Hello, Great Beer Now readers! This is the fourth in a multi- part series highlighting the Great Beer Now Boozy Bayou Beer Tour 2018, a beer and booze excursion that took me on a journey through the Lake Charles, Louisiana region and southeast Texas. It’s an area rich in local culture and customs and also home to some great breweries and distilleries. Cheers, and have fun following me on this Cajun- style adventure!
Brewpubs are a great place for beer lovers and foodies to converge and share their love of fine brew, compatible foods, and the many joys they bring. On my tour of Lake Charles, Louisiana, I found many places where food or beer were emphasized, but there was one brewpub that did, indeed, cater to both of these basic cravings. That place is Rikenjaks, located at 3716 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA.
First, the Food
At Rikenjaks, guests can feast on foods from a menu that emphasizes American style pub grub. They have a separate menu for lunch and dinner and each is organized into categories such as appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and specialties. The latter includes such options as Fried Catfish, Chicken Fried Chicken, Glazed Pork Shanks, Angus Ribeye, Ahi Tuna Steak, and other items.
Rikenjaks offers both Indoor and outdoor dining. The outdoor area consists of long picnic tables with bench style seating plus square- shaped tables and chairs. The ground is covered in gravel, for a true outdoor country driveway- style dining experience. There is an outdoor bar, too, for faster service.
Now, the Beer
The beer at Rikenjaks consists of house beers and others, with an emphasis on Louisiana- brewed beer. When I visited, they had only one of their own beers on tap. The one beer I tried, its style, and my Untappd rating on a five point scale was:
Flotilla, American brown ale, 3
Overall Average Beer Rating: 3 stars
This brown ale was okay, but actually a little too clean for my tastes. With other beer, guests can select among Louisiana- focused draft options from breweries like Bayou Teche, Abita, Crying Eagle, Parish Brewing, etc. Move to bottled beer and the choices widen, with common favorites like Samuel Adams, Lazy Magnolia, Sierra Nevada, and others.
The Complete Package
Rikenjaks is a one of a kind place in Lake Charles. While there are countless places serving food and beer, Rikenjaks is the only place that also brews its own beer and is the only brewpub in the Southwest Louisiana area.
I visited Rikenjaks late at night and since the outdoor weather was nice, we decided to sit outdoors and eat underneath the trees by the luminance of string lights. It was the perfect night for outdoor dining; dry, not too hot or too chilly, and bug free. The outdoor area is nice not just for the fresh air but also for the more social atmosphere it provides. It’s like being part of one massive picnic and everyone seems content and at ease to converse among each other.
For my dinner, I ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken which comes with two sides. I had heard good things about the burgers, but wasn’t necessarily in the mood for one, so I ordered this entre instead, with mashed potatoes and broccoli. I found it good overall, perhaps not exceptional but still good and a nice match with the beer.
Speaking of the beer, this is one area where Rikenjaks is difficult to assess. The problem is that, when I visited, they had only one of their own beers on tap. I inquired about this and was told that more beers are coming. A quick check of Untappd.com shows that Rikenjaks has served a total of three different beers so far: Flotilla Brown Ale, Contraband Brown Ale, and Rikenjaks Scottish Ale. Three isn’t much, but the person I spoke with told me that the beer component of the Rikenjaks experience is still under development and that there will be more house beers in the future.
To keep guests entertained, live music fills the outdoor area of Rikenjaks on the weekends. During the week, one can find drink specials and other entertainment, such as Open Mic Night, Karaoke, and more. Rikenjaks tries to keep guests stimulated and I like that they shake things up with different types of entertainment depending on the day of the week.
Finding restaurants or beer bars isn’t too difficult in most American cities. Finding brewpubs takes a little more effort and Rikenjaks is ready to answer the call. It will be better when they brew and serve more of their own house beers, but for now, Rikenjaks is still a cool place for food, drink, and entertainment. Pay a visit to Rikenjaks the next time you’re in the Lake Charles, Louisiana area. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
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