For a lover of Jazz a trip to New Orleans (The Big Easy) is a pilgrimage. For a lover of real ale it can be a pleasurable and memorable experience. For someone like myself, and two colleagues, it was both at the same time!

We recently decided to repeat a visit we had previously made in 2000. During that earlier visit we had "discovered" the Crescent City Brewhouse on Decatur Street, in the wonderful French Quarter. It became our regular watering hole for the two weeks that we spent exploring the City and enjoying the Jazz, to the extent that we were christened the Three Musketeers. The Brewhouse is, as its name suggests, a Brewpub which only sells its output on the premises. It has comfortable bars and restaurants on two floors, with the friendliest staff I have found anywhere on my travels abroad.

On our recent visit we met Tom Conklin the Brewer. Tom has been at the Brewhouse for one and a half years, and has sought to introduce some British style brews into their portfolio, as occasional guest beers. The Proprietor and Brewmaster Wolfram Koehler set up the Brewery to produce German style beers, which still predominate. During this visit the "guest" was an India Pale Ale, which was very true to the style. Produced using a top fermenting British strain of yeast, it had all the bitter taste characteristics and aroma that we expect of a good traditional well hopped English IPA. At 6.5% ABV (OG 1060) it was quite strong but very drinkable, as my first 6 pint session bore witness. My defence is that I had not checked the ABV before I started and an American pint is only 16 fluid ounces!

The Brewhouse building dates back to the late 18th century, records showing that a house was rebuilt on the site after a fire devastated most of the French Quarter in 1795. It then went through a number of uses, rice milling and fur processing, until in 1990 the Crescent City Brewhouse entered into a long-term lease agreement. It was the first brewery to be opened in this area of New Orleans for over 70 years. The larger Jax Brewery in Jackson Square closed a number of years ago.

The brewery is a 17 barrel state of the art plant, incorporating Old World brewing values with modern technology. The gleaming copper lautertun and brewkettle are positioned attractively behind the downstairs bar. The stainless steel fermenting vessels are positioned on the floor above. The Brewer can be seen each day carrying out the brewing process. The smell of the hops and malt that permeates the premises from time to time is mouth-watering. Sadly the beer is dispensed from fonts, but this does not detract from the drinker receiving a glass of superb beer.

If you are ever in New Orleans you should give it a visit, I know we plan to go back again.

Crescents regular range of beers:
•Pilsner 5% ABV (OG 1052) A light, crisp and traditionally hoppy beer with a soft palate and flowery bouquet.
•Red Stallion 5.5% ABV (OG 1058) A malty, aromatic and hoppy mixture, Copper coloured, medium strong and full of flavour. The Brewmasters signature beer, brewed in Viennese tradition.
•Black Forest 5.5% ABV (OG 1058) A full-bodied mahogany beer, with a rich, malty texture. Reminiscent of a Munich style.
•Weiss Beer 4.5% ABV (OG 1048) Golden unfiltered "wheat" beer. Smooth with hints of banana and cloves with a spicy finish.

Captain Gumbo.

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