Beers with Chuck: Southern Craft Brewing Co.

by Chuck P

For the past 5 years the Tin Roof Brewing Company has been the only craft brewery in Baton Rouge. With the ever-rising popularity of craft beer it was only a matter of time before there was some friendly competition in the capital city. Welcome the new kid on the block, Southern Craft Brewery.

Owners Wes Hedges and Joe Picou started brewing beer as a hobby after their long days of working as engineers. Quickly, the hobby became a passion and as their homebrewing skills grew so did their desire to create unique recipes using local ingredients. After honing their craft (haha) they entered their first National Homebrew Competition back in 2011 and won 2nd place out of 7,000 brewers for their Red Stick Rye. This beer has a nice malt and hop balance with a clean crisp finish. It features Carolina Rye malts which have grown in the south for over 200 years.

Doing some quality control at Southern Craft Brewing in Baton Rouge, LA

They continued entering more competitions locally and nationwide and eventually developed what would be their second flagship beer, the Pompous Pelican Double IPA. This is a really easy drinking Double IPA with a nice hop profile that doesn’t kill your pallet, but comes through nicely. It’s made with raw Louisiana cane sugar from the oldest sugar plantation in the country and Cascade hops giving it that floral aroma with hints of citrus and bit of spice. It may seem light, but don’t let that fool you. At 8%ABV this one is NOT made to pound back on a warm Louisiana day.

Southern Craft's Pompous Pelican Double IPA

Now, after years of homebrewing, the guys have finally realized their dream of opening their own brewery located at the Barringer Foreman Technology Park on Airline Highway (the last building in the back). Complete with a very nice taproom that’s small in size, but very open and inviting the doors open every Friday at 5pm and tours are at 6 and 7pm.

The taproom at Southern Craft located in the Barringer Foreman Technology Park on Airline Hwy.

Both flagships are on tap as well as their first seasonal, the Swamp Sting Honey Ale along with other experimental brews. If you’re lucky you may get a chance to try their oatmeal stout collaboration brew with Cafeciteaux Coffee Roasters. Trust me, it’s delicious.

I’m happy to see that Baton Rouge is embracing another craft brewery and hopefully this will be the beginning of many more to follow. Cheers!