Abita Brewing Company and more Bike Riding…

We have been enjoying our stay at the old Choctaw village known now as Abita Springs, Louisiana. Abita Springs, once used as a Choctaw burial and execution grounds, derived its name from the nearby medicinal springs. It is those same spring waters that a local Brewery uses for its water in its brewing process.

We toured this local brewery named the Abita Brewing Company. They host tours at the brewery on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Since Wednesday was our last day in town we toured that day. The tour included two short short videos about the brewing process and while watching the videos everyone was allowed behind the bar to pour their own drafts. No samples here, you actually pour yourself a pint!

Those who have visited before knew upon pouring their first pint to get right back in the line so they could pour another one just as they finished the first. Not wanting to miss out on any opportunity to try some new beers out we did the same. The best new one I sampled was the Abita Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout. It was pretty tasty although not as rich in depth as many other stouts we have tried.

The day before we visited the brewery we stopped by the Abita Brewpub to sample a few beers we had heard weren’t at the brewery tour.For those who like bourbon barreled brews they serve two pretty potent ones in their Bourbon Street Stout which is an Imperial Stout and their Baltic Porter. These are strong beers as the are both well over 9% ABV. The brewpub was a very lively and popular place for visitors and locals.  We had a great time sitting at the bar talking with an interesting guy about his experiences during hurricane Katrina.  Louisiana folks everywhere we have visited have been very friendly and welcoming.

That last Wednesday in Abita Springs, we didn’t only sample beer.  We wanted to ride more of the Tammany Trace hike and bike trail so we rode the leg between Abita Springs and the historic town of Covington Louisiana. We especially liked one leg of the trail in Covington above the tree line that felt almost like a zip line tour.  We feel any bike enthusiast would enjoy a stay in this area because the Tammany Trace is a great bike trail. We left yesterday for Jackson, Mississippi but will have to return someday to do the rest of the Trace… Until then we hope to see you down the Road of Retirement…