Abita Andygator

Brewed by Abita Brewing Company
Style: Heller Bock
Covington, Louisiana USA

The waitress at the restaurant on Bourbon St. told me this was like corona. Ok, it really didn’t have much of a taste, or a too thick of a mouthfeel, but it wasn’t that bad. Though, it wasn’t good either. I couldn’t detect the alcohol. I’m really surprised this is a doppelbock. I fact, I just thought it was a pale lager of some sort.

I really want to like Abita beers because I love NOLA and what they’re doing there, but most are average or below. This one is below.

The bar I drank this at in Scranton PA - told me it was a 6.2% barley wine. I told them it was the weakest one on the planet. Nevertheless, its a decent brew. Smooth and easy drinking.

On draft at Acme Oyster House in New Orleans. Good IPA style brew. I would not consider this a doppelbock--it’s simply not malty. Very good though.

Draught in plastic cup from Beer Fest International Beer House on Bourbon Street; drank while strolling down Bourbon Street. Mild sweet tang aroma. Hints of a brown sour ale with bit of oaky tang. Or maybe the lines aren’t clear. Reminds me of a bruin or tangy dubbel. Medium amber golden clear with a thin off-white lacing head. Medium watery body with medium carbonation. Starts sweet with a pretty good bruin malt depth. Light woody-cherry tang. Dry mild nutty light bitter finish. Decent little ale. Good punch to this one, or maybe I just needed dinner. Engine No. 9 just pulled out on a call from the station at Decatur and Esplanade.

Sample Tasting - Light amber slightly orange with white head. Aroma of ripened fruit, malted grain, sweet muffin mix. Flavors of sweet malt, hint of fruit, bitter hops finish - alcohol aftertaste.

Looks nothing like a doppelbock. Deep blond with continuous, rapid rising carbonation feeding a nice cream top. Easy graininess and hop notes flicker of the glass. Flavor is characterized by the presence of too much fusels with little malt development, which makes sense now as the description states into is feremented to a dry finish.

Pours a nice golden color with a lingering fluffy head. Aroma of semi sweet grainy pale malts and not much else. Flavor is grainy pale malt, bread, and a touch of finishing hops that make the brew somewhat crisp. Clean lager like finish. No hint of alcohol. Enjoyable, but unspectacular.