Day Seven: Chafunkta Brewing Company
Louisiana’s newest brewery is led by husband and wife team Josh and Jamie Erickson in Mandeville. The first pints of Chafunkta were sold in April 2013, and the beer is named for the pronunciation of Tchefuncte, the original Native American settlement on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Each beer sold is part of a small batch, and Josh brews on the same 55-gallon system that Andrew Godley built to start Parish Brewing Company in Broussard.
Chafunkta currently brews three beers: Voo Ka Ray IPA, Old 504 Coffee Porter and Kingfish Ale. Named for the New Orleans French Quarter, or Vieux Carre, Voo Ka Ray is a hop-centric imperial IPA made with a “late hopping” brewing technique. Old 504, named after the original Louisiana statewide area code, is a coffee-infused vanilla porter brewed with real vanilla beans and coffee from New Orleans Coffee Exchange. An American cream ale, Kingfish pays homage to the state’s legendary governor Huey P. Long with minimal hops and a hint of sweetness.
We weren’t able to get our hands on any Chafunkta in Lafayette for tasting, but you can find it in restaurants and bars in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.
Stay tuned for a recap of Craft Brewers Week and news about more brews to come on Monday.
