Our History

The story of Bayou Sara Brewing Co. begins not in a taproom, but in 1995 at Camp Zama, Japan. At the time, Steve McKinney was serving in the U.S. Army, stationed overseas with his wife, Amanda. Always fans of a cold beer on a hot day, they quickly realized that the Japanese domestics and imported American brews came at a steep price for a young Sergeant’s salary.
Looking for a creative solution, Steve’s mom sent him a homebrew kit. From the very first batch, Steve and Amanda were hooked—not just on brewing, but on creating beer that was fresh, flavorful, and truly their own. It was the beginning of a lifelong love for craft beer.

In 1998, Steve and Amanda welcomed their first child and transitioned back to civilian life. As they focused on raising their three daughters, brewing took a back seat—but their love for great beer and gathering with friends never faded. Over the years, they visited breweries across the U.S., watching the craft beer scene grow and evolve.

In 2013, Steve dusted off the old brewing gear and jumped back into the hobby. That same year, Amanda’s sister, Abby, married Doug Cochran, who brought two daughters of his own into the family. After sampling one of Steve’s homebrews, Doug famously said, “You could sell this stuff.” That offhand comment was the spark that lit the fire—and the idea of opening a brewery began to take shape.

In the years that followed, Steve, Amanda, Doug, and Abby poured their energy into exploring what it would take to bring their vision to life. Like many small ventures, the road wasn’t always smooth. Plans evolved, unexpected delays—including a global pandemic—put things on pause, and priorities shifted. But in 2021, everything changed when the historic Bennett Ford building in the heart of St. Francisville became available. It was the perfect fit. With fresh momentum, they embraced a new direction and set out to build the community-focused brewpub they had always dreamed of. With the addition of Doug’s two lifelong friends, John Kaspar and Jim Flavin, whom Doug shared his first and many beers with, the project was under way.

Bayou Sara Brewing Co. has been a labor of love in every sense. The three McKinney girls and two Cochran girls have all played a role—cleaning, painting, helping with construction, and even contributing to marketing efforts. It’s a family-built business through and through.

Their love of craft beer has always gone hand-in-hand with their commitment to community. The McKinneys and Cochrans have deep roots in West Feliciana Parish, and they’ve passed that strong sense of connection on to their children. Bayou Sara Brewing Co. was built not just to serve great beer—but to be a welcoming space for neighbors, friends, and visitors alike.

As of October 2025, Bayou Sara Brewing Company opened our doors right in the heart of St. Francisville. “We can’t wait to share with you a place where people can just gather – grab a beer and a bite, relax, and enjoy the company.”