Abita Amber

I first had this when I was living in Pensacola, and just moved out of the Navy barracks and got my very first apartment out in town. I went to the store, and saw an odd looking six-pack from a brewery I never heard of before. Since I wanted something special to inaugurate my new place, I picked it up. To this day I remember the redneck cashier asking me "$4.99 for a six pack?! Is it real nasty and strong-like?" I B.S'd him and told it was the best beer he would never have....!

Anyway, popped it open that night, and was wholly impressed. In fact, I think it was at that moment that I turned my back on the "not-so-micro" microbreweries like Sam Adams that up until that time were getting much of my business. Abita Amber was one of the handful of things I missed when I moved away from The South in 1994. And except for an obviously way-past-it's-prime six-pack that mysteriously turned up at my local Trader Joes (that I had to toss), haven't had this in over eight years.

A very nice representative sample of what a brewery can do with a style that is often maligned for being too "middle-of-the-road"-ish. Not bitter enough to be a Pale Ale, not malty enough to be a Brown Ale, not dark enough to be a Stout, and too dark to be a Golden, Light or Red Ale. Regardless of all that, the malt-to-hop ratio with this Amber is quite good, making it easy to drink, and satisfying enough to make you want to drink a bunch. And without the huge alcohol presence of the Abita Andygator, or heavier mouthfeel of the Turbodog, it won't make you pay the price for enjoying this a little too much the following day. It's no surprise that this is one of the all-time favorites of the Abita line in the region.

Recommended.
//TB