Great Raft Adding Restaurant to Taproom

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In-house kitchen Provisions coming to Great Raft Brewing


Great Raft Brewing is expanding its craft beer production and distribution business to include permanent, in-house food service in its tasting room.

Provisions by Great Raft Brewing is scheduled to open in the fall. The kitchen will service taproom guests and operate at the brewery, located at 1251 Dalzell Ave. in Shreveport.

Chef Nick Simons, formerly of Wine Country Bistro and Southern Trace Country Club, will head up the kitchen and create dishes complementary to the brewery’s beer portfolio.

“This is first and foremost a production brewery. However, conversations at the brewery almost always revolve around food and beer. For years we’ve wanted to execute our own culinary vision to complement our beer. The addition of Chef Simons allows for just that,” said Andrew Nations, brewery president and co-founder. “Our depth of style in brewing should be equally represented in our food. Our patrons can expect the same level of execution and innovation, with an unpretentious approach to food and beer pairings.”

Patrons will have a chance to sample Simons’ culinary creations before the kitchen’s fall debut. Provisions by Great Raft Brewing’s pop-up dining series will occur over the summer with the first slated for this weekend.

On July 3, Simons will prepare his interpretation of classic American barbecue from noon to 4 p.m. at the brewery. The menu will feature a bounty of Fourth of July-inspired dishes, such as a pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich on Texas toast, cherry smoked St. Louis-style ribs, and jalapeno macaroni and cheese.

“This exciting opportunity provides me with a new creative license to challenge the idea of traditional brewpub faire in a creative and approachable way,” said Simons.

On the same day, GRB will release a new beer, the Double Dry Hopped Grace & Grit Double IPA. The brew is made with Citra and Amarillo hops to make “a hazy, juicy, hop-bomb.” It will be the first time for the award-winning brew to be offered as a double dry hop.

Additional pop-up dining dates are scheduled on the weekdays July 14, July 15, and July 22 with more to be announced.

Great Raft Brewing has had a full year of new and seasonal beer releases and special events hosted at the brewery and around town — and much more is in store.

The holiday season will be revived with Christmas in July celebrated on July 14 and 15.

On July 14, Great Raft Brewing will partner with Volunteer of America North Louisiana’s Visionaries group to host a toy drive. Guests who donate a new, unwrapped toy will receive a free pint of beer that evening. Also, Simons will serve a menu of holiday favorites unleashing his culinary prowess onto traditional recipes.

On July 15, get another helping of Simons’ holiday menu, plus desserts by Dripp Donuts. Santa Claus is rumored to make a taproom appearance and stick around for photo opportunities with guests. Everett Street Jazz will set the festive mood with a live performance of classic holiday tunes.

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