Acadiana Business

Bayou Teche Brewing releases Boucanee smoked ale

by Nathan Stubbs

Arnaudville's Bayou Teche Brewing is following up the success of their LA-31 Biere Pale with a unique cherry-wood smoked wheat beer, dubbed Boucanee. Arnaudville's Bayou Teche Brewing is following up the success of their LA-31 Biere Pale with a unique cherry-wood smoked wheat beer, dubbed Boucanee. Brewmaster Karlos Knott explains that the new beer pays homage to the wild cherry trees abundant across Acadiana, which his family and many others traditionally harvested to make bourbon-infused cherry bounce and cherry-wood smoked meats for the winter holiday season.

LA-31 Boucanee uses a cherry-wood smoked malt for unique and surprisingly refreshing flavor.  Knott says the beer pairs especially well with Cajun fare including chicken and sausage gumbo, barbeque, sausage po-boys, and grilled hamburgers.  "We can no longer even look at a link of boudin without instinctively pouring a cold pint of it," he says.

Boucanee will be available only on tap at exclusive locations across the state. Locally, The French Press and Burgersmith will be among the first establishments to offer the brew and should get their first shipment in sometime next week. Knott says current plans call for the beer be available in bottles next Spring, to tie-in with the barbecue season. Boucanee will also be one of the featured ales at this weekend's po-boy preservation festival in New Olreans.