Taking flight: a selection of ales at Calliope Beer Works (photo by Caliope Beer Works)
Calliope Beer Works
story by Marielle Songy
Calliope Beer Works, the much-anticipated brewery and restaurant located in the former location of shuttered restaurant Cowbell, is now open at 8801 Oak St. The spot offers in-house brewed beer, a full bar, and food.
When owner Rich Szydlo lived in his home city of Chicago, he had a contract brewing company where he would brew beer at another brewer's facility and distribute it himself. When he relocated to New Orleans, he was hoping to recreate that experience but was unable to work around Louisiana's strict brewing laws.
He explained, “I don’t think a lot of people here know what contract-brewing is. You’re brewing beer at someone else’s brewery and then treating it as your own product. It’s kind of a weird thing and it was difficult to figure out how to do it here.”
Szydlo initially thought about opening his own large-scale facility. However, he pivoted to the brew pub idea when Covid hit. His goal is now to focus on smaller batches of beers and concentrate on what he and his customers might enjoy. With that idea in mind, he began hunting for space. When he came across the spot on Oak St., he thought it was perfect. He signed a lease on the property in April 2022.
“I live in this neighborhood, so when the old Cowbell went up for lease, we saw that it was just big enough to fit a small brewing system, so here we are,” he said. “Once we found that space, we had to go through the process of getting loans and working on the space to get it ready for business.”
Calliope Beer Works will not only serve beer but will offer a whole restaurant experience. “People in the neighborhood want a good restaurant where they can go out and get a good meal,” Szydlo explained. “We’re going to be catering to two crowds; there’s going to be space for people who want to come in and drink beer and we’ll have space for people who want to have a full dining experience.”
The food menu includes what Szydlo describes as "beer-friendly comfort food" that pairs well with Calliope's beer selection. Beer will be incorporated into the menu's marinades and sauces to bring the dining experience full circle and connect it entirely to the brewery. Selections include Pimento Grilled Cheese, pimento, fried green tomato, bacon; a Jerk Chicken Sandwich with pineapple BBQ sauce, slaw, pickles; a Chicken and Waffle Sandwich served on a Belgian waffle with hot honey, bread and butter pickles; and a Burger that come fully dressed with a choice of cheese and toppings.
“We have a restaurant that over-delivers on people’s expectations,” Szydlo said. “We have cloth napkins, nice plates, and good silverware. Our entrees are a little more elevated than typical bar food.”
As for the beer, Szydlo's focus is small batches that will rotate. He explained that if people enjoy a particular beer, he will brew it more than once, but it's crucial for him to offer a beer menu that has a lot of variety. He wants to provide a selection of beers that will keep customers returning for more.
He explained, “I really love a Belgian White; that’s my favorite style and I think it fits well with the weather and it will balance well with the food. We’re going to offer some IPA, but it might not ever be the same IPA twice. We’ll have lagers, English bitters, dark seasonal beers when it starts to cool off, and we’ll do some sours. It’s a small system, so we don’t have to commit to anything.”
After months of serving guest beers, Calliope Beer Works will begin serving its own beer on November 11. The first batch of beer includes a Belgian blonde, a rye pale ale, an IPA, and an English bitter. The brewery will also be serving up a BBQ menu to mark the occasion.
Caliope Beer Works is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Click here for their website
Mareille's book, The Absinthe Frappé is now available through LSU Press. Click here to purchase. Read more about the book here.
story by Marielle Songy
Calliope Beer Works, the much-anticipated brewery and restaurant located in the former location of shuttered restaurant Cowbell, is now open at 8801 Oak St. The spot offers in-house brewed beer, a full bar, and food.
When owner Rich Szydlo lived in his home city of Chicago, he had a contract brewing company where he would brew beer at another brewer's facility and distribute it himself. When he relocated to New Orleans, he was hoping to recreate that experience but was unable to work around Louisiana's strict brewing laws.
He explained, “I don’t think a lot of people here know what contract-brewing is. You’re brewing beer at someone else’s brewery and then treating it as your own product. It’s kind of a weird thing and it was difficult to figure out how to do it here.”
Szydlo initially thought about opening his own large-scale facility. However, he pivoted to the brew pub idea when Covid hit. His goal is now to focus on smaller batches of beers and concentrate on what he and his customers might enjoy. With that idea in mind, he began hunting for space. When he came across the spot on Oak St., he thought it was perfect. He signed a lease on the property in April 2022.
“I live in this neighborhood, so when the old Cowbell went up for lease, we saw that it was just big enough to fit a small brewing system, so here we are,” he said. “Once we found that space, we had to go through the process of getting loans and working on the space to get it ready for business.”
Calliope Beer Works will not only serve beer but will offer a whole restaurant experience. “People in the neighborhood want a good restaurant where they can go out and get a good meal,” Szydlo explained. “We’re going to be catering to two crowds; there’s going to be space for people who want to come in and drink beer and we’ll have space for people who want to have a full dining experience.”
The food menu includes what Szydlo describes as "beer-friendly comfort food" that pairs well with Calliope's beer selection. Beer will be incorporated into the menu's marinades and sauces to bring the dining experience full circle and connect it entirely to the brewery. Selections include Pimento Grilled Cheese, pimento, fried green tomato, bacon; a Jerk Chicken Sandwich with pineapple BBQ sauce, slaw, pickles; a Chicken and Waffle Sandwich served on a Belgian waffle with hot honey, bread and butter pickles; and a Burger that come fully dressed with a choice of cheese and toppings.
“We have a restaurant that over-delivers on people’s expectations,” Szydlo said. “We have cloth napkins, nice plates, and good silverware. Our entrees are a little more elevated than typical bar food.”
As for the beer, Szydlo's focus is small batches that will rotate. He explained that if people enjoy a particular beer, he will brew it more than once, but it's crucial for him to offer a beer menu that has a lot of variety. He wants to provide a selection of beers that will keep customers returning for more.
He explained, “I really love a Belgian White; that’s my favorite style and I think it fits well with the weather and it will balance well with the food. We’re going to offer some IPA, but it might not ever be the same IPA twice. We’ll have lagers, English bitters, dark seasonal beers when it starts to cool off, and we’ll do some sours. It’s a small system, so we don’t have to commit to anything.”
After months of serving guest beers, Calliope Beer Works will begin serving its own beer on November 11. The first batch of beer includes a Belgian blonde, a rye pale ale, an IPA, and an English bitter. The brewery will also be serving up a BBQ menu to mark the occasion.
Caliope Beer Works is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Click here for their website
Mareille's book, The Absinthe Frappé is now available through LSU Press. Click here to purchase. Read more about the book here.
