Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC), announced Great Raft Brewing Co. of Shreveport, La. as Small Business of the Week, and will be submitting it into the official Congressional Record.

“Louisianians are known for their ingenuity and can-do attitude, and the folks at Great Raft Brewing in Shreveport are certainly no exception,” Vitter said. “In a very short amount of time, Andrew and Lindsay Nations have built a nationally recognized and highly successfully craft brewery in Northwest Louisiana—a dream realized after years of hard work. Successful small businesses like Great Raft often inspire others to take the entrepreneurial leap, and I look forward to the ongoing success of Shreveport’s own Great Raft Brewing in the years to come.”

Named after the “Great Raft” logjam that once prevented travel along the Red River, Great Raft Brewing was started by Andrew and Lindsay Nations in 2013, when they sold the first locally made beer in Shreveport since the Prohibition Era. The two Shreveport natives, along with chief brewer Harvey Kenney, set about starting a brewery with the mission of creating flavorful craft beer that matches the lifestyle and cultures of Louisiana. In the span of three years, Great Raft has expanded its distribution to every corner of the state of Louisiana, garnering regional and national success including being recognized as one of the South’s Best Breweries by Southern Living Magazine, a Best American Lager by Food & Wine Magazine, a Best Coffee Beers in the World by Men’s Journal, and numerous other recognitions in state, local and national publications.

As SBC Chairman, Vitter continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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