Karlos Knott

Bayou Teche Brewing

Just about one year ago to the day, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Bayou Teche Brewing made brewing (and educational) history when they released the first officially licensed collegiate beer in the United States.

The idea behind what was to become Ragin’ Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Ale was hatched by the brewery, the university, and Schilling Distributing. The brewers at Bayou Teche Brewing crafted four beer recipes for a tasting panel comprised of representatives from the three organizations.

Of these beers, the tasting panel selected an adaptation of German style known as a Kölsch – albeit a recipe that included south Louisiana’s most important staple, rice.

Beer drinkers, devoted fans and UL alumni have been drinking A LOT of this beer. Crisp and easy drinking, it is perfect for tailgating in sub-tropical climes and for pairing with the well-seasoned Cajun and Creole cuisines found at nearly every Acadiana get-together.

UL did an amazing job on the packaging design and marketing, and Schilling Distributing as well as Bayou Teche Brewing’s other distributors have spent much of the last year working overtime stocking accounts with kegs and bottles.

Since this is a licensed beer, the University earns a royalty for all of the Ragin’ Cajuns Ale sold. Thus it was only a matter of time before other schools in Louisiana concluded that they needed their own beer as well.

Several are in the works, but just recently LSU and Baton Rouge’s Tin Roof Brewing have released the nation’s second officially licensed collegiate beer — Bayou Bengal.

Currently available only in the Baton Rouge market, the style of this officially licensed beer is a Premium American Lager. I have not got to taste one yet, but I hope to score a six-pack before my weekend’s marathon of football watching.

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However, Bayou Teche Brewing, UL and Schilling have not been resting on their collective laurels — they have been clandestinely crafting a second Ragin’ Cajuns recipe.

Called Ragin’ Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Lager, this new beer is a Creole-inspired Cerveza brewed with local honey.

Cerveza – isn’t that Spanish for beer? Yes it is T-Boy!

The red field of the Cajun flag honors not only the Spanish colony that was home to the arriving Acadians, but also to the Spanish immigrants who put down roots in Acadiana.

So we wanted the Ragin’ Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Lager’s recipe to pay homage to this Spanish influence — So Bayou Teche brewed a version of the Mexican amber style of Cerveza known as the Vienna lager.

So what makes a Cerveza “Mexican-style” and not just an American light lager?

A very brief history lesson: In Mexico at the end of the 19th century, German expats began commercially brewing the Vienna-style lager recipes they brought with them to the new world, which have evolved and now loosely become the Mexican lagers we see exported today to U.S. shelves.

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Since Mexico’s climate is a bit warmer and more humid than Germany, the brewers substituted a bit of corn to lighten their beer’s body and flavor and a new, refreshing and yet flavorful style of Cerveza was created.

The new Ragin’ Cajuns Lager recipe also uses a local fermentable to lighten the body and flavor as well. In addition to the traditional corn, this new Cerveza is spiked with local honey harvested by an apiary near the University.

This amber hued beer is refreshingly light bodied yet flavorful. The honey adds a just a touch of floral complexity that pairs perfectly with everything from boudin to vacation time on the beach at Grande Isle.

This second beer, Ragin’ Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Lager will be released on draft at UL’s first home game this weekend, and in select retail accounts around Acadiana. If you’re going to the game you may want to bring your own lime slices for garnish.