Crying Eagle Brewing Company
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Crying Eagle Brewing offers visitors a warm Southern welcome with handcrafted brews and a view of the surrounding Louisianan scenery. The company’s title comes from the name of the region’s parish or county, Calcasieu, which derives from a Native American word meaning “crying eagle.”
The Avery family used a hybrid lager-ale brewing process to create the caramel, fruity flavor of Calcasieu Common. Other options include The Chuck, a golden ale, and Ready to Mingle, which carries lighter aromatic tones.
Groups can make themselves at home in the Nest, Crying Eagle’s 4,000-square-foot taproom, or step outside to enjoy the beer garden. The taproom is open Wednesday through Saturday, with tours offered throughout the week.
Slowboat Brewing Company
Laurel, Mississippi
Based in Laurel, Mississippi, an area depicted in the recent historical film “Free State of Jones,” artisan brewers Kenny and Carrie Mann specialize in creating unique flavor fusions, particularly stouts and farmhouse ales.
They currently offer three signature beers: Into the Mystic, a Belgian witbier brewed with hibiscus and citrus; Diary of a Madman, a milk stout with vanilla bean and chocolate malt; and Wayward Son, a sour farmhouse ale with grapefruit and citrus.
The brewery often hosts live music and local events, such as the recent Free State of Jones Jamboree. Tours are held on Saturdays between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and include six 6-ounce beer samples as well as a souvenir glass.
Swamp Rabbit Brewing
Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Nicknamed the “godfather of beer,” Ben Pierson originally received classical training in
Germany as a brewer and spent the past 30 years establishing more than 20 craft breweries throughout the United States. In 2014, he opened Swamp Rabbit in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and introduced award-winning brews like the Double IPA, which won gold in the 2015 World Championship in Chicago.
Other favorites are the Marzen, a German Pilsner malt, as well as the White Ale, a Belgian-style blend of barley, wheat and oats with hints of orange and chamomile. Groups can relax on the back patio with a cold glass of beer and play a round of Scrabble as they listen to live music. Food trucks are available outside.
Birdsong Brewing Company
Charlotte, North Carolina
Birdsong Brewing prides itself on offering fresh, unfiltered American-style ale, with more than 12 beers on tap. What started out as a couple of Charlotte locals with a pipe dream back in 2010 has quickly grown into a thriving venue in the heart of the community. A few top picks are the Jalapeno Pale Ale; Fake Plastic Trees Hoppy Wheat, with hints of citrus and lemongrass; and Mexicali Stout, a festive mix of coffee, cinnamon, chocolate and chili spice flavors.
Birdsong Brewing features an inviting outdoor patio, along with live music on weekends. Families and pets are welcome. On Thursty Thursdays, groups can learn about beer-making during a free brewery tour, accompanied by a sample of the latest weekly concoction.
