In February, I'll be traveling through the south. What are the beers that I just have to try (from local breweries,) while I'm there?
I have live in both Tennessee and Louisiana for several years. Nashville, Tennessee: Yazoo Sue(imperial smoked porter) for sure; Blackstone has several good beers (coffee stout, porter, Adam bomb); and I also really like Turtle Anarchy in Franklin, TN (always have new stuff to try, 50 shades of black series is awesome). Louisiana: anything from Parish Brewery, should have a DIPA coming out in February so look out for that (Ghost in the Machine). Bayou Teche has some good barrel aged beers rolling out lately( loup garou and miel sauvage)
Can't speak a ton of TX and TN, but for TX I love Saint Arnold and have heard great things about Karbach and Jester King. For MS, all I've had is Lazy Magnolia, which makes solid stuff. I love Timber Beast as a solid Imperial Rye IPA and also enjoy their Jefferson Stout and their seasonal releases are typically good. In LA, if you get anywhere near Parish I suggest checking them out. They make great stuff and don't always reach NOLA in huge quantities. Definitely try to get to NOLA and hit the NOLA taproom for their speciality stuff. I also love their mechahopzilla which is available in 4-pack cans, and their Irish Channel Stout which just came out in cans. Abita also comes out with some solid stuff, their select and harvest series typically produce some great beers. They've also been doing some barrel aged stuff of late which is quite good. You've definitely got a lot to explore on your trip. I'm sure it will be fun and filled with great beer!
Mystery Romp from Mississippi's Crooked Letter Brewing is a fantastic porter. Their website can give you an idea who has it on tap when you are in the area.
If you come near Alabama look for Straight to Ale Brewing and Good People Brewing, two must trys from here. Some of there stuff can be found around Nashville and surrounding areas but Im not sure where as Ive not from there.
Nashville gets pretty much every Straight to Ale release. We have Unobtanium right now, and there might be some of the barrel-aged Laikas around. We don't get as much Good People, mostly just the standard releases (IPA, Brown, Coffee Stout). To my knowledge, we've never had cans of Snake Handler, for example.
Hopefully GP starts getting yall more stuff but not if it means we get less! For real tho they are canning coffee oatmeal stout as we speak so there distro may increase this year also.
Memphis, TN: ananda ipa in cans from Wiseacre, reverberation coffee stout from Memphis Made, milk stout from High Cotton
I would second the Ananda mention, if you can get by their tap room and have a pint off draft check it out, they have alot of tap only releases. Memphis Made's Saison is excellent too
if you are close to Hattiesburg. Stop in Keg&Barrel and if you get by on a Friday. Southern Prohibition tastings/tours are a blast!
