Fans will get a chance to taste a brand new RaginӰר Cajuns beer when the 2016 football season begins Saturday at Cajun Field.
RaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager will debut when the Boise State Broncos face the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at 11 a.m.
ItӰרs the second beer produced through a partnership between the Ӱר and Bayou Teche Brewing in Arnaudville, La. Last year, RaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Ale was introduced at the first home game. Fans drank the first kegs dry; more kegs were rushed to the stadium to satisfy their thirst for it.
ӰרIn the world of beer, a beer is either an ale or a lager,Ӱר said Karlos Knott, president of Bayou Teche Brewing.
He describes RaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager as a smooth, cerveza-style beer. ӰרItӰרs a take-it-to-the-beach kind of beer,Ӱר he said.
The yeast used to brew lager is different than the yeast used to produce ale. It takes six weeks or more to brew a lager, while an ale can be produced in two to three weeks.
ӰרAlso, a lager brews a lot colder, so itӰרs a lot crisper, a lot easier to drink. It allows the ingredients to shine more than an ale,Ӱר Knott said.
Both beers feature Louisiana ingredients for their distinctive tastes.
RaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager uses BernardӰרs Honey, which is produced at BernardӰרs Apiaries in Breaux Bridge, La. Louisiana rice is used in RaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Ale.
ӰרBoth beers are designed to go with food. When you think of lager, you think of drinking it with something spicy, which is what most people do at tailgating,Ӱר Knott said.
ӰרRaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager is a fun, easy-drinking beer. Anyone who drinks a Mexican lager will recognize this beer. ItӰרs a beer that doesnӰרt take itself too seriously.Ӱר
RaginӰר CajunsTM Lager is available on tap. It is expected to be sold in bottles, too, later this year.
Sales of RaginӰר CajunsTM Ale were impressive last year. ӰרIn Acadiana, we could hardly make enough,Ӱר Knott said.
Although the ale has sold well in other markets, sales in New Orleans have skyrocketed in the past few months. Knott cited the Steak Pit Restaurant on Bourbon Street as an example. The smallest beer it serves is 64 ounces. ӰרRaginӰר CajunsTM Ale is just flying out of there. ItӰרs the only craft beer they have on tap,Ӱר he said.
RaginӰר CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Ale won a 2016 Southern Living Food Award earlier this year. It was featured with other award winners in a special section of Southern Living magazineӰרs June issue.
Some of the proceeds from the craft beer sales are used to support the ӰרӰרs academic, research and athletics programs.