Abita Strawberry Harvest

Abita has continued their strong offerings of malt pleasure. They continue to bring creativeness and great flavoring in their line of beers. Strawberry harvest is one of 3 of their Harvest collection and I must say is very refreshing. Has Matt's tastes changed since the beginning of this blog? Definitely. I have been selectively trying some of the fruity beers out there and this one is a keeper. I personally would drink this as a refreshing thirst quencher during summer months. Perfect for strapping on your float tube and spending a summers day meandering down the river.
Matt gives it a 3.5 out of 5

The Abita Springs unique flavor is present in the Strawberry Harvest. One of the things I find charming about this particular brewery is, that due to the craft nature of their process, there are little inconsistencies in their products. There are slight variations in flavor in one batch to the next. The spring water lends to a clean feel on the palate. All of Abita's offerings should be swirled a bit before the final pour, to really get the full effect. Definitely give this wheat beer for summer a try. Very refreshing.

Zech gives the Abita Strawberry Harvest a 3.5 out of 5  

Abita S.O.S.

This special offering from one of mine and Zech's beloved brewers, is quite distinct. As I poured this I noticed a white fluffy head with a unfiltered yellow beer. The nose had a classic pilsner aroma with light lemon undertones. As I partook I discovered the wheat malt stood out above the Pilsner malt, but not so much that it lost its balance. Yes definitely light lemon in the flavors also. The bittersweet flavors stay on your palate and melt away slowly enough for you to enjoy.
Abita has failed to dissatisfy with any of their beers so far. And you do your part for charity for each bottle of S.O.S. you purchase Abita will donate to the victims of the oil spill in the Gulf. This is a limited time beer so get yours soon if you'd like to give it a try.      - Matt rates it with 3 out of 5

What do ya'll think? Leave a comment and tell us your favorite!


 Abita pulled no punches with this weizen pils. It is unfiltered, 7% abv, refreshing goodness. There is a strong citrus nose and an incredibly fluffy head. You will probably have to find this in a liquor store, at least in TN because of the high abv.
    The Sterling and German Perle hops used in this pils balance the sweet of the pilsner and wheat malts perfectly, so that the flavor dances the knife edge between sweet and bitter and at the same time the two opposing sensations are simultaneously noticeable. When I experience this in a brew, it highlights, in my mind at least, the artistry of the brewmasters involved.  The mouthfeel is lighter than most hopped beers and leaves a cool, refreshing feeling on your palate. This would make an excellent brew to cleanse the palate after a heavy meal. I sincerely hope Abita brings this brew back and makes it a regular.
-Zech gives Abita S.O.S. a 3.5 out of 5-

P.S. - Did you notice the Hurricane lamp in the photo?

Abita Pecan Harvest Ale

Abita was a large contributor at the Beer fest, and I thoroughly enjoyed they're offerings there. They have done an excellent job with their pecan harvest. Made from Louisiana picked pecans, the initial aroma is earthy with a nutty overtone (surprise, surprise). The head goes away quickly, but you almost want it out of the way so you can get to the beer. You definitely taste the pecans but with alot of malty goodness soaking around it, almost a coffee like malt. Not alot of hoppy bitterness or bite, but undoubtedly there is a smidgeon of hop flavor that hangs on the tip of your tongue reminding you its an Ale.This to me should be tried by any newbie craft beer drinker who would like the Ale experience without the bite but with plenty of flavor.                                     Matt gives The Abita 4 out 5


 Matt is so right on this one. Give this stuff to your friends who are just starting to try new beers and they will like it. When I first saw that Abita had a pecan ale, I thought that they were just trying to compete with Lazy Magnolia's Southern Pecan, but I was wrong. This brew stands on its own, and though it is possible that the Southern Pecan inspired this idea, they went a whole different direction. This brew almost has some similarities to a Scottish Brown ale with its malty smoothness and low bitterness. It is not nearly as sweet as say, Innis & Gunn, but it also is not so bitter as to alienate the new comer. In the Jackson, TN area you can get this at the gas station with the Church's Fried chicken in it at the corner of Whitehall & North Parkway. Enjoy.
 -Zech gives Abita Pecan Harvest 4 out of 5-

Abita Jockamo IPA

 

    Yep, that is my Bass Amp/ beer stand underneath the brew again. On the way to the movies Friday night my wife and I stopped by a new Liquor store in Jackson just to browse and I stumbled upon this little six pack of ambrosia called Abita Jockamo IPA. You may recognize the Abita name as a Louisiana brewer that Matt & I were impressed with at the Biloxi BeerFest. 

    I don't think Matt & I have reviewed an IPA yet, so when the caramelly, hoppy goodness of this 6.5% abv ale hit my palate I knew I would have to sing its praises. This is an incredible India Pale Ale. 

   The foam is tan as you would expect, and the hop oils insure that the bubbles are small & densely packed in a head that lingers long after it is poured. The head itself taste bitter and is reminiscent of a british bitter, similar to Boddington's. 

   The color is a gorgeous caramel amber and in my Samuel Adams nucleated glass the light seems to sparkle and dance through this ale. Upon initial taste, there is the distinctive bite of hop-intensive brews, but so well balanced as not to overwhelm. I wonder if noble hops were used in this recipe, or some other aroma hop as I am quick to pick up on high alpha acid concentrations in bittering hops. The mouthfeel is influenced by sufficient amounts of oil from the hops for the flavor to linger just long enough for you to savor the subtle yet amazing caramel flavor that ghost across your taste buds as this beer warms. This is not a sweet beer, but the caramel flavor adds such depth to its character that I was genuinely impressed. As the beer warms, you can even smell the caramel wafting towards your nostrils.

   My genuine heartfelt thanks to the people at Abita for making this splendiferous (Ha! take that spellcheck) and glorious concoction. 

                I feel no choice but to give this a 5 out of 5 and to add that trying this ale should be on EVERY true beer drinkers bucket list. 

 

    This IPA also was an amazement to me for as I poured it I discovered a light, super fluffy head that left like an airplanes vapor trail on a breezy day. Yet as I drank it I found that with every sip it shook up some bubbles that tickle the flavors in your mouth and give you an array of flavor that you will not find in many India Pale Ales. The initial aroma gave me a classic beer smell, but the flavors did not match. The malt and hops are carefully matched to create a pleasant tingly start and finish and leave you a satisfying aftertaste. Not usually a huge IPA fan Abita has won me over. I tried pairing this with a grilled chicken breast with a tomato chutney, and it was amazing. give it a try. Matt gives 4 out of 5