Check out these Shreveport and Bossier breweries slinging seasonal Oktoberfest beers near you

Meredith G. White, Shreveport Times
·4 min read

October means it's time for cooler weather, the leaves to change, Halloween fun and of course, seasonal Oktoberfest beer. If you're looking for a place to knock a few back, tap these breweries here in Shreveport and Bossier City.

The Seventh Tap Brewing Project

This "brewing project" is a formation of three friends who shared a dream of bringing their love of drinking craft beer and making it to the community. A homebrew group in 2015 brought these friends together and they competed at homebrew events where they constructed a portable serving system called a jockey box.

The Seventh Tap brewery had a soft opening the week before it is set to open to the public which is on Saturday June 5, 2021.
The Seventh Tap brewery had a soft opening the week before it is set to open to the public which is on Saturday June 5, 2021.

This system is ultimately what would create the identity of The Seventh Tap. This box the guys were building was designed to have six taps drilled for serving the beer, but during the execution, an extra seventh hole managed to drill itself into the box and that's how they named their collaborative project.

Currently on tap at The Seventh Tap are unique brews like Czech Pilsner Watch the Throne, Imperial / Double IPA The Cat Whisperer and of course a Märzen Oktoberfest.

The Seventh Tap is located at 2640 Linwood Ave. in Shreveport and open Wednesday - Thursday 4 - 9 p.m., Friday 4 - 10 p.m. and Saturday Noon - 10 p.m.

More:Meet the Mexican immigrant creating some of your favorite beer flavors in Shreveport

Great Raft Brewing

A look at the renovations at Great Raft Brewing.
A look at the renovations at Great Raft Brewing.

This craft brewery is dedicated to making creative, authentic beer with a mission to build a great beer culture within the community. The complex, inspired, bold and plentiful beer is created to complement the lifestyles and cultures of Louisiana.

Great Raft's beer holds up to the bold, spicy flavors of Louisiana cuisine and is created with the finest hops and grains available to provide patrons with consistently great beer in every batch. The brew masters at Great Raft brew with creativity that pushes the boundaries of style, a passion for greatness and authentic, quality ingredients.

Currently on tap are beers like a Hazy Pale Ale Commotion, a Black Lager Reasonably Corrupt and the seasonal Fest Bier Oktoberfest.

Great Raft is located at 1251 Dalzell St. in Shreveport and open Wednesday - Thursday 4 - 9 p.m. and Friday - Saturday Noon - 10 p.m.

More October Fun: Check out these Halloween events happening around Shreveport and Bossier.

Flying Heart Brewing & Pub

Flying Heart Brewing is located at 700 Barksdale Blvd. in downtown Bossier City.
Flying Heart Brewing is located at 700 Barksdale Blvd. in downtown Bossier City.

This Bossier City brewery was formed from a thirst for unique beers, fresh food and devotion to the community by always working to bring innovative brews and pizzas in an exciting atmosphere.

What started as a small homebrew group spending hot summer days slaving away in an under-ventilated basement has now turned into a full-blown brewery and restaurant with three locations. Along with signature craft brews, patrons can enjoy just as unique hand-crafted pizzas with the best ingredients on a rotating monthly menu.

While Flying Heart has six brews on tap year-round, some that are currently on tap are the Firehouse Blonde, the Milk Maid Stout and the Pumpkin Spice cheesecake-flavored It's Fall Y'all.

The Flying Heart Brewing & Pub is located inside the Historic Fire Station Number 6 at 700 Barksdale Blvd. in Bossier City and open Monday - Wednesday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Red River Brewpub at The Garage

This local brewery was the first one to open since prohibition and was established in 2012 under the name Red River Brewing Company. It blazed a trail into craft beer history with the flagship Louisiana Wheat Rye Ale, a beer that celebrates the rich music history here called the Hay Ryed.

Today, the fun and experimental beers are served alongside 1950s-style burgers at The Garage in Bossier City's East Bank Cultural District. Aptly named for the humble beginnings of the Red River Brewing Company starting out in one of the owner's garage, the shared camaraderie of the three founders sprouted a passion for ingenuity that continues to this day.

Currently on tap at Red River Brewpub are the Sour Oh the Humidity, the IPA Ghost in the Machine and the seasonal Märzen Ultimate Oktoberfest.

The Red River Brewpub at The Garage is located at 310 Mansfield St. in Bossier City and will have its grand opening on Friday, October 14.

Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Check out these local Shreveport and Bossier breweries for Oktoberfest