough bitterness to keep every sip tidy. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Pour it fresh and taste it beside the stronger Ghost in the Machine. Pair it with fried oyster po’boy or pepper jack; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Citrus, light pine, biscuit, and gentle caramel make a balanced pale ale deliberately shaped for the cooking of South Louisiana. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cool in a pint and let the hop aroma open for a moment. Pair it with gumbo or smoked boudin; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Mango, peach, and orange float over oats and wheat in a gentle hazy pale ale with very low perceived bitterness. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Check the can date and pour into a tulip while the aroma is fresh. Pair it with fish tacos or pepper jack; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Fresh raspberry aroma and a softly tart fruit edge brighten a light wheat-and-pilsner lager without burying its crisp base. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Pour cold into a flute or wheat glass, leaving garnish off the first taste. Pair it with fresh chèvre or raspberry-glazed pork; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Pale malt, soft honey, a faint pear note, and balanced bitterness make this blonde ale accessible without becoming anonymous. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Use a clean pint and serve cold as a bridge between lager and IPA. Pair it with fried shrimp or grilled chicken; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Passion fruit, papaya, blood orange, and ripe melon fill a pillowy hazy IPA that stays more refreshing than its name suggests. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Check the can date and serve in a clean tulip while the hop aroma is vivid. Pair it with cajun chicken pasta or fish tacos; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Cracker malt, lemon, flowers, and a lightly herbal dry-hop note give this crisp pilsner more aroma without sacrificing its snappy finish. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Serve cold in a narrow glass and use it to reset the palate. Pair it with fried fish or margherita pizza; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.

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Ripe strawberry aroma rides over a clean golden lager, finishing bright rather than syrupy when the bottle is served properly cold. It earns its place by adding a distinct flavor, technique, or piece of Louisiana brewing identity to a balanced statewide tasting.

Use a pilsner glass and taste it before darker fruit sours. Pair it with spinach salad or strawberry shortcake; protect the package from heat and light, use a clean glass, and give the aroma a moment to open before judging the finish.