Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss., held a Biloxi Blonde Launch Party Feb. 16 at its Coast nightclub.

The party was to announce the return of Beau Rivage’s top-selling microbrew pre-Hurricane Katrina.

Biloxi Blonde’s return was thanks to a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Mississippi’s Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co.

“We are very excited to collaborate with an outstanding local company so that we may bring Biloxi Blonde back in the bottle and on tap throughout the resort,” said Ron E. Hall, Beau Rivage executive director of food and beverage. “Hurricane Katrina may have taken our collection of copper-clad brew tanks and the popular beers they produced, but it didn’t stop us from wanting to give our customers what they request … we’ve now come full circle.”

Before Katrina, Biloxi Blonde and six other beers were brewed onsite by Beau Rivage’s Coast Brewing Co., Mississippi’s first microbrewery.

According to the resort, Lazy Magnolia’s interpretation of Biloxi Blonde is nearly indistinguishable from the original.

Biloxi Blonde is a German-style Kolsch beer that features American and European malts for depth of flavor, drinkability and a refreshing finish.

In celebration of the brand’s rebirth, Gulf Coast wood sculptor Marlin Miller carved the Biloxi Blonde beer tap handles out of Katrina oak and etched the beer label artwork into the weathered wood.

The event also featured food by Beau Rivage Executive Chef Joe Friel and members of his culinary team. Guests were treated to a variety of dishes from shrimp cocktail to barbecued ribs.