Last Sip: Wetlands Sake
THE NEWEST ADDITION to the New Orleans brewery scene isn’t what you’re expecting…Wetlands Sake is the first sake brewery in Louisiana. Considering our state is the third largest producer of rice in the country, a sake brewery just made sense to owners Nan Walls and Lindsey Beard. And noticing the uptick of the beverage on wine lists of fine dining establishments in cities like New York, they thought it was about time someone brought it to New Orleans.
Three years and a multitude of brewing trials later, a portfolio of premium craft sakes recipes is perfected. The lineup includes two traditional sakes (a bright, fruity Filtered and a cloudy, silky Unfiltered) and innovative sparkling sakes introduced in two flavors, Blood Orange and Passion Fruit. Packaged in accessible single-serve cans, Wetlands hopes that sake will be ushered into the fold of the American alcoholic beverage experience. Crawfish boil? The most unlikely companion yet it works perfectly. Mixer? The ingredient you never expected to elevate your cocktail game.
Housed in a converted warehouse space off Tchoupitoulas, the brewery is anchored in a community dedicated to handcrafted beverages. Wetlands’ sakes are made with a unique short-grain rice grown exclusively at a Louisiana farm. And in their research to find the right fit, Nan and Lindsey learned about the role the wetlands play in rice cultivation. As multigenerational New Orleans natives, they considered this, along with their inherent appreciation for the beauty and the protections of the wetlands, when they decided to dedicate a portion of profits to wetlands conservation.
The luxe taproom space at the brewery is slated to open in January 2022. In addition to their core lineup, a selection of rotating small batch varieties and infusions, crafted by a master mixologist, will be available. Neighboring the Brennan concept market and eatery The Commissary, the shared outdoor space means that you can enjoy classic New Orleans fare while sipping on sake! It’s the perfect addition to the Lower Garden District and New Orleans as a whole.