Amber - Abita Brewing Co.

GossageBrewery

Missouri

4.26/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured this Vienna Lager from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Poured a clear amber color, produced a nice off white head, decent retention and left behind excellent lacing. The aroma consisted of toasted and caramel malt. Medium in body, a foundation of malted grain, hints of caramel and some spicy hops. Overall, very nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 19:32:53 | More by GossageBrewery

Badger72

Louisiana

2.36/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Any craft beer drinker in the New Orleans area knows that if you go to any run of the mill bar, Abita Amber is going to be the one craft beer on tap. It was hard rating this beer because I partly think the taps down on Bourbon street are disgustingly dirty so maybe that is why it doesn't taste that good, but then again I've had this beer from bottles and it still doesn't taste that good to me. I always get it because it is either this or drinking the watered down mainstreams. Each time, however, the story is the same. I take the first sip and I'm like "wow, this beer is pretty good". Tastes like any other generic craft beer lager, but as it gets warmer in your hand that's when it starts tasting like dirty feet.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2013 13:59:21 | More by Badger72

Kromes

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A slightly hazy amber color with a thin line of bubbles on top.

Sweet toasted and toffee malt with a touch of floral hop.

Toasted honey malt and grain flavor with a nicely balanced dose of grassy hop. Finishes clean with a lingering toasted malt flavor.

Light bodied with a smooth, creamy feel to it.

Simple lager here, but the flavors are clean and balanced nicely.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 16:04:57 | More by Kromes

scratch69

Missouri

3.69/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

I poured a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance- Clear amber color with a half a fingers worth of head. Tiny amount of lacing.

Smell- Aromas of bread and caramel malt with a hint of floral hops.

Taste- Caramel malt sweetness at the start with some flavors of bread and grain. Very faint hop presence.

Mouthfeel- On the light end of medium bodied with a fair amount of carbonation.

Overall- An easy drinking beer, but it doesn't jump out at you. If the flavors were a little bolder this would be a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 22:41:47 | More by scratch69

hosehead83

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a "stubby" 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Clear amber/gold in color, with an impressive two-inch head of off-white foam.
Aroma-Faint toasted malt and caramel
Taste-Pale malt, caramel note, nice soft mouthfeel, clean finish. A nice, casual lager, sessionable, and a step up from your macro-lagers. a nice 'gateway' brew for those just entering the craft beer scene.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 15:47:06 | More by hosehead83

nach0king

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +31.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

One of the best lagers I've ever had. The only Abita beer I'd had before this was Purple Haze, which wasn't that great, so this was a brilliant surprise.

A: Looks average, very little lacing and not much head.

S: A little bit of biscuit, lots of toast, a little bit of yeast.

T: Wish I could do this justice but as Vienna lagers/American ambers go this is among the best you'll ever find. A brilliant tasty malt up front and just the slightest hint of bitter fruit to go with it.

M: Great level of carbonation, just right, although it's a little bit thin (thinner than Sam Adams, for example.)

I can't get over how brilliant this tasted. I had it on tap at a bar because it was cheap and ended up hooked after my first glass. I really hope I can find it back home away from Louisiana.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2012 02:45:41 | More by nach0king

kshizzle101

Washington

2.93/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass

A - Clear copper in color. 2 inch head which doesn't hang around long. Some lacing

S - Slight amount of hops, more malty. almost metallic smelling. Not a whole lot here.

T - watered down and malty. again, slightly metallic.

M - Watery, very light

Overall - Pretty mediocre. you get some maltiness but not a lot. It's a cheap beer for a reason and not worth drinking unless it's a very hot day.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 03:08:02 | More by kshizzle101

rangerred

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear medium copper with a one finger white head that quickly fades to a thin cap. Very little lacing.

Aroma of sweet caramel and toasted malt. Almost some cinnamon aroma in there. Light floral hops along with a little bit of yeast.

The flavor has the same caramel and toast as the aroma but more subdued. Light cinnamon once again with a touch of dark fruit. Biscuit is present as well along with light floral hops leading to a very light bitterness. Mouthfeel is very soft which stuck out to me. Finish is clean and slightly sticky.

Overall, I feel the flavors in this beer are too subdued compared to Boston Lager or Great Lakes Eliot Ness. All of the right components are here but need to be bolder. Nonetheless it is an easy drinking lager and very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 22:17:59 | More by rangerred

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

2.78/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a standard pint glass.

The beer is a clear light copper/amber color. A foamy cream head recedes soon to a bubbly film, with minimal lacing on the glass.

The beer smells faintly malty, with caramel notes.

The beer tastes sweet up front with some caramel notes mostly dominating. Somewhat of a metallic follow through.

Mouthfeel is somewhat watery.

Overall, just an average amber for me, somewhat watery and metallic if anything.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 19:34:48 | More by JuicesFlowing

PorterLambic

Florida

2.9/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a light copper color with a decent fingerwidth tan head. Retention is minimal.
Smell is bready, citrus, malt. That's it. Balance is acceptable.
Taste is malt, light citrus, grape, faint hops. Decent balance.
Medium bodied, light effervescence overall though a bit of sharpness up front. Finish is fairly clean though a bready/malt note lingers a bit. Nothing to really recommend this this. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 01:11:43 | More by PorterLambic

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-Pours a dull lightly hazy amber color. Lighter head hangs around. Head leaves minute dots of lacing.

S-Another dull one. Essentially no hop presence. Toasty bread and sweetness. Light and clean. Lacks aromatic vigor.

T-Yeah, same here too. Didn't have nearly enough zest to pair with my delicious dinner. Just mild for days. Toasted bread and consistent sweetness. Light grains too.

M-Light and nearly watery. Zapping bubbles. Goes down quick of course, but boy does it leave something to be desired.

O/D-Another yawner. In terms of a Vienna Lager, Boston Lager blows this one's face off. One bottle is enough for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 01:49:25 | More by VelvetExtract

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance
Amber with 3 fingers of tan head. Excellent clarity although slightly chill hazed. Low carbonation and good retention.

Nose
Caramel, biscuit and some kind of sweet concord grape like aromas.

Taste
A lot of raw grains. Hints of caramel and biscuit and a lingering grape like quality. A touch of toasted crackers.

Mouthfeel
Light-medium bodied, crisp and clean.

Overall
A very boring offering from Abita. I thought I was buying an Amber Ale and got a Vienna Lager. Very sessionable and easy drinking. Not bad, just boring.

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 16:27:06 | More by justintcoons

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into pilsener glass, best by 9/30/2012. Pours lightly hazy orange copper color with a small 1 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Small amounts of spotty lacing on the glass, with a bit of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of caramel, toffee, apple, pear, toast, nuttiness, herbal, and floral. Nice aromas with good balance and strength; pretty typical Vienna lager aromas. Taste of caramel, toast, nuttiness, biscuit, pear, pepper, and herbal spiciness. Lingering notes of caramel, toast, nuttiness, biscuit, pepper, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a short bit. Very clean tasting with a good balance of flavors; but it feels a bit watery. Medium carbonation and body; with a very crisp and smooth mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with pretty much no warming present on the finish as expected. Overall this is a good Vienna lager. Some good flavor balance and very smooth to drink. Quite enjoyable and very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 05:49:42 | More by superspak

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

About average in appearance for a vienna lager, kinda reddish with just a touch of chill haze and a short-lived head without a lot of lacing.

Smell is bready malts and some toffee with a touch of wet dog.

Taste ain't bad, slightly roasty with some caramel and bready malts, plenty of very sweet, malt flavors without much in the way of hops.

Body is medium and pretty easy drinking with a very sweet, lingering buttery toffee aftertaste.

Overall it's not bad but doesn't really stand out in my mind as a "must buy."

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 17:27:53 | More by AlCaponeJunior

UCLABrewN84

California

3.43/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light brown with a foamy tan head that fades to nothing. No lacing on this one. Smell is pretty mild with some malt/grain and slight caramel aromas. Taste is of toasted malt, caramel, and some mild herbal hops on the finish. There is a slight bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer flavor wise but the smell is lacking in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 02:19:18 | More by UCLABrewN84

deebo

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at carousel bar in hotel Monteleone
A-clear, light amber served without a head, light carbonation
S-caramel malt, not grainy. Clean
T-like the aroma a fairly simple but smooth and easy drinking brew
M-mod carbonation to carry the malt, med bodied, finishes easy and quick.
O-a perfect beer for LA. Easy to drink with a nice malty sweetness. A very approachable beer. A must when I visit new Orleans!

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 22:28:49 | More by deebo

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

only 3 weeks away from out of code date but still smells of fresh skunky hops. beautiful tarnished brass hue with a sticky 2 finger head. toasted raisin bread with caramel, roasted malts, and a touch pf caramel.

very smooth with low carbonation. semi-sweet dark fruits, butterscotch and caramel, with a clean English hop finish. lingering semi sweetness. highly drinkable and delectable. A bit too much dark fruit though (and by a bit i dont mean alot, simply overpowers some of the flavors only a tiny bit but that could be from the age of it) overall very good though.

Serving type: can

07-25-2012 23:13:35 | More by jtierney89

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a deeper golden color with a big white head. The head a moderate to low level of retention, but gives some nice lacing on the glass.

Smell – The aroma is of some roasted malt with a good deal of sweetness. The malt is of a roasted biscuit and bready smell while the sweet is largely of a toffee like smell in nature.

Taste – The beer begins with taste of roasted malt and some caramel. The roasted flavors are lighter at first and get stronger toward the middle of the taste. Toward the middle a toffee takes the place of the caramel as the sweetness becomes more buttery. With this transition the result is a slightly sweeter brew. At the end a pleasant sweeter roasted biscuit flavor is left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body is on the lower side in terms of thickness and creaminess and was a little watery. The body could have used a bit more thickness to accentuate the roasty flavors. The carbonation level of the brew however was quite average and fitting for the style.

Overall- It is very light and easy to drink with a nice not too sweet, but sweet roasted flavor. A brew that makes for a decent session beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 23:20:47 | More by Darkmagus82

obrike

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A sixer at Specs for 6.99 in Round Rock over the weekend.

I just got back from New Orleans and wanted to relive the trip a bit.

Poured a rich amber in my pint glass. A decent head the disappears very quickly...not much lace to speak of but a small off white ring remains.

Just a hint of spice...some sweet malt...maybe a bit of grassy hops.

Taste follows...a very non-offensive, easy drinking, light abv brew with much more taste than your typical bmc. The slightly caramel flavor, mild spices, and medium carbonation make it quite easy to put several of these back in a hurry on a hot day in New Orleans...or where ever you may reside.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 00:27:44 | More by obrike

TheSixthRing

California

3.45/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours an orange amber with a white finger width head, poor retention, resulting in a sparse lace.

Smell - Slightly grainy with notes of sweet, caramelized sugar and toffee.

Taste - Faint notes of caramel and toffee. A touch of spice and a mellow hint of fruit near the end; almost like peach. Very light flavor throughout.

Mouthfeel - Light; almost watery. Carbonation feels a little flat.

Overall - A decent lager. Disappointing body. What's there is good, but it's not very flavorful. In the very least, it's easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 02:34:55 | More by TheSixthRing

RLBarron

4.58/5  rDev +33.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was my first Abita product, and is one of my favorite beers. It was paired with a muffaletta sandwich at the world-famous Central Grocery in New Orleans. It has a good balance of malty flavor with just a hint of hoppy bitterness. The rich amber color looks great in a glass, and it pours an ideal (in my view) head. It is a full bodied beer that feels velvety-smooth in the mouth and has a clean finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 14:00:26 | More by RLBarron

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ba Review #180
Served On: 06/28/2012
Glassware: Sam Adams Perfect Pint
Labeled ABV: 4.5%
Date/ Code: -

This was in the 2012 spring mixed 12 pack.

Look: Color was a washed out copper color - not too far off from a Sam Adams Boston Lager. Head was a short-lived 1/2 finger of white bubbles. Carbonation was rather agitated from the laser ring on the bottom of the Perfect Pint. Head lacing was affirmative.

Smell: Grainy malts and a sweet spicy note. Maybe a slight sourness. Very light aroma.

Taste: Smooth and lighter mouth feel. The grainy malts hit first with a gentle spice that slowly set in. The middle was a dark fruit note and then back to the grains. The finish was typical of most Vienna lagers: that brief sour note that always seems offset by a sweet graininess.

This was an ok beer. I’m afraid that Boston Lager may hold a slightly higher rating than this one in my opinion. Regardless, very high quality and true to the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 00:05:03 | More by CraftBeerTastic

pweis909

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +30.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Clear amber with white head that recedes to thinner persitent foam.

Aroma hints at caramel and toast. At times, I find it earthy. At times I find it winey.

Taste is nicely balanced, paralleling the smell. Despite some caramel presence, with slight sweetness at the front, the beer finishes is dry, asking me to take another sip.

Smooth, slightly slick mouth feel, with slight carbonation prickle at the finish.

Lovely beer. If this is Vienna lager, then I am a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 23:00:33 | More by pweis909

KajII

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

[Best served in a Lager glass]

The pour was a clear honey brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) light brown rocky head that had decent retention and a nice amount of spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a toasted light bread malt and a sweet yeast with notes of caramel, honey and a mild fruity ester.

The taste was malty sweet with a pronounced caramel presence throughout with the finish having a good crisp hoppiness and a smooth lager feel. The flavor was short lived, evaporating a short time after the swallow.

Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a mild carbonation.

Overall a pretty straight forward Amber Lager with a great drinkability and a pleasant taste...

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 20:11:47 | More by KajII

cousineddy

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance-pours a dark orange with two fingers of fluffy off white/tan head that has good retention

Smell-Malty notes, slight hop notes, i get a lot of dried fruit and spices, possibly apricot.

Taste-not over powering, good spiciness, slight toffee, malt and hop notes.

Mouth feel-Not overly carbonated, a little watery, but a nice smooth finish.

Overall-Not a bad amber, good summer time beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 01:31:48 | More by cousineddy