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When Rachel Schaffer Lawson wanted to celebrate her law firm’s fifth anniversary, she knew a special release beer was the way to do it. Schaffer Law Firm practices law in a variety of areas, but alcohol law accounts for over one-third of the business and is growing, so beer just makes sense. Rachel got the idea in law school when she was interning for a New Orleans law firm that celebrated with a custom label beer.
But for Shaffer’s celebration, she wanted a special beer and knew just the brewer to do it, local beer wizard Derrick Morse. Krewe de Schaffer is a collaboration of the firm and Franklin’s Mantra Artisan Ales. Rachel knew of Mantra’s reputation of brewing unique beers that had complex flavors from an ingenious use of special ingredients. So, she approached Morse about whipping up a beer that tasted like a King Cake.
If you’ve never had a King Cake, it tastes a bit like a cinnamon roll, but also tastes like Heaven. It’s a New Orleans’s Mardi Gras tradition. A tiny plastic baby is hidden Inside the King Cake, representing 8 pound, 6 ounce little baby Jesus (and if you get that movie reference, we can definitely be friends). For an authentic King Cake, go here next Fall when the online store opens and order one. You won’t regret it!
Rachel ordered a Manny Randazzo’s King Cake for Derrick and Kaleigh to enjoy and they spent hours talking about the brewing process and the art and science of crafting the perfect beer recipe. Derek went to work and crafted the delicious Krewe de Schaffer. A krewe, pronounced like “crew,” is a group that puts on the Carnival parades at Mardi Gras. Krewe was fitting for a beer that celebrated the hard work of all the staff at the firm who worked so hard in its first five years.
Since the beer beer was inspired by the flavors of a New Orleans, King Cake lovers will not be disappointed. Everything made it into the glass, except the plastic baby. If you don’t know what kind of beer it is, it will kind of mess with your mind. It pours a deceptively hazy deep gold and makes you think it will be a lighter profile beer. But this White Stout is are real surprise. You get rich roasted flavors and a semi-dry finish. The coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla work together to mimic the rich cake’s flavors.
Proceeds from the beer will benefit the Nashville chapter of the Pink Boots Society. The Pink Boots Society is a professional organization of women in the beer industry. The beer will raise about $4,000 and will be added to the group’s scholarship fund.
You can find Krewe de Schaffer at better beer establishments throughout the Nashville area. Look for it at 312 Pizza Company, Butchertown Hall, Craft Brewed, Homegrown Taproom, Casual Pint, Jack and Jamesons Smokehouse, Mantra Artisan Ales, The Neighborhood Taproom and Kitchen, Franklin Abbey, Chauhan Ale and Masala, Hops and Crafts, The Filling Station (East & 12 South),Deep South Growlers, The Pharmacy, Hop Stop, Rudies, Prince Street Pizza, Publicity and Tailgate.
We loved Krewe de Shaffer and think you will too! Congratulations to Rachel and her team at Shaffer Law Firm on the fifth anniversary. Cheers!