There’s a new brewery in NOLA, yet you might mistake it for a trendy new cocktail lounge. That was my immediate thought as I walked through the doors of All Relation, the latest brewery to pop up in New Orleans. The hip and cozy digs are located in Central City, a mere 2 blocks from St Charles and 3 blocks riverside of Hwy 90. I had the chance to check out the space and drink their beers last Thursday at a well-run sneak peek event. The building was masterfully renovated, and that was apparent as soon as I set eyes on it.
The lounge vibe starts as soon as you walk in the front door and are greeted by a false entryway where you might imagine a bouncer checking IDs. The open bar space is decorated with kitschy paintings, thrift store decor, and a general vibe that takes 90’s kids back to their childhood homes.
The bar backsplash is gorgeous and is highlighted by hanging glass racks that would be at home in any high end restaurant. While not quite fitting the rest of the vibe, it is a stunning place to pour some beer. The brewery’s menu appears on CRT TVs mounted above the tap handles, and clever vintage graphics and GIFs list the beers available. The paper beer menu is executed with a classy design that adds to the cool 90’s vintage feel.
Now about those beers. There were 7 on draft, and I made my way through all of them, going straight down the list.
Job Money was straight fire right out of the gate. It ended up being my favorite beer of the night, and this could be a killer staple if they keep it around. At only 5.2%, this hazy IPA has all-day drinkability while maintaining big juicy tropical flavor. All Relation even canned this beer and gave all attendees a 4-pack to take home. I might be drinking one right now as I write this.
Other standouts were 90s-Ass Sheets, a monster 12% Triple IPA that didn’t hide its booze yet maintained a surprising smoothness. Flossed On Paradise was their sour take on a Pina Colada, and I envisioned myself sitting on a tropical beach sipping on this tasty pineapple, coconut, and lime Berliner. The easy drinking “cool” beer style of the moment made an appearance with Cheve, a Mexican lager with eminent drinkability and very solid flavor. The beers all around were very good, and I expected nothing less from a brew team that features experience at Other Half (yes, that Other Half) and Southern Prohibition. It’s impressive to start out with a diverse lineup of great beers, and All Relation fully nailed it.
If you can’t tell already, All Relation is legit, and I fully expect them to take NOLA by storm. They’re putting out phenomenal beers, already canning, and have the most unique brewery taproom in the city. I wouldn’t be surprised if these guys remain constantly packed and build big hype. They deserve it for the phenomenal job they’ve done right off the bat. Cheers to more great beer in walking distance from my house!
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