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Order a Guide |
By the Bottle We brew, do wine, too, on the Northshore
Emeril Lagasse, America’s favorite chef, isn’t the only beer fan to discover the joys of the brew from little Abita Springs. The brewery located right here on the Northshore has enjoyed huge growth in the past few years, growing from a local specialty to a regional brand, and maybe beyond. The Abita Brewery, established in 1986 and based on the area’s pure spring waters, recently completed its brand-new tasting room and conducts free tours and tastings Wednesdays - Saturdays. If you’ve got a powerful thirst and can’t wait til Wednesday, head for nearby Abita Brew Pub, where a sampler of seven beers, including the popular Turbodog and Purple Haze, is always on the menu. The pub, the original home of the brewery, is adjacent to the Tammany Trace in Abita Springs.
Another brewery, albeit much smaller, joined the Northshore beer scene when German-born Henryk —Heiner” Orlik opened Covington Brewhouse in historic downtown Covington in 2006. His Kolsch, Kellerbier and seasonal beers have found their own following. You can visit the brewery and see how the beer is made; if you want a taste, ask for Covington Brewhouse beer at the Columbia Tap Room, a short walk away. Wine aficionados won’t feel left out on the Northshore – St. Tammany Parish is home to Pontchartrain Vineyards, an award-winning producer of wines in the classic French tradition. Chat with winemaker John Seago and sample Pontchartrain’s Rouge Militaire, Zydeco Rosato, the cleverly named Port of New Orleans, or any of its other offerings, in the winery’s Old World tasting room. Located just a short ride north of Covington, Pontchartrain Vineyards is a lovely setting, too, for evening jazz concerts held on Saturdays in spring and fall. Concertgoers spread out picnics, clink wine glasses and delight in the sounds of talented regional performers like the Pfister Sisters, Charmaine Neville and Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders. All under the star-studded Northshore sky.
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