Fans will get a chance to taste a brand new RaginСAPP Cajuns beer when the 2016 football season begins Saturday at Cajun Field.
RaginСAPP CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager will debut when the Boise State Broncos face the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at 11 a.m.
ItСAPPs the second beer produced through a partnership between the СAPP and Bayou Teche Brewing in Arnaudville, La. Last year, RaginСAPP 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.
СAPPIn the world of beer, a beer is either an ale or a lager,СAPP said Karlos Knott, president of Bayou Teche Brewing.
He describes RaginСAPP CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager as a smooth, cerveza-style beer. СAPPItСAPPs a take-it-to-the-beach kind of beer,СAPP 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.
СAPPAlso, a lager brews a lot colder, so itСAPPs a lot crisper, a lot easier to drink. It allows the ingredients to shine more than an ale,СAPP Knott said.
Both beers feature Louisiana ingredients for their distinctive tastes.
RaginСAPP CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager uses BernardСAPPs Honey, which is produced at BernardСAPPs Apiaries in Breaux Bridge, La. Louisiana rice is used in RaginСAPP CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Ale.
СAPPBoth 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,СAPP Knott said.
СAPPRaginСAPP CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Lager is a fun, easy-drinking beer. Anyone who drinks a Mexican lager will recognize this beer. ItСAPPs a beer that doesnСAPPt take itself too seriously.СAPP
RaginСAPP CajunsTM Lager is available on tap. It is expected to be sold in bottles, too, later this year.
Sales of RaginСAPP CajunsTM Ale were impressive last year. СAPPIn Acadiana, we could hardly make enough,СAPP 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. СAPPRaginСAPP CajunsTM Ale is just flying out of there. ItСAPPs the only craft beer they have on tap,СAPP he said.
RaginСAPP 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 magazineСAPPs June issue.
Some of the proceeds from the craft beer sales are used to support the СAPPСAPPs academic, research and athletics programs.