Many places around the country can boast that they have had a beer festival. Beer festivals take place all of the time when friends get together to celebrate the complexity of a well-crafted ale or lager. While many festivals can boast an extensive selection, limited beers, and interesting people, Cajun Cafe on the Bayou puts one thing into their festivals that many others don’t: lagniappe.
Lagniappe, the Cajun word for ‘a little something extra,’ radiates from the patio each time Cajun Cafe and owner Paul Unwin host a beer festival, and the 2013 Fall Festival is no exception. For those unbelievers, the proof is in the proverbial (Whiskey Bread) pudding:
Five Reasons why Cajun Cafe on the Bayou can boast the best festivals in the state:
1. The tap lists. Cajun Cafe goes to extraordinary lengths to find not only rare beers, but beers unavailable in Florida. Some gems from the 2013 Fall Festival include:
*A keg of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (if this one is unfamiliar, one taste will make it unforgettable)
*Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout
*New Glarus Serendipity Apple/Cranberry/Cherry Ale
*New Glarus Moon Man Pale Ale (New Glarus does not distribute outside Wisconsin)
*Westbrook Brewing Mexican Cake Imperial Stout
*B. Nektar The Zombies Take Manhattan (Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Zombie Killer Cyser)
*Lost Abbey Deliverance American Strong Ale
*Lost Abbey Brandy Barrel-aged Angel’s Share Barley Wine
And those are only the beers and meads not normally available in Florida (except the B. Nektar).
2. The lines. The biggest complaint about any beer festival is usually the lines. Festivals are only open for so long and every minute spent in line is a minute less enjoying a beer! Cajun Cafe caps their attendance and spreads out the booths, so lines are minimal and so are wait times. Cajun Cafe has even turned away customers offering cash at the door in order to stay true to this policy and its patrons. After all, less time waiting is equal to more time sampling.
3. The people in attendance. The people who attend a Cajun Cafe Festival are generally nice, kind folks, but of the people who are pouring the beers many are volunteers that Cajun Cafe has asked to participate based on their beer knowledge. These folks are as excited to be pouring the beers as you are to be drinking them. These are folks who can answer questions about the beers they are pouring and many of those people work for breweries, distributors, or a bar/ restaurant that specializes in craft beer. Some are writers, bloggers, brewers, and/or enthusiasts who love nothing more than to talk beer with festival-goers. Breweries like Cigar City, 7venth Sun, Swamp Head, Saint Somewhere, Barley Mow, and Rapp all send representatives, many send their head brewer. This particular Fall Festival will also host Brad Dahlhofer, owner of B. Nektar Meadery of Ferndale, Michigan.
4. Try before you buy. Ever seen an expensive bottle of beer in the store and wanted to try it before spending all that money to bring home a large amount? The Bruery Bois is $30+, some large bottles can cost upwards of $20-$30 and does not even guarantee that the beer is agreeable with the consumer. Cajun Cafe’s festivals allow for sampling, so that entry fee could end up saving money in the long run.
5. The setting. The outdoor venue with a live jazz band playing and lots of beer conversation happening over unique, fresh, and vintage ales and lagers is second to none. Parking is easy, entrance is central, and once inside there is plenty of shade and sunshine. Ask the person standing in line what their favorite festival beer is; ask the person pouring the beer what they would recommend; ask the brewer questions directly; the only thing that is beyond asking is for a nicer spot for a beer festival.
All things considered, Cajun Cafe on the Bayou has one of the best festivals in the entire state of Florida, but do not just take the word of Florida Beer News, tickets are on sale now for Cajun Cafe on the Bayou’s Fall Beer Festival on November 2nd from 2pm until 6pm. Cajun Cafe is located at 8101 Park Avenue in Pinellas Park. This is a celebration of craft ale not to be missed.