Abita Gets it Right, Again

Abita Gets it Right, Again

25th Anniversary Vanilla Doubledog

Abita Brewing is one of the more popular micro-brews in the south and has a wide range of options. After 25 years in business Abita took a spin off of their old faithful, Turbodog, and dressed it up for the occasion. 

The color is a nice dark brown, almost black with great clarity and a fluffy head. The nose is deep, roasty with a nuance of sweetness and a dark maltiness. 

At first sip I get the taste of over-roasted, but not burnt, nuts. The nutiness plays well with the hint of vanilla that adds a smoothness. You can tell it wants to have a bite to it, but the vanilla reigns it in and makes it very palate pleasing. 

For a dark beer, it's extremely smooth and refreshing . It's well balanced with a gentle finish that lingers and doesn't sour on the tongue. This little gem makes for a perfect night cap because it would pair well with dessert or could be a dessert all its own. If you did want to pair it up, try it with some hazelnut gelato and make a float or perhaps a a chocolate peanut butter tart. 

One of my favorite things about this beer is that it comes in a 22oz bottle. It's so good that I didn't want it to end. Be careful though, it has 7% alcohol and will sneak up on you. It's that smooth. I would really recommend this beer for anyone. It's interesting enough for a seasoned beer drinker and also great for someone trying to expand their beer palate. If you can find it- TRY IT!

Has Rogue Gone Rogue?


So my hubby brought home a couple tasty treats and this was the by far biggest attention grabber. For those of you who are unfamiliar with iconic locations in the Pacific North West, Voodoo doughnuts is a must stop stop when visiting Portland. We, unfortunately, never visited in our time up there, but have always heard to go there. They are known for their great doughnuts and unusual flavors. Their most talked about creation is the maple glazed with bacon.
Rogue Brewery, located on the Rogue River in Oregon, is known for ingenuity and has something for every palate. It's cool to see this premier craft brewery paying homage to another  Oregon-local favorite. The idea of the beer may be lost on most (unless your familiar with Voodoo Doughnuts), but the interesting flavor combination will attract most adventurist drinkers, i think.
When we opened up this Rogue beer, I wasn't sure what to expect but I thought sweetness would lead. On the nose there is a toasted yeastiness and a hint of smoke. I didn't get the sweetness I had expected. 
On first swig you are met with a deep smokey flavor. The maple is a very faint undertone, but no sweetness. The smoke is from the smoking of three different malts, which adds a fun complexity. I had to keep sipping because I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. My taste buds were completely confused and caught off guard. The hint of maple sweetness is incorporated with a pure maple syrup. 
As far as ales go, I found this one to be very approachable. I tend to struggle with many ales and their bitterness, but this one was comfortably smooth. Don't be deceived, it's not an easy drinker, but the initial bite didn't scare me off like many ales do.
We tried this one out late in the evening, but I really wanted to eat with it. I would have loved some warm glazed doughnuts or maybe a chocolate glazed. This beer terms for a sweet companion. Or maybe if your feeling whimsical a maple-glazed, bacon cheese burger on a glazed doughnut. That would be completely amazing!
Try this beer. Share this beer with someone, it's a lot for one person to finish. Plus, how often do you find beer in a pink bottle?