Overview
Abita’s Strawberry Lager is a seasonal, strawberry based lager crafted by the Abita Brewing Company in Abita, Louisiana. It is one of their four specialty beers whose availability are tied to seasonal harvests. It has an ABV of 4.2%
About the Company
The Abita Brewing Company, located about 30 miles outside of New Orleans, was opened in 1986. In its first year, the brewery produced 1,500 barrels of beer. The company grew quickly. A typical year now involves the production of more than 151,000 barrels of beer and almost 10,000 barrels of root beer!
Abita now produces many different beers on all sorts of schedules. Their website lists 32 brews, including somewhat unusual flavor combinations such as Blueberry Wheat (which I can’t wait to try) and the Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout.
About the Beer
Full disclosure, I went into this review expecting to DESPISE this beer. In the past, I have rarely, if ever, enjoyed fruit flavored beers. Those that come with grapefruit or honey included typically are not my style. I probably wouldn’t have even picked it from the make your own six pack shelves at H-E-B, had my wife not suggested it would be interesting to try.
I AM SO GLAD THAT SHE DID!
Abita’s Strawberry Lager was not at all what I expected to drink. I anticipated some sickly sweet combination of hops and strawberry competing in blood-sport on my tongue to see which flavor would survive. And I could not have been more wrong.
The strawberry notes in this beer are obvious, but very much complimentary. The slightly cloudy, yellow colored liquid has all the trademark elements of a traditional strawberry taste, except the excessive sweetness. The beer itself is very light, and somewhat shandy-esque, but that is not a bad thing.
Coming into the summer, Abita’s Strawberry Lager is a beer I will absolutely be picking up again. If it weren’t for its limited, seasonal availability, I could see myself making this a semi-regular member of my beer rotation.
TL;DR
You may write this beer off immediately due to its strawberry flavor, and I did too. But listen to me. TRY. THIS. BEER. I was absolutely stunned by just how well the strawberry tones complimented the brew. If you only stray out of your comfort zone with one brew this summer, Abita’s Strawberry Lager would be a great choice.
Rating: 8.5/10
Question of the Day
What beer surprised you in a positive or negative way? Comment below and let me know!
Sgt. Suds 
I 100% want to try this beer now
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But to answer your question, summer 2015 i tried my first Molson Golden and Molson Canadian, and by george are those beers delicious. Luckily Specs carries Molson Canadian here so I occasionally go and pick up a 6er.
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I’ll have to try it sometime!
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You absolutely should! It was an awesome surprise.
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I just bought a 6 pack. Will let you know my opinion
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Keep us posted!
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So you were right, this beer is absolutely delicious. I was just as surprised as you seemed to be according to your review. Ive definitely found a new beer
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I love this beer. One of my all time favorites.
I beer I was pleasantly surprised by would have to be the Wicked RAM from Shiner. I wasn’t expecting much since Shiner is a middle of the pack easy drinking beer (still good no less) and I thought they would ruin the IPA. I was pleasantly surprised.
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Actually will be reviewing that one soon, so stay posted.
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