Abita Brewing Company – Satsuma Harvest Wit

 Beer Reviews  3 Responses »
Nov 232010
 

Looking back at the notes for this beer review (though it was not that long ago), I believe this is an example that reinforces the idea that I should be doing my evaluations per the BJCP point system rather than letter grades. I don’t know if this one would have graded out higher, but it would have had a better chance to do so if graded against the style guidelines rather than just my palate. My enjoyment of Witbiers (and wheat bases beers in general) is somewhat limited, so my biases likely affect my final grades for those type of beers.

Fortunately (for me at least) I am pretty much through my backlog of reviews and will be starting with a new format of grading in the fairly near future.

Now the Tuesday review for this short work week . . .

Brewery: Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, LA)

Name: Satsuma Harvest Wit

Style: Witbier (maybe also Fruit Beer)

ABV: 5.10%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass.

Aroma: Light honey-like sweetness with a bit of graininess in the aroma. Also a slight citrus character and some low spice/herb notes.

Appearance: Light golden (straw-like) color. One finger, foamy, white color head with good retention and leaving a solid trail. Hazy/cloudy though clear enough to see rising bubbles.

Flavor: Some slight sweetness up front with faint citrus notes and light tartness after that. Flavor fades to a fairly dry and crisp finish with maybe a hint of spice noticed after the finish.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a pretty high level of carbonation that lends some bite. Creamy and somewhat smooth on the palate.

Overall Impressions: Aroma to me is much better (more pleasant) than the flavor turned out to be. The flavor falls pretty flat after it first hits the tongue (not much too it). Refreshing and very drinkable – good for enjoying in warm weather.

Grade: C+ to B- area

4899399935 a4ab1e33a3 Abita Brewing Company Satsuma Harvest Wit

Abita Brewing Company - Satsuma Harvest Wit

4899399983 80c2feeccc Abita Brewing Company Satsuma Harvest Wit

Additional info to see on the label

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Abita Brewing Company – Purple Haze

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Nov 022010
 

Though generally I don’t reach for wheat beers and fruit beers are not a common sight in my house, there is something quite refreshing about a well-balanced combination of the two. This beer is an example of one to enjoy on a hot summer day and when served ice cold the crispness becomes very enjoyable. Beyond that, it happens to be a beer that The Wife is fond of so it finds a way into our fridge more often than most others.

So for the Tuesday review this week . . .

Brewery: Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, LA)

Name: Purple Haze

Style: Fruit Beer

ABV: 4.20%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass. 12oz bottle via gift from the Carlins.

Aroma: Slight maltiness with some jam/jelly-like fruit sweetness and (maybe) a hint of acidity.

Appearance: Pale honey to straw in color. Slight white color head with a moderate level of retention and leaving a very slight trail. Clear with a bit of haze and many visible rising bubbles.

Flavor: Moderate (but prominent) berry flavor with a low level of malty sweetness underneath and a hint of wheat in back. Crisp then slightly dry at the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a fairly high level of carbonation (without adding any bite). Some creaminess on the palate.

Overall Impressions: Not much depth of flavor but nice to drink outdoors on a hot day and easy to drink more than one (or a few) at a time.

Grade: B-

4290106783 15219c38f5 Abita Brewing Company Purple Haze

Abita Brewing Company - Purple Haze

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Eel River Brewing Co. – Açai Berry Wheat

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Sep 032010
 

My memory tells me that this one made it into the house via choice of The Wife, which makes sense since I do not often purchase fruit beers on my own to take home for whatever reason.  Short of a few pumpkin brews in the next few months I do not foresee much in the way of fruit or vegetable beers coming home until well after the first of the year.  I am definitely ready for some of the heavier fall and winter seasonals that will be coming soon.

This turned out to be pretty refreshing and a very easy drinking beer, though it probably should be at 4% ABV.  The Wife enjoyed it quite a lot, as my notes indicate that she gave it an A.

Now for this Friday . . .

Brewery: Eel River Brewing Co. (Scotia, CA)

Name: Açai Berry Wheat

Style: Fruit Beer (based on American Wheat?)

ABV: 4.00%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $4.49 for a 22 ounce bottle.  USDA Organic and Certified Organic by CCOF.

Aroma: Low, but prominent berry aroma with a bit of grainy sweetness.

Appearance: Pale golden color (honey-like).  One finger, frothy, white head with decent retention leaving no trail.  Very clear with tons of small rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Low grainy flavor with a faint fruit/berry character underneath and some very slight sharpness at the finish.  Not strong overall flavor profile, but nothing bad either.

Mouthfeel: Light body with a moderate to high level of carbonation that gives a little bite.  Slightly creamy and pretty crisp.

Overall Impressions: Not great, but not bad . . . especially with my mixed results/feelings on organic beers in the past.  Would drink well ice cold sitting under the sun somewhere.  Does this qualify as getting some antioxidants?!

Grade: B-(ish)

4656466764 2b1df4d187 Eel River Brewing Co. Açai Berry Wheat

Eel River Brewing Co. - Acai Berry Wheat

4656466842 063779a3d1 Eel River Brewing Co. Açai Berry Wheat

A close up.

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: ,
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