abita turbodog

[studentofbeer]

this isn't an official review, but i was able to pick this brew up for $5 a sixer and ive found it goes fantastic with a blackened chicken sandwich i get for take-out sometimes. the beer mixes right in with the blackened flavor pulling out the sweetness and the spices while helping calm the fire a bit. the beer smells like a swamp to me almost, but man it goes good with a basic blackened chicken sandwich and some mashed sweet potatoes. blackened anything and turbodog is a pairing i would highly recommend.

[chazwicke]

Abita has a nice brewpub with decent cajun food. I concur that their beers can complement food.

[Caffinehog]

Quite an interesting Altbier. I wish I saw more of this style.

[BluesHarp]

Leaving for New Orleans Sunday...I imagine I will have plenty of Abita next week; looking forward to trying the Andygator.

[threecb]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
Leaving for New Orleans Sunday...I imagine I will have plenty of Abita next week; looking forward to trying the Andygator.

Turbodog Rocks!

And Congrats on 1500, Chazwicke!

[davesarman]

I picked up a sampler 12 pack of Abita beers about a year ago and Turbo Dog was by far my favorite.

[Caffinehog]

IMHO, most of the Abita beers taste about the same. They have to use the same yeast and probably the same hops in everything. Don't get me wrong, though... it's good beer.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
Quite an interesting Altbier. I wish I saw more of this style.

Beer Advocate lists the TD as a brown ale. And based on the beer's ingredients listed at the Abita web site, particularly the Willamette hops, I'd say Brown Ale is probably the right description.

But I agree, I wish there were more Alts out there. A search for Alts on BA brings up a good list of beers in the style, but they look to be mostly brew-pubs and more localized micros - or imports, of course. Anyone ever tried the Alaskan Amber from AB (same brewery of the Smoked Porter fame)?

S.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by steveh
Anyone ever tried the Alaskan Amber from AB (same brewery of the Smoked Porter fame)?

S.

I acquired some in a trade last year and thought it was one of the best alts I'd had in quite some time. I would agree that alts are hard to find. Summit used to make a wonderful alt that for some reason was discontinued. Schell's still makes a decent alt called Schmalt's Alt. Not outstanding, but not bad either.

[steveh]

Originally posted by davesarman
Schell's still makes a decent alt called Schmalt's Alt. Not outstanding, but not bad either.

Someone recently reported that Schell's discontinued the Schmalts' as well. It's not on their web site any more either. :(

S.

[Beaver]

The Alaskan Amber was very good when I had it!

[Wilson]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
IMHO, most of the Abita beers taste about the same. They have to use the same yeast and probably the same hops in everything. Don't get me wrong, though... it's good beer.

I agree totally. I bought some Abita Bock the other day (and will try to remember to post the tasting notes), while being Ok, it tastes very similar to everything else. I'm betting its the water, which is from the Abita Springs. Not to offend, but I find the same is true with Sierra Nevada, their beers have something very similar about them, IMO.

[threecb]

My BIL, a die-hard Beck's Dark Drinker, had the AK Amber when he was on a business trip in Seattle and loved it. I didn't know it was an alt. I'll have to find some east coast alt's, like Otter Creek Copper Ale, to let him try.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Beaver
The Alaskan Amber was very good when I had it!

I had it at the brewery along with the rest or their line and can ot remember it specifically. I had 2nds and 3rds of their ESB and of course brought home some of the Smoked Porter from that Alaska trip.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by steveh
But I agree, I wish there were more Alts out there. A search for Alts on BA brings up a good list of beers in the style, but they look to be mostly brew-pubs and more localized micros - or imports, of course.

I'm wondering if some breweries alt's are not really labeled as such? Wondering if for "marketing" purposes, they label them as ambers or brown ales? What did your search on BA show? Were they all labeled or named as alts? Maybe I'm mistaken here, but it seems there have been a couple of occaisions where I've had a beer and when I look it up on BA or ratebeer.com, it's categorized as an alt, and I think "I didn't know that, it's not labeled as such." Of course, I can't think of any examples at the moment, so maybe I'm all wet here....

[steveh]

Originally posted by davesarman
I'm wondering if some breweries alt's are not really labeled as such? Wondering if for "marketing" purposes, they label them as ambers or brown ales? What did your search on BA show? Were they all labeled or named as alts?

I'm not sure where BA always gets their info (I've seen ABVs listed, but not found them on the label of the beer or the brewery's web site). If you perform a search and just look up all of the Alts, you get a big list, but at the right of the page you'll see a listing of the most popular of the style - that's where I saw the Alaskan Amber.

The thing is, Alts are similar in style to BrownAles, yet very different due to different (often lighter) hops and often being cold lagered, making them very smooth.

S.