The Beer Traveller

I had very little intentions in New Orleans as I was limited on time & have really been focused on brewpubs. I believe it was Trip (from Abita) that recommended Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar as a must stop.  Directions from a beer deliverer @ Abita helped me get there. 
Apparently Lafitte’s is rumored to be the oldest building east of the Mississippi river & the oldest operating bar in all of the US.  It’s a little off the beaten path, located way up on Bourbon street; it’s the last bar before a residential area.
Their beer selection was lacking, but it’s the character that set this place apart.  I enjoyed a Dixie Blackened Voodoo.  Dimly lit w/ candles & torches, it still has the nostalgia of what it once was.  Apparently back in the 1700’s it served as a legal front for a couple of pirate brothers. It’s survived two devastating fires & Katrina.
If you’re looking for something different than than the typical French Quarter scene & want a laid back atmosphere, this is your place.