Abita Abbey Ale

Brewed by Abita Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Covington, Louisiana USA

Serve in Trappist glass

He poured clear amber with darker mahogany hues under an off-white head. Brushes of copper highlight her exuberant head which sticks to the sides of my glass in clumps. Centered atop her head is a soft layer pockmarked by random bubbles, and without further ado it’s onto his nose I go. Sweet, yeasty, doughy, and grassy, citrus and fruit skins abound with sweet and dry bitterness. Lemon is the dominant citrus while mango abounds in all its green and ripe bounty. Adding to the overall greenness of his palate is green grass, the green bark of a young tree, and bamboo. Mingling with the mango is kumquats, apricots, and papaya for a tropical flourish. The raw husks of coconuts find themselves right at home with the pervasive dryness of the Abita Abbey Ale nose. But what about his palate? For such a heavy and rich nose I found his palate to be surprisingly light, though altogether I would place him in the medium-weight category. He transitions from fruity to spiced and then to dry. Mingling inbetween with skill and finesse are a buffet of tropical fruits and spices galore. Gentle warmth massages the top of my tongue and soothes the back of my throat. Raw coconut, papaya, mango, and green bamboo make a mad dash for center stage before he finishes fast and easy. Bitterness cleanses for each subsequent quaff with green grass, young wood, and slightly turned citric skins. Very little spice to his character, though what there is mingles well with his dry tropical essence.

Different and nice, I am pleased with the overall eclectic nature which somehow still manages to hold true to his Abbey Ale claim to fame. A job well done.

Deep red-brown with light tan head. Smell of sweet and sour fruit. Flavor isn’t quite funky/rotten, but definitely sour-ish and not my thing.

22 oz. bottle courtesy of a trade with fata2683. Pours a translucent mostly clear deep ruby with a moderate off-white head that lasted through the first quarter of the glass and left extensive lace. The aroma is malt, Belgian yeast, and brown sugar, but all seem a bit muted. The flavor is similar with the addition of some caramel but with the same complaint that everything seems a bit muted and not quite "on". A bit lighter in body and texture than I would expect for a Dubbel. So so.

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty dark fruity and caramel aroma. Sweetish malty spicy yeasty dark fruit and caramel flavor. Has a sweetish malty spicy dark fruit finish.

From bomber, pours an opaque brown with little to no head. Aroma is brown sugar and caramel. Nothing too spectacular or different here.

Sampled at Great Lakes Brew Fest in Racine, WI. Aroma of cloves and Belgian yeast. Pretty good stuff, good mouthfeel, pretty good stuff, would try again.

Aroma of confectionery sugar, nougat and caramel apple. Appearance is ruddy brown with tan head. Flavor matches the nose, with a little bourbon in the finish. Palate is creamy. Nice American Dubbel, maybe a little too much emphasis on sweet for me.

Pours deep chestnut into the glass, with a 3-finger head that reduces to a nice cap leaving soapy lace. The nose has dark fruit, yeast, spices, and dried fruit skins. The flavors are semi dry, with slight biscuit malt, caramel, deep dark fruits, spices and yeast. The mouthfeel is creamy, with just a hint of alcohol astringency to cut through the smooth body. Nice offering, decently complex and very well-integrated.