President, Abita Brewing Co., L.L.C., Covington
Why beer?
I started making beer at an early age and fell in love with everything about it.
We hear you started out in this business in your bathtub. Tell us about that.
I am not sure how that rumor got started. It’s just not true. I respect beer too much to ever ferment it in a bathtub…and my Mom would have been very upset with me.
Was it your idea to require yourself to personally taste every new flavor?
Abita has a great crew with incredible talent. It is not necessary for me to be involved with recipe formulation and testing. However, I love being a part of the creative process and never miss it. It’s part of what makes this such a great job.
How do you dream up those catchy names?
We brainstorm with key team members to come up with the names for our beers. Consuming some of the product usually assists in the creative process.
Which Abita brew is your favorite?
This is a very tough question. I like them all at different times. It depends on my mood, what I am eating and the time of year. Lately I tend to favor our Jockamo IPA (India Pale Ale). I love the complex malt and hop flavors and the incredible hop aroma of Jockamo. The bitterness really cuts through the malt and adds spice to a meal.
What’s the most significant business decision you’ve made in the past year?
I have significantly increased our sales staff to adapt to the ever-changing distributor and retail dynamics. The popularity of Abita Beer is spreading, we’re now sold in 39 states and craft-brewed beer is the fastest growing segment of the brewing industry.
Who do you most admire in the local business community and why?
I respect my father, A.R. Blossman, Jr., not only for his accomplishments, but also for the man that he is. No success or failure would ever change the priorities in his life. He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and flew jet bombers for the Strategic Air Command. He successfully ran a gas company (Blossman Gas), a water company (Ozone), a radio station (WARB), banks (First National, Parish National), and a family of six boys.
What is your prescription for life?
Think big and work hard.
