Fruity Brew From the Big Easy
Written: Jun 04 '02 (Updated Jun 04 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: a good warm weather thirst quencher
Cons: can't drink more than one or two
The Bottom Line: This one will appeal to fans of fruit beers but isn't really a classic brew.
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| fuche_bu's Full Review: Abita Purple Haze |
Abita Brewing Co is a little brewery located in Abita Springs, LA. Since it is across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, I often view them as a New Orleans brewery. Their beers are readily available in the city. When I traveled to N'awlins, I found myself enjoying their variety of beers. That association continues to this day.
They have quite a few different beers in their repertoire. One of my favorites among these styles is their raspberry wheat beer called Purple Haze. Being a fan of Hendrix, I was immediately smitten with the name. It just became a matter of whether or not the beer would be able to live up to name. That is a debate that will not require much time to settle.
The quick answer would be an emphatic 'NO!'. While Purple Haze is a good beer, it is not a great beer. The association with Jimi's song might well be the best thing about the beer. The beer itself is a good example of a standard American wheat beer. Most American brewers tend to make wheat beers that are not as distinctive as their German or Belgian counterparts. And the fruit flavored wheats from most American brewers do not approach the lambic beers from Belgium.
I still have some very fond memories of this beer, however. I drank a fair amount of it when I was in New Orleans. It must be expanding its distribution because, I have been finding it up north. I was excited, at first, because of the nostalgia I felt for Abita. That passion quickly wore off.
Purple Haze pours to a bright amber hue. The raspberries are dominant in the nose. It has a refreshingly clean hint of wheat in the aroma, too. The head is sufficient but not huge. It does not have a purple haze as they suggest on the label. There is only a slight hint of cloudiness in the beer.
The beer has a strong raspberry flavor that is sweet and tart by turns. It is not an overly complex beer. I didn't pick up different nuances with each sip. The flavor is solid and enjoyable without being spectacular. It manages to avoid being too sweet but I still couldn't drink too many of these in one sitting.
This is a good dessert beer. It would accent a good meal. It's also a good thirst quencher on a warm afternoon or evening. In limited quantity, it is a delightful brew. It's also a good one for those who may not like beer but like fruit tinged beverages. Abita has made an honest effort here. This is pretty good as far as American wheat beers go but if you really want a good raspberry wheat beer, loosen up the purse strings and get Lindemans Framboise instead. If you just want a slightly sweet beer with a nice pleasant flavor then this is a good beer to try.
Recommended:
Yes
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fuche_bu
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Member: George Schaefer
Location: West Bristol, PA
Reviews written: 1103
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Busy at work and missing a lot of epinions fun.
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