Photos and article by Nora McGunnigle Abita Brewing recently paired up with glass manufacturer Spiegelau to demonstrate why the glass used to drink a beer is as important to enjoyment as the beer itself. Speigelau regional sales manager Chris Hillin guided 60-65 eager beer connoisseurs through an Abita beer tasting in five different shaped glasses: Abita Amber in the lager glass, the SOS Imperial Pilsner in the pilsner glass, Wrought Iron IPA in the newly crafted IPA glass, Abbey Ale in the Belgian snifter glass, and Naughty Quaker oatmeal stout in Spiegelau’s brand new glass created just for stouts. Speigelau expanded from wine glasses into the beer game in 2004, bringing the traditional lager, pilsner, and Belgian glasses to the market; several years later, the company began assembling professional tasting panels of brewers, homebrewers, and sensory specialists to create glasses for specific styles, like the ridged stemmed IPA glass and and the stout goblet, which warms the beer in the drinker’s hand. The specialty glasses are superior to the industry standard shaker pint for several reasons; the quality of the raw...
OCTOBER 2014 Octoberfest took the bronze medal in the German-Style Märzen category for 2014. The Great American Beer Festival is the premier U.S. beer festival and competition. Each year, GABF represents the largest collection of U.S. beer ever served, in a public tasting event plus a private competition. GABF brings together the brewers and diverse beers that make the U.S. the world’s greatest brewing nation.
MARCH 2014 Abita was awarded three bronze medals and two silver medals for their brews at the Dublin Beer Cup, which was held in Dublin, Ireland. Turbodog: Silver medal. The comments from the judges included the following: very appropriate for style, sweet, malty, well balanced, clean and no significant off-flavors, slight vegetal and diacetyl noted by one judge. Slight musty and oxidized again by different judge but not by the other judges. On target for bitter, hoppy, malty, and carbonation. Overall an excellent beer with high technical merit and the judges pass their congratulations on to the brewer. Abita Amber: Silver medal. Comments from the judges included the following: very appropriate for style, slight veil, slight onion note/fatty acid note, slight astringency nice malty, good medium body. On target for bitter, hoppy, malty, carbonation and esters. No faults. Overall, an excellent beer with high technical merit and the judges pass their congratulations on to the brewer. Mardi Gras: Bronze medal. Comments from the judges included the following: very appropriate for style, strong bitter, nice ester, alcoholic, some dimethyl sulfide, slight sulfidic note light, roasty, sweet and hoppy, perhaps a bit oversweet making it slightly unbalanced. On target for malty,...
Andygator received the silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013. The Great American Beer Festival is the premier U.S. beer festival and competition. Each year, GABF represents the largest collection of U.S. beer ever served, in a public tasting event plus a private competition. GABF brings together the brewers and diverse beers that make the U.S. the world’s greatest brewing nation.
From the coconut mussels at the Palace Cafe to the shrimp and grits at Emeril's NOLA to the barbecued shrimp at Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, some of the
most revered New Orleans restaurants proudly incorporate the beer offerings from Abita Springs, Louisiana-based Abita Brewing Co. into their dishes. Not only are Abita's beers present at the top Big Easy eateries, but the city's star chefs frequently tout the brews' excellent pairing and gastronomic attributes. "Our beers are made to complement the food of Louisiana," explains brewmaster Mark Wilson. "We want our beer to be a natural extension of the local food." With endorsements from chefs like Emeril Lagasse, John Folse and Tory McPhail, the brews-produced just 30 miles north of New Orleans, using water direct from the wells of Abita Springs-are growing in popularity among beer connoisseurs and foodies alike. Founded in 1986, family-owned Abita Brewing is the oldest craft brewer in the Southeast and the nation's largest craft player, according to the Brewers Association. Its beer volume increased about 4 percent last year to 157,000 barrels (the company also produced 10,000 barrels
of root beer). A soon-to-be-completed brewhouse expansion, along with organic growth, should drive volume up
6 percent this year, according to...
By Laura McKnight from NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (NOLA.COM Archive) Abita Brewing’s popular Strawberry Harvest Lager is cropping up on taps around New Orleans, offering a spirited — and according to some, better — way to enjoy a local warm-weather favorite. This year marks the first time the Abita Springs-based brewery has ever offered Abita Strawberry on tap, Abita Brewery president David Blossman said More than 100 bars and restaurants in the New Orleans area are carrying the strawberry beer on draft, a version preferred over bottles by some beer-drinkers, including Blossman. “I always find draft better,” Blossman said, as long as draft lines are kept properly. “We’re a very draft-driven brewery”. Abita Strawberry fans can also find the brew on tap for the first time at this year’s French Quarter Festival, set for April 10-13. The festival served the bottled version of the strawberry beer for the first time last year, said Rebecca Sell, marketing and publicity manager for French Quarter Festivals Inc., which produces the fest. “Since we embrace all things local, the fact that it’s made with (South Louisiana) strawberries is very appealing," Sell said. Lots of local beer-drinkers seem to agree, as demand for the strawberry...