Breweries on the Bayou
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
7 Days, 7 Nights
12 people October 19-26, 2025
New Orleans is much more than Mardi Gras. With 15+ breweries, beer bars, historic sights and the bayou, there will be lots to see and do on this tour. Let’s not forget the countless unique foods and beverages that are available for us to enjoy.
We will visit and tour local breweries and take a ride across the world's longest bridge to explore the Gulf Coast and visit a few breweries there. We will also go on an airboat tour on the bayou and ride one of America’s oldest street cars through scenic neighbourhoods in search of more beer. We will head up to Baton Rouge to participate in the nation's best tailgating party before settling in to watch an LSU Tigers college football game. We will stroll the French Quarter and other unique neighbourhoods and experience the foods, drinks and especially the music.
$3550 USD per person when travelling as a couple
Daily itinerary
Day 1
Check-in day. Check in starts at 3pm. We will meet at 6 pm for a short orientation then it’s off to dinner and our first tasting.
Our first brewery will be Gordon Biersch. Technically not a craft brewery anymore, as they have various locations in the USA and Taiwan. They are also a factory brewery, making beer for Costco among others. They brew some fine beers, are known for their food and are fairly close to the hotel, so a great starting point. Next up is Brewery Saint X. A new brewery fast becoming known for its beer line up, BBQ, and a stylish interior. Following our tasting here we will head to the French Quarter for a stroll and then return to the hotel to get ready for our first full day tomorrow.
Day 2
Today we will visit the Garden and Warehouse districts. Breakfast will be at the Court of Two Sisters, an elegant New Orleans style restaurant. For those who haven’t been to NOLA this will be a great introduction to the Cajun and Creole cuisine we will see this week.
We have quite the line up of breweries today. Some are big, some really big, and some small. Like brewery districts everywhere the variety and uniqueness of breweries is truly wonderful. We’ll try to squeeze in 4 or 5 today if possible. Port Orleans, Urban South, NOLA, Courtyard and Miel. A real variety of breweries with some great beers await us.
Dinner will be at Napoleon House for some Creole favourites. Late evening will be a walk down Bourbon Street to enjoy the music and mayhem.
Day 3
We are travelling across the worlds longest bridge today, to the breweries on the North side of Lake Pontchartrain. We’ll start with a delicious southern style breakfast at Daisy Mae’s, an old time cafe known for its breakfasts and great service.
Before we cross the bridge we will visit Skeeta Hawk Brewing. A fairly new neighbourhood brewery fast gaining fans for its beers and friendly staff. Then it’s across the lake.
Abita Brewing Co. will be our next stop. Probably one of the largest brewers in the area, it is known for a unique variety of beers, a nice tasting room, and great tours. Next up will be Spoke and Barrel (formerly Old Rail). Up next before our return to the hotel, Chafunkta Brewing known for its awesome vibe and delicious beers.
Dinner will be at Felix’s Oyster Bar, followed by a stroll through the French Quarter to experience some local drink institutions.
Day 4
It’s going to be an adventurous day today as we spend some time on the water. We’ll start with breakfast at the Ruby Slipper Cafe, an award winning Southern style restaurant.
Our journey starts with a drive out to the Bayou where we will hop aboard an air-boat for a Bayou tour. Expect to see lots of wildlife, including alligators!
On our return to NOLA we will enjoy a delicious Southern BBQ lunch at Frey Smoked Meat Co. followed by a visit to Second Line Brewing for a tour and tasting. We’ll head back downtown and take the Algiers Ferry across the Mississippi River to visit the Algiers neighbourhood and stop for a beer at the Old Point Bar, a classic and famous dive bar.
We’ll go out for a Southern/Creole dinner. Think po-boys at Melba’s and visit one of NOLA favourite breweries Brieux Carre Brewing. If time permits, Bywater Brewpub is in the neighbourhood.
Day 5
Gulf Coast road trip day. We’ll take a scenic drive along the beautiful Gulf Coast to discover some out of town breweries. We are going to grab some much loved beignets for our trip across Lake Pontchartrain to our breakfast at Liz’s Where Y’at Diner.
We shall cruise the spectacular coast until we reach Gulfport, Mississippi and Chandeleur Island Brewing. Next up is Fly Llama Brewing in Biloxi and Lost Spring Brewing in Ocean Springs.You’ll be able to say you’ve been to Biloxi. On the way back we will hit Lazy Magnolia Brewery.
Dinner/evening Oysters or roast beef po-boys and another brewery.
Day 6
Today will be another day to experience the wonder of New Orleans. We’ll start with a great Southern breakfast at Daisy Dukes followed by a relaxing ride on the scenic St. Charles streetcar line. The line travels through some of NOLA’s most beautiful neighbourhoods. We will make a few stops to visit a couple of unique beer bars. The Avenue Pub and Cooter Brown’s Tavern, both of which have a great atmosphere. We will pay a visit to the new Ecology Beer Creative brewery and check it out.
We’ll be having fun in the offbeat Marigny neighbourhood tonight. We’ll visit Parleaux Beer Lab, have some delicious BBQ and end the evening with some blues on Frenchman Street.
Day 7
Game Day! We’re off to Baton Rouge today to watch the LSU Tigers college football game. First off is a Cajun breakfast (think stuffed beignets) at Cajun Village Antiques in Sorrento. It’s a quirky group of buildings, and has some excellent local crafts, food items and souvenirs.
Then it’s off to experience some serious tailgating on the LSU campus. Rated the best tailgating party, with extravagant setups and great fan enthusiasm. We’ll wander and explore the beautiful LSU campus, enjoy some of our favourite beers and enjoy the food around Tiger Stadium (the 7th largest stadium in the world). And say hello to Mike the tiger, LSU’s live mascot.
Then we’ll settle in and watch some classic college football in one of the largest stadiums in the USA. On our return we’ll have a final visit to Bourbon Street
Day 8
Departure Day for everyone. We’ll visit one last brewery, Crescent City, and enjoy a last meal together. I recommend the spicy shrimp and grits-great hangover food. I wish everyone a safe trip home.
FAQs REGARDING THIS New Orleans 2025 BEER TOUR
ADULT COST: The Price for the 2025 New Orleans Beer Trip is $3550 USD per person travelling as a couple / pair (i.e. Double Occupancy), or $4375 USD for someone travelling alone (i.e. Single Occupancy). These prices should not change, unless the exchange rate or trip plans change dramatically. That is not expected, but this trip is a long way off and anything could happen, so the final, exact costs will be determined as people commit to going, and as the time gets a little closer, etc.
SPECIAL NOTE ON COST: My pricing, and the value created, is unlike many tours in several important ways. Most travel industry tours expect the trip attendees to pay numerous tips, often multiple tips per day, including for guides, helpers, restaurant staff, bus drivers, etc. This is common in the tourism industry, but it can add up to hundreds of additional, and often unexpected, dollars over the course of a 7 day trip. I simply disagree with the industry on this approach, so I don't ask my trip attendees to tip anyone during any included activities. Also, with some tours, beverages, beer, etc.may be limited, but I like to see my guests drink, within reason of course, without worrying about extra costs. I also try to provide some extra beers and surprises along the way, when I can, and when the budget, exchange rate, etc. allows it. In summary, I do some things a bit different than the industry norm. This does not mean the industry norm is bad. It just means I have a different approach, which tries to create more value for my guests, and is something that needs to be considered in my prices.
WHAT IS INCLUDED? Basically, everything except your personal purchases, your airfare, and transportation from and to the airports. It includes all hotels, breakfast, lunch and dinner most days, tasting flights of beers, van travel, guide, admission fees, all tips, and taxes.
COULD I SAVE MONEY DOING THIS ON MY OWN? Possibly, but it can require literally hundreds of hours of research and planning to make it happen as smoothly as what you will get on my trips. Also, you may have to drive yourself, or navigate foreign transit systems, to experience some of what we do, which puts a damper on being able to drink and enjoy yourself. Lastly, several things are just not options for people travelling alone. Either the group and / or my connections make some of the tours and things we do feasible. So yes, it is possible to save a little money, but I'm not making that much and the added value I offer is well worth it to most people. Lastly, when calculating costs on your own, many things are often overlooked, which add up to extra dollars spent, plus without the proper planning, mistakes can happen and they can add costs quickly.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE TRAVELLING WITH A GROUP? This isn't a cruise ship or a high school field trip where every second of every day is planned. There are opportunities to do things on your own, there is no curfew, and few very early mornings. Also, the type of people that do a trip like this, are probably a bit of a beer geek just like you, and are usually pretty good people. Lastly, these are relatively small group trips comparatively. So just relax and have fun with some like-minded people in a flexible and friendly environment.
Travelling Solo? You’re in excellent company. Enjoy a Private Room to yourself, subject to availability. Solo travellers typically make up about half of small group tours. With discovery at the centre of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip.
If you don’t opt for a Private Room, you'll be matched with another solo traveller, if available, of the same gender.
PAYMENT TERMS AND CONFIRMATION: I need to confirm the trip as soon as I can to get hotels, meals, vans, tours, etc. scheduled. Thus, if you are interested or certain that you want to go, make your down payment as soon as you can on the website BeerTourSteve.com. See the instructions below for how to get registered. A trip can be confirmed as soon as I have 12 people signed up.
Airline tickets should NOT be purchased until the trip is confirmed.
To reserve your space, or communicate with me, send an email to beertoursteve@gmail.com.
To officially register and pay, send me an email, and then use the Website BeerTourSteve.com for your payment.
NOTE: If the trip does not happen, your payment amount will be refunded to you (minus any payment fees). Otherwise, as soon as I have 12 people signed up I will confirm the trip, I will notify you with that confirmation, and at that point your payment is no longer refundable. After that 3 months prior to departure point, when all payments have been received, no money can be refunded. All plans have been made at that point, things have been paid in advance. You can also consider travel insurance, but be sure to read the fine print and make sure it covers money paid to tour guides and expenses beyond payments directly to hotels and airlines. These terms are subject to change at any time, but they represent the general policies.
Additional Information
The hotels are all very nice, safe, approx 3 star type accommodations, with private baths and all the usual amenities. More details will be provided when the tour is confirmed.
The itinerary and plans may change. With travel plans like this, things out of my control can always occur. Breweries open and close, hours change, weather, airlines and local conditions can force changes. If / when that occurs, I will try to plan something else. It will always be a fun and enjoyable trip and I will always give you your money's worth.
As the trip gets confirmed, I will provide various documents, including one for Trip Planning and Preparation, which covers lots of important issues like what to pack, how to get to the hotel, and the Final Trip Itinerary, etc.
If you need a roommate, I can try to pair you up with someone, but it is up to you to make it work.
As with most travel, these trips require a bit of walking, standing and movement. You should be in reasonably good shape in order to participate in everything planned.
Also, as with most travel, it can be hot at times, or cooler, so be prepared. Our hotel and van and hopefully most of the breweries will have good heating and cooling systems. We can not control the weather and we will survive, though it may not be comfortable for a little while. In these situations, you will truly get to experience what it is like to live in that part of the world. This is part of the charm and the experience.
I am only the coordinator of the trip. I charge a fee to assist you and guide you in your travels. I am not responsible for, or liable for, your health, safety, lost or stolen property, etc. Please read and agree to the policies and procedures below.