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Something unique happened in Louisiana recently. No, another cliché reality show did not start taping, but rather a local brewery released a special bottle that created a mad rush to the store during lunch breaks across the southern part of the state. Broussard, LA’s Parish Brewing finally sent its long-awaited Grand Reserve to stores in the last week of November. The demand caught retailers by surprise as their doors were being knocked on the moment they opened their shops. With only 1,300 bottles produced, this was the first time in recent recollection that a local beer was that coveted. Don’t get me wrong – there are a couple of other breweries who debut special releases, but they are typically kegged and do not sell out as quickly. By the end of the first day on the shelves, the vast majority of retailers had long sold their last bottle.
What is more impressive and frankly more important than the quick sales is the quality of the beer. Grand Reserve is a bottle conditioned Barley Wine at 11% and, according to owner Andrew Godley, made it to the second round of GABF judging for Barley Wines, which puts it in the top 10-15 in the country. Not bad for a brewery’s first release of a beer. A strong, slightly sweet malt backing keep the hops in check, which may not happen again next year. The alcohol is hidden away, making this beer deceptively easy and enjoyable to drink. Glad that I was able to grab two bottles.
In talking to Andrew, this release is only the beginning for Parish bottles. His recently upgraded brewery just finished a bottle conditioning room, specifically for special releases. With the success of his Grand Reserve, Andrew is making the decision to not only focus on the beers that make his brewery run (Canebrake, an American Wheat, and the recently released Envie, an American Pale), but also to place an emphasis on his bottle conditioned beers. Andrew can now bottle condition a full 60 bbl of high-end, high-gravity beers that he hopes will continue his Grand Reserve success.
Exciting things are expected from Parish Brewing in the LA beer community. While I have yet to try, friends have sampled some new potential releases – a Double and a Farmhouse IPA – that still need a little tweaking before being released. I am just glad that a brewery has stepped up its game in LA to push the boundaries of the drinking public. With Parish leading the charge, the other breweries in LA will follow the torchbearer.
