Imbibe New Orleans Style With Urban South Brewery’s Alex Flores

Image from Urban South's Instagram

Where are the best places to grab a drink or the top spots for Happy Hour in the city? Who better to weigh in than Alex Flores, Head Brewer of Urban South Brewery. He’s giving us his expert opinion on bar recommendations and top places to drink in New Orleans.  

Without further ado, let’s let Alex introduce himself. 
 
Urban South Brewery was started four and a half years ago by Jacob Landry and Kyle Huling (Jacob hails from the Lafayette area and Kyle is from New Orleans), and we are currently the second largest brewery in Louisiana. We recently won a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival (one of the highest accolades in the craft beer world) for our Lime Cucumber Gose beer.  

I personally fell in love with craft beer in college, as most good Louisiana State University students do. My cousins and a few friends started home brewing beer and joined a home brewing organization in Baton Rouge — after that, I was completely hooked. After LSU, I volunteered at NOLA Brewing for a few months to get some experience, and quickly moved to San Diego, CA, and volunteered at a brewery for a while before landing my first real brewing job at Mission Brewery (an award-winning craft brewery in downtown San Diego). After five years there, I moved back to New Orleans with my now wife to, again, work at NOLA Brewing. Two years later, I was approached by Jacob of Urban South to join their team as a Research and Development brewer, which evolved into the job of Head Brewer.  
 
It's amazing to see how much Louisiana beer has grown over the past decade, and I’m excited to see what the future holds. 

Old No. 77 Hotel: So, Alex, we get a lot of guests that ask where to head for Happy Hour in the city. There is a lot to choose from. What’s your favorite happy hour spot? 

AF: I love hitting Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar for their happy hour oyster special (75¢ oysters from 4 - 6:30PM daily) — they always have good beers on tap, and their frozen mimosa is always a crowd pleaser! 

Old No. 77 Hotel: For us, beer and music got hand in hand. In your opening, what are some of the best spots to catch live music? 

AF: I love to see shows at Tipitinas, The Spotted Cat and Chickie Wah Wah.

Old No. 77 Hotel: What’s the most under-the-radar bar (give us your local-insider tip)? 

AF: That’s very tough. But I love Pete's Out in the Cold down in the Irish Channel — Kevin (the owner/bartender) is the nicest guy.

Old No. 77 Hotel: What are your favorite bars in each neighborhood? And as far as traditional New Orleans cocktails go, where do you like to get them? 

AF: When I go Uptown, I like to go to Pete's or St. Joe's. Both pour great cocktails — I'm partial to the gin-and-tonics at both. In Mid-City, I like Pal's Lounge or Bayou Beer/Wine Garden. In Treme, I really like Little People's Place for the coldest High Life and friendliest people! Plus, fish fry on Fridays! In the French Quarter, can’t miss Molly's at the Market for the famous frozen Irish coffee. And in Bywater/Marigny, I like Bacchanal and Parleaux for the great wine and beer, respectively — and possibly the best outdoor settings in the city!  

Old No. 77 Hotel: Where you like to drink and eat on a typical day? Where are you heading on a typical evening out in New Orleans? 

AF: I love grabbing poboys from Parkway Bakery, plus a few beers, and sit out on Bayou St. John. And I love walking in Crescent Park and sitting on any of the green spaces overlooking the river — that’s always a treat.  

Thanks, Alex, for all your tips! Cheers to our readers trying out some of your favorites soon. Learn more about what Urban South Brewery has going on at on their website.