Wheat - Abita Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.5/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pale maize with watered-down lemonade trim. The off-white crown was two fingers after a standard pour, falling to one finger in the first several minutes. It's not bad looking, but it's no great shakes either. The same could be said for the amount and quality of the lace.

The aroma is akin to a Euro pale lager. That isn't surprising since Wheat isn't an American pale wheat ale at all, but a wheat *lager*. I can't appreciate any barley or wheat, just a faint German hoppiness and very little else.

I'm not impressed. There isn't much malt present and there's almost no flavor. Can a beer be too clean tasting? Go ask the brewers at Budweiser and get back to me. Actually, Bud isn't that clean; it's adjuncty and nasty. Never mind that... back to the beer at hand.

American pale lagers are behind the eightball from the start because the ingredients have almost no flavor. Wheat is fairly bland, hops aren't present to any significant degree and lager yeast is practically ester-free. It's no surprise that Wheat tastes like beer-flavored water. More hops or a hefeweizen yeast strain would be a good place to start.

The bubbles are acceptable. The problem is that the body/mouthfeel is too light, reaching frankly watery on the finish. Let's make that 'long before the finish'. Good for rehydration on a hot Louisiana summer day, but not very pleasurable otherwise.

Wheat is one of those 'why bother?' beers. I can think of any number of similar offerings (that should be widely available in all parts of the country) that I would rather drink. No thanks.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2008 12:01:47 | More by BuckeyeNation

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.23/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a gold, crystalline body with a small, thin, white head.

Smell: Almost nothing! Simply? Anything?! The tiniest hint of wheat and nothing more.

Taste: Touch of wheat malt, lightly sweet. No real hop flavor or bitterness present. Neutral, exceptionally watery finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Sheesh! I'm stunned at how nearly tasteless, empty, and totally devoid of merit this beer is. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 06:32:45 | More by ChainGangGuy

drabmuh

Maryland

2.38/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a conic pint glass. Beer is yellow and has a slight haze to it. Big white head three fingers above the beer forms and falls away leaving no lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate and the bubbles are medium in size.

Almost lagerish in aroma. Not much in the way of classic wheat ales, American or otherwise. No hint of hops or esters. Some malt maybe, its hard to describe. It really smells like a budweiser. Not pleasant or stylistically correct.

This beer tastes slightly acidic, bland, flat. I am really confused, this tastes like a budweiser. This beer is gross. There are so many wonderful flavors that wheat beers can embrace, this misses all the marks. I am really hating on this beer, what are you doing Abita? Second taste there are some more subtle elements, almost a sweetness to it, hard to describe though. Not really saving this beer for me.

Its also a little thin. Its almost like it was never there. Its fine for wheat beers to be thin but the mouthfeel is like water. Drinkability I'm giving it an average, just because. I think its an affront to the American Pale Wheat style but there isn't anything too offensive about it, just doesn't fit. I've ripped on this beer enough. I would say avoid if you are looking for a wheat beer. Truly an awful example. Gross.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2009 03:30:03 | More by drabmuh

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap 7/10/2010 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a short white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is faint but contains light malts, wheat, citrus and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is bready with flavors of wheat and a light malt character. Then some mild lemon and caramel sweetness come in. The hops presence is also mild as you would expect but it's enough to bring a little bit of balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: A little tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, very mild kick, decent representation of style, it's a decent beer but there are better ones in the style that I would select first.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2010 14:54:20 | More by TheManiacalOne

Jason

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz brown short with a freshness date marked on back.

Appearance: Clear pale golden with a wispy white lace.

Smell: Clean aroma of malt sweetness and a little spicy hop.

Taste: The spicy hop bitterness and flavour rides the tail of the crisp carbonation and grain. Then the malt sweetness and soft wheat flavour kicks in with still more lingering spicy hop flavour. The after taste cleans up with some fading grain and hop.

Notes: This is an awesome American Wheat! It is fermented with a German lager yeast which contributes to this brew being so clean. A better summer seasonal than those lemon zested wheat brews, one of the top picks for a summer time brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2002 19:49:16 | More by Jason

plaid75

New York

3/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a hazy straw hue with a half finger foamy white head. There was poor retention and lacing.

The smell featured adjunct grain, sour notes and grassy hop.

The taste offered a trace amount of wheat malt, with sweet corn, sour lemon and a grassy hop.

The mouthfeel was light and a bit raw.

Overall an all around weak wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 01:54:47 | More by plaid75

Brad007

Vermont

3.73/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear bright gold color with a one-finger head that is quick to fade.

Aroma is brimming with wheat and clove that work in tandem to dominate the nose.

Taste is crisp with chewy wheat and clove flavors present. I detect a hint of apricot essence or perhaps something given off by the yeast. Slightly buttery as well.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering wheat/clove and not much else. Nothing to cheer about but certainly respectable.

Sessionable and easy to drink, you really couldn't go wrong with this beer on a hot day. Otherwise, I'm sure there are better examples out there if you really want something more.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 01:11:03 | More by Brad007

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.58/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours dark gold with a thin bone white head. Very little lacing. Aroma is appropriately wheaty. Light-bodied and somewhat crisp, and the wheat flavor is not very pronounced which made it more palatable for me since I do not like Wheats, but doesn't suit what the brewer should be aiming for. This is definitely leaning toward a Lager to me. Finish is light and crisp, and overall this beer is very simple.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2003 08:34:52 | More by Dogbrick

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark amber with not much of a head. Aroma is malty and a little wheaty, no citrus tone. Flavor is refreshing, though, mainly malty and a little wheaty with just a subtle hint of spice. Texture is fizzy and lively so you know this is indeed a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2009 01:27:02 | More by Cyberkedi

ZAP

Minnesota

2.15/5  rDev -35%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

The first of the Abita sampler I just found on the shelves for the first time.

Interesting idea here....wheat lager....mission accomplished...clean and crisp....looks impressive...clear golden with a pillowy head...nose is ok...some wheatiness is there if you strain...overall thoguh it really lacks flavor and taste...I'm guessing that is what they were after with this...something light and easy drinking....again mission accomplished..spritzy body and carbonation...

This is not for me...rates on a par with Mich Ultra for flavor....seriously I would rather drink a coors light....for what they wanted to do I think they did well. I just like my beer to have at least a little flavor to it....

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2007 04:24:25 | More by ZAP

Tone

Missouri

3.2/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, straw color. One inch head of a white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of wheat, strong pale malt, hint of sweet malt, citrus hops, and slight rice/corn. Fits the style of an American Pale Wheat Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong pale malt, slight wheat, citrus hops, and slight rice/corn. Overall, decent appearance, but aroma and body are weakened with adjunct flavors.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2009 05:08:21 | More by Tone

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy unfiltered golden color. Fluffy white head recedes to a thin collar and an oily looking sheen.

Faint nose is mostly of fresh wheat. Perhaps a hint of sweet light malts. Not getting any hops, or much else for that matter.

Taste is pretty much more of the same, cant exactly say the wheat dominates the flavor 'cause there's not much there to dominate. That being said, this beer is fresh and crisp. Very refreshing and downright chugable on a hot summer afternoon and is much tastier than a macro light.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2008 06:30:42 | More by twiggamortis420

drpimento

Wisconsin

1.5/5  rDev -54.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Wonder what the concensus was when the decided to put this on the market. And why. Poured aggressively for a teeny bit of white head. Color is a hazy pale yellow. Aroma is a fruity pale wheat. Flavor's first impression is alka seltzer. Really not a lot else there: a hint of malt, a lot of aspirin, lots of fizz. You can guess the body and carbonation- goes with the above descriptions. Finish is like after AS. Can't finish it.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 03:17:00 | More by drpimento

superspak

Michigan

2.83/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 ounce bottle into pilsener glass, best before 9/27/2012. Pours lightly cloudy pale straw color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense white head with decent retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of lemon, pear, biscuit, wheat, pepper, grass, herbal, floral, grape, and light earthiness. Pretty good aromas here actually; fairly weak, but they have a typical well balanced German lager feel to them. Taste of grass, bread, wheat, herbal, earth, pear, and pepper. Lingering notes of light grass and bread on the finish for a short bit. Extremely bland in the flavor department, almost like carbonated water for real. Extremely dry on the finish as expected for the lack of flavors. Medium carbonation and light body; with an extremely crisp and dry mouthfeel that is ok. Alcohol is well hidden with no warming noticed as expected for 4.2%. Overall a pretty mediocre wheat lager. The aromas were pretty good, but the lack of flavor was a let down. It is certainly crisp, clean, and drinkable though.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 04:08:34 | More by superspak

tigg924

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: 1/3 head, moderate carbonation, gold in color, clear

Smell: grain, adjunct, light wheat

Taste: grain, adjunct, light wheat--has a little bit of their Restoration Pale Ale taste

Mouthfeel: sweet with slight bitterness, medium carbonation, light bodied

Overall: In a bizarre world, I have been seeking this beer out for a while and am happy to have found it. This is a sessionable adjunct lager that reminds me of a combination between their gold and restoration pale ale. I could have several of these especially on a warmer day. If I was not grading to style, this would be closer to a 3.5. However, I would turn to this over the BMCs and other adjunct lagers of the world. Of all of Abita's beers, I would not seek this out, but I would not pass on it either.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 15:46:32 | More by tigg924

argock

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass. Best by 12/15/10 on bottle neck. Received as beer club shipment.

A: Clear pale yellow with 1-finger of off-white tightly bubbled head dropping to a thin collar with wispy lace formations all down the glass.

S: Grassy hops are strikingly early in the nose with a soft wheat tartness and plenty of cereal grains to boot. Overall, a very clean aroma profile.

T: A light but easy-drinker with bready malts accentuated by the soft wheat component, which adds an element of sharpness that helps to streamline and clarify the malty grain flavors. Hops add a grassy, herbal component which is a nice balance.

M: The active, light feel fits the style right-on with a lightly citrus, ceral grain aftertaste which is quite clean with only a light cardboard residual.

D: I enjoyed this brew a lot more than expected, mainly because Abita brews haven't always impressed. This one was a simple, straightforward but nicely crafted wheat brew. Their move to use a lager yeast produces a clean yet nicely balanced beer. One of Abita's better offerings along with Restoration Ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2010 02:40:01 | More by argock

Redrover

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this beer on tap at the Bourbon House. Surprise, surprise, they did not automatically serve it with a lemon. The beer was a very light yellow, no haze, actually looked more like a kyrstal Heffe. Good head and some lacing.

Nose was of spice and banana,. Taste was similar, with more clove taste pushing through. Nice malt sweetness that rounded out the taste and balance. Good carbonation and silky smooth mouthfeel made this an easy drinking choice. Went great with raw seafood and gumbo. Well worth a try and one of the best beers I had in the quarter.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2003 00:27:47 | More by Redrover

Pegasus

Texas

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

Pale golden color, none of the haziness I have often noted in wheat beers. Small off-white head with modest lace and lots of carbonation.

Aroma: Wheat malts and spicy hops dominate the aroma.

Taste: Taste begins with a flourish of malt sweetness, followed by wheat flavors, finishes with spicy hops, the aftertaste is mildly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and fairly full, pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A nice summer beer, quite crisp and refreshing. If you want something a bit more exotic, the Abita Purple Haze (raspberry wheat) is good as well.

Presentation: Packaged in a twelve-ounce short brown glass bottle with a pop-off crown, served in a standard Pilsener glass.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2002 20:03:47 | More by Pegasus

alleykatking

Indiana

2.88/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle.

A- Poured a light hazed golden yellow color...almost a light apple juice color. Half finger white head shows no retention and dies quickly. No lacing at all.

S- Light wheat notes in the front. Tons of cereal grainy scents...sweet alcohol in the backing. Some light earthy hops in the backing as well.

T- Grassy hops come into play first with some grainy cereal bill showing through. The middle has light bready malts that hint for a second. The wheat comes through in the end but only for a second and in a very light tone. The cereal grains and light hops dominate most of the flavor profile.

M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation is high for the style but not the beer. This beer has a ton of cereal grains left on the palate with a stale grassy hops in the aftertaste with a touch of alcohol. Flavors are crisp and clean. No alcohol drying on the palate.

D- This beer is drinkable but not to the style I think. This reminds me of a slightly better adjunct lager more so than a wheat beer. Abita is a hit and miss with me. I could have no problem drinking a sixer of this as the ABV is low but wouldn't want to.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 04:27:08 | More by alleykatking

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.13/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pale straw color and perfect clarity, as usual with Abita. Head was 3 fingers (thanks to an inverted pour into a hefe glass), bright white and left tons of lace behind

Plenty of bready malts, some musk, light sweetness. It's crisp smelling for sure.

Bready, sweet malts, very light hops. Maybe a hint of yeast spice. Overall a bit on the lighter side.

Nice crisp clean bubbly feel to it, goes does easy and smooth, nicely lighter in body. Rather refreshing on a hot day.

This doesn't wow in any way, and it's pretty run of the mill, but damn if it isn't hella refreshing on a hot day while fishing.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 18:26:09 | More by EgadBananas

mentor

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Twist off bottle provided by BigLove, ala BIF20. Thanks for the opportunity! Freshness date is "9" and "2b", consumed in mid-July 2005. Pours a pure white 'soda pop' head of large bubbles that settled quickly to leave a headless yellow liquid. I swirled the bottle to suspend the yeast, but this beer is crystal clear. Smells of wheat, dried hay, and a barely noticable spice. Taste is wheat, with a light bready quality and some fruity esters (pear and a hint of nectarine). There is a bit of bite which I can't decide if it's hop flavor or clove imparted by the yeast. This is a very simple brew that's easy drinking on this warm summer night. Light bodies and heavily carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2005 05:21:15 | More by mentor

budgood1

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

very clear pale yellow color. a thin head dies pretty quickly and there is no lace. nice clean wheat aromas, bittering hops deteceted in the nose also. the carbonation and crispness are at the forefront in the taste. hop bitterness overwhelms any real malt feel, adding to an oddly thin mouthfeel. finishes crisp and bitterness is evident. best consumed in summer under a hot sun. not much here now to impress me.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2002 21:40:02 | More by budgood1

charlzm

California

2.78/5  rDev -16%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Consumed May 11th, 2012 at The Abita Brewpub, Abita Springs, LA.

This beer is an extremely clear pale yellow with no head to speak of.

No aroma to note.

The flavor is slightly bitter water; no real wheat character or barley in evidence. Appropriate to the style, perhaps, but yuck. Even though I give it average for the style above, know that I would not drink this beer again.

Mouthfeel is at least a little lively.

Just awful. Why make a beer with no flavor?

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2012 20:06:29 | More by charlzm

rajendra82

Georgia

3.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

From Louisiana via BigLove, this beer came in a brown 12 oz. bottle, and poured out clear, pale yellow and fizzy. The head was very small initially and disappeared shortly after the Pilsner glass reached an upright stance.

The aroma was malty with a little bit of lemony twang to it. The taste was grainy and clean, and indicated a hint of lemon. The aftertaste was somewhat spicy with a touch of hops. Although plain, this was a refreshing and crisp beer that was easy to gulp.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2005 04:06:49 | More by rajendra82

rlee1390

Indiana

3.23/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Translucent yellow-orange, not much carbonation or head, clears up as it warms until you can see through it.

S-Bland, boring, some wheat. Some skunkiness.

T-Wheat, tad bit of grass, not bitterness, not much in the way of flavor either.

M-Light, not carbonation at all, watery to boot.

O-Not sure why I picked up a bottle of this. It was worth the try, although I'm starting to doubt why I ever try an Abita beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 16:51:37 | More by rlee1390