After various hangups, including high river levels that delayed construction, German Coast Beer Co. will open its doors Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., said Destrehan resident June Zeringue, who owns the brewery with her husband Brandon.
“We’ve been working on it for so long, this is years in the making,” Zeringue said. “Now that it’s finally here, we just can’t wait. My husband would say he cannot wait for the day where somebody is holding one of his beers in their hands and tasting all of this hard work.”
To open the brewery, the Zeringues had to first get a bar license, a restaurant license, and a manufacturing license. They also did major renovations to the building, including adding electrical wiring and bathrooms. Months of high river levels delayed construction, as well.
“It was astronomical the hoops we had to go through,” June said. “We are basically licensed for everything right now, and there were these delays that were completely out of our control. But we would just work toward the next step. And now the next step is to open the doors, and it feels really wild.”
The brewery, located at 13899 River Road in Luling, will have three other soft opening dates from Sept. 27-29 with live music, football, and food.
Brandon is a chemist and has brewed beer for more than 10 years. He brewed more than 200 batches of beer before settling on what they plan to regularly offer their customers, which will include a few beers on tap on a permanent basis, including an IPA, American lager and English stout, alongside a continuously rotating group of seasonal beers and a beer flight, said June.
“It’s a way for people to engage in the season and with their families and there is no tech,” June said. “It’s this beautiful way to visit with people and enjoy life. We see it as a much bigger picture than just beer.”
June said they realized parish residents needed a place to gather after an event to celebrate.
“After a baptism, after a recital or after a big game at the park, you want to go and celebrate with friends and family,” she said. “It’s a way to spend quality time together.”
The brewery is a family affair, with some of the Zeringues’ 10 children finding ways to help. Their oldest daughter designed the brewery’s logo.
“We’re very family oriented,” June said. “We really wanted to start a generational business. When you build something that other people can carry on, it’s an amazing thing.”
The brewery will host private events, like birthday parties, rehearsal dinners and reunions, on Thursdays. A monthly calendar will detail the featured restaurants, bands, trivia nights and other events.
