The Hottest Food & Beer Pairings of Louisiana Craft Brewers Week

The third annual Louisiana Craft Brewers Week is upon us, and the usual suspects (Avenue Pub, Junction, both World of Beer locations, Bulldog Mid City) are hosting various events. The state's breweries are putting their best feet forward to show off the work they do all year long, as well.

There are two events in particular next week that are unique enough to take a closer look at here, however.

Courtyard Brewery [Photo: Brasted]

On Sunday, September 13, starting at 5 p.m., local nano-brewery and beer bar Courtyard Brewery is teaming up with one of its regular food trucks, District Donuts Sliders Brew's District StrEATcar to present a special doughnut and beer pairing. Check out Courtyard's Lonesome Traveler IPA made with Mosaic hops, paired with a grapefruit glaze doughnut with grapefruit infused marshmallow dusted with Mosaic hops, definitely the first hop flavored doughnut in the state.

Or Hammond's Gnarly Barley Brewing's special Peanut Butter Korova Porter paired with a salted caramel doughnut with raspberry-peanut brittle. Another pairing, while not a local beer, uses the beer as an ingredient in the doughnut filling - Evil Twin's Imperial Doughnut Break imperial double stout paired with a dougnut filled with Imperial Doughnut Break pastry cream and tossed in Biscoff - cinnamon sugar.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Email the brewery or stop by to get advance tickets.

Crispy pork belly and watermelon appetizer [Photo courtesy of GW Fins]

On Wednesday, September 16, starting at 7 p.m., GW Fins in the French Quarter is hosting a beer dinner with all NOLA Brewing's sour Funk Series beer. The five course dinner, which is the first one ever to feature NOLA's Funk series, is $100 (inclusive of tax and tip) and benefits the Roots of Music non-profit organization.

The seafood and sour pairings seem quite innovative, from crispy pork belly and watermelon with Vietnamese glaze and ginger slaw, served with Lowerline, to barbecue swordfish "ribs" that have been smoked over cherry wood, will be served with pickled okra and apple slaw with a spicy mango glaze, paired with Piety, a cherry sour beer.

Call GW Fins at 504-581-3467 to make reservations. Seating is extremely limited, so plan in advance accordingly.