Beer Review – Abita Blueberry Wheat

• Name: Blueberry Wheat
• Brewery: Abita Brewing Co.
• Style: Fruit Beer
• Origin: Louisiana
• ABV: 4.4%

Abita has quickly developed a place in my heart. Somewhat begrudgingly, I tried my first fruit beer a few months ago. Having seen Abita’s Strawberry Lager on the shelf, and in the spirit of trying a little bit of everything, I picked a bottle up and began anticipating disappointment. If you’ve read the review, you will know that I was very pleasantly surprised. So much so, that I have tried numerous fruit beers in a short few months.

The Strawberry Lager is a seasonal brew that Abita puts out in the spring as part of its Harvest Series. In July, the Harvest Series rolls over into a Blueberry Wheat. Since researching Abita in May, I have waited with baited breath for the release of its summer offering.

Much like the spring’s Strawberry Lager, Abita’s Blueberry Wheat is a solid beer. It presents with a  light amber color and slight haziness and its low carbonation reflects in little head. Similarly to many wheats, it has a generally non-threatening aroma complemented by a faint touch of sweet blueberry.

Upon tasting, Abita’s Blueberry Wheat greets you with an initial sweetness. The wheat-beer body is a little lighter than I would have liked, giving way to a slightly watery taste reminiscent of a seltzer water. Its light and smooth mouthfeel rounds out with another touch of sweetness, followed by a pleasant aftertaste.

Yet again, Abita has produced a wonderful beer. Having now tried three of their brews, I have enjoyed all of them and would consider their quality to be above average across the board. The brewery is quickly developing a convincing case for being one of my favorite craft breweries in the United States.

Related: Green Flash Passion Fruit Kicker Review

In terms of comparison, I preferred Abita’s Blueberry Wheat to its Sea Dog produced counterpart. I also think it was a better balance of traditional beer and atypical fruit flavors than Abita’s Purple Haze. That said, I feel that Abita’s Blueberry Wheat cannot compete with their Strawberry Lager.

TL;DR

Abita has done it again. Their Blueberry Wheat is a wonderful mix of traditional wheat beer and refreshing blueberry flavors. While it doesn’t beat their Strawberry Lager, I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a try this summer.

Rating: 8/10

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Learn more about Blueberry Wheat on Abita’s website, Untappd and Beer Advocate.