CHRISTMAS BEER #9: PLAQUEMINES ALE
- Dec 31, 2016
- 1 min read
PLAQUEMINES ALE (IBU: 25, ABV: 5.2%) Fresh persimmons bring this juicy, light ale a subtle tartness.
To conclude the Christmas beer series, we've got a light and refreshing persimmon ale to ring in the new year. The inspiration for the Plaquemines Ale goes back all the way to the birth of New Orleans.
Ridgely Dorsey, Second Line's beer garden manager, was born in New Orleans and grew up across Lake Pontchartrain in Covington, Louisiana. After studying at LSU in Baton Rouge, Ridgely spent a brief time building cabinets and fine furniture and later in the solar energy industry. He's since transferred to Tulane to study history.
Ridgely is passionate about Louisiana history and loves getting the chance to hear bits of local history in conversations with neighborhood patrons of the beer garden. The Plaquemines Ale gets its namesake and primary ingredient from the persimmon.
According to folklore, Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d'Iberville, was led by local Native American guides to a site at a large bend in the Mississippi River. The guides told him that it was the location of a portage between the river and a large lake that led to the Gulf of Mexico. Iberville took note of the spot, along with some Bison sightings, in his journal. Two decades later, Iberville's younger brother, Bienville chose that spot to build New Orleans. The next day, the guides took Iberville's party across the river to their village on the West Bank. That night, the Native Americans provided the explorers with their "fire water", brewed with persimmons, which could be found in abundance in those days.
This article on Plaquemines Ale as part of the Christmas Beer series is refreshing because it celebrates local brewing traditions while highlighting the unique citrus notes that make this ale stand out. The author’s perspective on how seasonal beers can capture the spirit of a place and time is something I strongly support — it shows how craft brewing is about more than taste; it’s about culture and community. I appreciate the emphasis on creativity and regional identity in brewing. And when I want a quick mental reset after enjoying such thoughtful reflections, I play Slope game for its fast pace and unpredictability.
The connection between Plaquemines Ale and the persimmon gives the drink a deeper cultural identity rather than just being another Escape Road 3 craft beer. I think stories like this show how food and drink can preserve regional history and create meaningful conversations between generations.
Really enjoyed the history behind this beer and how the local inspiration ties into the flavor. For a bit of fun after reading, I like unwinding with Retro Bowl since it has that easygoing classic vibe and is always relaxing to play.
Native American knowledge played a crucial and often underrecognized role in shaping early European settlement decisions. The founding of New Orleans can be seen as a direct result of Indigenous expertise about the land, waterways, and resources, Geometry Dash demonstrating that exploration and colonization were deeply interconnected with local guidance rather than purely European initiative.
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