Restoration Pale Ale - Abita Brewing Co.

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured chilled in ale glass

A: clear, light orange; nice carbonation; 3-finger head; good lacing
S: subtle but enduring hoppy fragrance
T: sweet pale ale; tinny overtone detracts from an otherwise nice malt-hops (2:1) interplay

Overall a nice beer; thanks to other reviewers for giving some background on the connection with Hurricane Katrina.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 04:05:36 | More by Arithmeticus

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

#133. Part of my Abita party pack that I have been slowly (but surely) hacking away at over the past few weeks. This beer was originally brewed for Louisiana's hurricane relief fund but has since become a year-round offering. There is no freshness date to be found on the bottle or label.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass at room temperature. Served at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) A rigorous pour yields a 2 finger depth head of a heavy froth consistency. Head retention is quite nice, receding slowly and leaving behind generous lacing behind at the surface as it thickens. Head is an off-white cream tone and thick like sea foam. Beer color is a hazy golden-amber with significant speckled matter littered throughout the glass. I can see through to the other side, but there's a lot of sediment to be seen by the naked eye in this beer. This looks like an interesting beer but some of the crucial parts of appearance have been well satisfied, giving this beer a high rating in terms of appearance. 4.5

(Smell) Aroma is reminiscent of a mildly hopped American IPA. A mild pale malt backbone is paired with a blend of citrusy hops, leaving a grapefruit and lemongrass tone dominating the nose. Unfortunately, potency is a weak factor in this aroma, and doesn't improve much with warming. Nose is well balanced and pleasing to the senses. 4

(Taste) This is an interesting turn of events. The hop character has significantly dwindled, leaving what I can best describe as mildly unfresh fruit tones, but the malt base is still there and leaves the beer mildly sweet. The flavors in this beer are only about half of where they should be, the characters in the end lacking the body needed to keep this beer from tasting slightly watery and spotty in taste. Aside from a pale malt base followed through with a lingering faded floral tartness (and maybe a touch of honey and yeast) in the finish, there is little other content to discern in the taste. Despite being far from terrible, it's a genuine drag as compared to what I had anticipated in the nose. Taste is about average. 3

(Mouthfeel) Mildly prickly with carbonation in the front but with a smooth, mildly creamy midsection. Body is a light and alcohol is well hidden. Carbonation could be reduced a notch without negatively impacting the beer, it is admittedly too much in some spots. The sediment doesn't come through in the mouthfeel, much to my relief. 3.5

(Overall) Foiled again! This is a beer that has delivered in appearance and aroma but fallen through on taste. I'm determined to try it again in the very near future for a second opinion (take me seriously here folks). The taste just didn't deliver what the nose had advertised, and would have been an excellent beer otherwise. Either way, I would recommend this beer solely on the factor of it being one of Abita's best brews I have reviewed thus far regardless of how this batch turned out. My one suggestion: get it as fresh as you possibly can so that you can truly experience the hop and fruit flavor. Hopefully the upcoming Turbodog won't have similar results. 3.5

Abita Brewing Co.'s
Restoration Pale Ale
B- (3.43)

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 02:46:08 | More by Jadjunk

zdk9

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours out with a full finger of head and a body the color of well tarnished gold. Lacing in rings like a tree trunk betray how large my sips have been.

S- Smells piney, chalky, wood dusty. There's some good hops in the aroma.

T- Tastes piney, and a bit minerally, but not as much as the aroma had. A bit of spice reminiscent of rye bread. Could use some more punch in flavors, but nothing off or bad here.

M- Fairly dry, which is kind of interesting, in a nice way.

O- A decent APA. Nothing too powerful or hoppy to write home about, but one that would be a great non-thinking beer to have a couple of.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 05:10:43 | More by zdk9

iadler

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pilsner glass.

A- Pours a translucent gold with a fluffy two finger head that slowly dissipates into a thin cap. Nice lacing is left behind.

S- Carmel and bready malt, faint citrus hops with notes of orange and grapefruit and some floral hops

T- Caramel and bready malt, orange, grapefruit, lemon, floral hops and fresh cut grass.

M- Medium carbonation and low to medium body. Has a crisp mouthfeel that finishes dry and clean.

O- Very drinkable but on the lighter side of a pale ale. Maybe it's an older bottle, as the hops are pretty subtle. Still an enjoyable APA that would be great for a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 02:28:17 | More by iadler

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours an orange color that has almost no head whatsoever.

S: Definitely some bittering hops going on here with a grainy smell.

T: Taste is bitter and hoppy with a lemon grass taste.

M: Thick and almost chewy.

O: Definitely would have this over and over.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 06:34:04 | More by nukem5

mralphabet

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Light amber with hint of orange. About finger and a half worth of head the fades pretty quickly, settling to a nice ring with pretty good lacing.

S: I'm getting more malt with a touch of caramel, strangely not much hops going through.

T: Taste matches the smell pretty closely... more sweet malt and caramel... the hops makes a little appearance at the finish with a slight bitter aftertaste. This one tends to lean to the malt side...

M: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation.

D: A very drinkable beer but not what I was expecting from a APA.... Just a little confusing but overall pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 16:15:04 | More by mralphabet

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

LIghter-orange colored brew, small and short-lived white head tops off a mostly clear body with a bit of haze. Sweet malt scent with some bittering hop. Light malt start, some bittering hop to end it, maybe a bit of lemon and grass. Medium bodied. Nothing too complex, but theres nothing wrong with it.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 02:58:23 | More by Tballz420

morimech

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Clear, pale golden color with two fingers of head that quickly settled to a thin cap. Just light lacing is left on the glass.

Slight grapefruit hop aroma. A little lemon and cracker like malt rounds out the aroma.

Light flavored with a surpising amount of bitterness. I am sure this bottle is past its "Best by date" so I will not hold that against it. Not much flavor from the malt, just a little cracker flavor. On the drier side of pale ales.

The body and carbonation is the best part of this beer. Light without being watery and softly carbonated.

An easy drinking beer that is refreshing. I would like to try one a little fresher and adjust the score.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 19:40:26 | More by morimech

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a pint glass

A: A hazy, golden color with fizzy head that dissipates quickly.

S: Smells like grapefruit citrus and hops.

T/M: Tastes about the same. There’s a little bit of a bitter aftertaste but it’s otherwise crisp and refreshing, perfect for summer.

This beer has that citra grapefruit flavor that I’ve been coveting. I really love it; it’s very similar to a less hoppy version of their Jockamo IPA. I’m glad Abita went out on this note for their summer pack and I’ll definitely have another one in the near future. Like in 12 seconds.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 01:01:44 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Lillie1128

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my dogfish head pint class

A - pours a pale amber with a small white head

S - smells vaguely of citrus and some wheat

T - kinda flat with with an transparent lemon flavor and a mild, hoppy end

M - medium, kind of fizzy

D - Fairly high

Alright IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 03:00:10 | More by Lillie1128

spree92

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pale yellow straw has a constant skimming of a head. Just a touch sticking to the glass. Some oily earth notes in the hops, grass and citrus. A pinch of roasted grain balances thus out in both smell and taste. However, this is carbonated just a bit much and very acidic. Mouth feel is clean and leaves fast. I think this is what it was meant to be, a good entry level craft pale ale, nothing more.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 20:43:22 | More by spree92

Duhast500

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a pint glass.

The color is a pale amber with a finger of foamy white head and some slight lacing left on the glass.

The smell is a little sweet but hard to really get a handle on. There is a slight buttery aroma with some malty grain aroma hiding way back there.

The taste is grassy with a sweet malt flavor that is balancing things out. There is a nice bit of caramel in the flavor that holds up a bit to some hop flavor that splashes here and there.

The feel of this beer is light and goes down easy. There is a nice smooth silky like way this goes down and still hits you a bit at the end.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 14:32:42 | More by Duhast500

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.1/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Abita Restoration Ale has a thin, off-white head and a very hazy, orange appearance, with lots of bubbles streaming up. The aroma is mild, to say the least, but some citrus does present itself. Taste is a very mild, citrus hop flavor, with some bready malts, but that is minimal. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Abita Restoration finishes semi-dry and refreshing. Overall, not one of Abita's best. It's still probably worth trying, however.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 17:39:33 | More by RonaldTheriot

GreenJetta912

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Faint hop smell. Citrusy and floral. A few malts here. Good balanced nose.

Sweet and syrupy for just a moment, then the hops crash the party. Wonderful balance. A highly drinkable PA. Good malty sweet backbone. There are some ashy notes that I've tasted before in some other hop-centric ales.

The mouthfeel is creamy but again in great balance. It's not the kind of creamy milky mouthfeel that will produce a lot of mucus. Really not a whole llot to the finish though. Just some hops that hang around.

I reveiwed this beer from some notes, but yesterday I drank the other one I had at room temperature and it was just as good (no adjuncts).

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 13:47:50 | More by GreenJetta912

shaunb81

Florida

3.33/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a clear, amber body with a half inch, pale white head. Medium lacing. Looks decent.

Smell - Sweet and malty with some definite hops. Caramel? Nah.

Taste - This beer is sweet on the front and bitter on the back end. The hops are dry and a bit spicy. Pretty yummy.

Mouthfeel - Carbonation is nice and the beer is a little creamy at some points. Density is perfect!

Overall - A nice pick, if I should say so. Malts and hops are balanced nicely and I would give this another go in a heartbeat.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 19:00:31 | More by shaunb81

budgood1

Minnesota

2.95/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

pours out of the 12 ounce stubby bottle a hazed, dirty looking sort of light rust colour. minimal head and lace. muted, simple aroma of crackery malts and grassy hops. some bread and butter malt base flavour with a requisite light slap of bittering hops to finish. hopping is all grassy and slightly coarse. light bodied. thin, crisp mouthfeel. IMO this has a high slammability because of it's sessionable nature. quenching with just enough flavour to be enjoyable i'm sure on a hot and humid summer day/evening. overall just average, but for the price it's a fair and reasonable pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 19:38:47 | More by budgood1

Zraly

Virginia

2.95/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Golden orange with two finger head. Faint notes of malt and grass.

Crisp and relatively clean, this pale ale is pretty standard. There is a nice, momentary back note of biscuit but other than that, it is pretty straightforward. Decently balanced and easy to drink, although there might be better pale ale "standards" out there for knocking several back (i.e., Sierra Nevada Pale Ale).

Not great, not terrible. Probably good on a hot Louisiana night.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 19:54:37 | More by Zraly

depechemode1983

Texas

3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours a light clear golden orange color. Has a white foamy rocky head with good retention. Lacing is moderate to none.

S - Smell is of light piny hops and grains. Maybe some sugars as well.

T - not too much. grasses, very little citrus/piny hops and a bit of sugar sweetness. ehh.

M - Light with moderate carbonation.

D/N Not too tasty. Drinkable but not satisfying. Average beer here. Nothing special. I would skip it if i were you.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 01:36:48 | More by depechemode1983

beerphan

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle -> tulip

Pours a pale orange with some golden highlights. A small white head settles quickly to a puddle of suds. Random splotches of lace. Carbonation appears slight.

Nose: Grass along with some citrus.

Medium to full body. Light bready maltiness is quickly overcome by a medicinal bitterness and grassy semi-citric flavors. The bitterness is not offensive but more present then the touch of malt.

An average beer that I could drink all night and not be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 00:57:43 | More by beerphan

jacobseyb

Alabama

3.33/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a lighter yellow color with white head. Smell is slightly citrusy with some grassiness. Taste was very similar with a bit more hops citrus. Feel was a lighter medium body with a good carbonation and some oiliness on the finish. Overall a good pale ale that I won't shy away from when purchasing.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 02:39:20 | More by jacobseyb

patreely12

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - 12 oz bottle poured into a mug. pale, straw color. white foamy head, about a finger tall. retains pretty well leaving some spotty lacing. quite a bit of carbonation.

S - pale malts. slightly sweet with a buttery aroma and some toffee. a good bit of grassy hops.

T/M - really simple blend of caramel malts and grassy hops. starts slightly bitter with the hops and smoothes out with some of the sweetness of the malts and some citrus notes.. light, almost watery body and a lot of carbonation. slightly dry finish, with is typical for the style.

Overall this decent representation of the style but I've had better. goes down very easily, and would be sessionable if the flavor was more solid. I was expecting more from Atiba and ended up somewhat disappointed. This is worth a try though.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 03:42:32 | More by patreely12

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.45/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served from the bottle into a nonic glass.

A- Pours a bright, hazy orange with two finger foamy head.

S- Pretty strong citrus scent, smells like a citrusy IPA, light floral aroma as well.

T- Starts out a mild citrus taste and finishes with a mild bitterness. Some caramel sweetness is present as well. A little sweeter than most pale ales I've had.

M- A little watery on the finish

D- Lighter, sessionable pale ale, just a little too watery for me to seek it out again

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 17:28:52 | More by Hoptometrist

Thanby

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a crisp honey color tinged in gold with a small white head that leaves a thin cap after it dies. Lots of visible carbonation.

Smells very yeasty, strong pale malt character with some well-blended floral hop notes. A little caramel sweetness in the body fills things out.

First taste is quite pleasing, a good mix of malt body and mild hops. A little caramel sweetness again, but overall a touch on the dry side, which I like in a pale ale. Fairly simple and straight-forward.

Light and crisp body but still enough substance to not be watery, it finishes fairly clean with a tiny lingering hop flavor. Very easy to drink and quite frankly one of the better pale ales I've had recently. Refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 22:50:34 | More by Thanby

welldigger888

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours an orangish hue with a snow white head and minamal lacing.
Slight yeasty with an almost caramel maltiness and a hint of grassy hops.
Pretty tame profile that is very approuchable, that said nothing stands out here. Yeasty malty vagueness with a splash of hop bitterness.
A little thin and over carbonated for my liking but not bad.
Highly sessionable given the right conditions. Hey it's fat tuesday, I believe I will have another!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 00:39:23 | More by welldigger888

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance- nice orange color with some lacing.

Smell- slight floral scent but no hops that I can detect.

Taste-I am expecting some hops but can't find any just some slight bitterness.

Mouthfeel- not much going on here.

Drinkability - I could drink more than one but I don't think I want to.

Probably my least favorite beer from Abita.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 00:11:07 | More by ejimhof