Day One: Abita Beer

For the first day of inaugural Louisiana Craft Brewers Week, we decided to start by tasting the original. Abita Brewing Company is the 14th largest craft brewer in the state and has been in operation since 1986, way before craft beer became cool. Abita’s flagship flavors are Amber, Turbodog and Purple Haze, but more recently the company has been releasing seasonal and limited edition brews, like Restoration Pale Ale, Satsuma Harvest Wit and Pecan Harvest Ale.

In honor of fall, we decided to go with tasting Pecan Harvest. Described on Abita’s website as “brewed with pale, Munich, biscuit and caramel malts and Willamette hops,” this beer is available seasonally and suggested served at 44 degrees.

Tasting Notes for Pecan Harvest

Color: Golden brown
Smell: Mildly earthy and clean
First Sip: Smooth and fresh with subtle nutty flavor on the finish from real Louisiana toasted pecans added in the brewhouse.
Pairing Suggestions: Red meat, seafood and Gouda cheese

How to Visit & Sip for Yourself 
The Abita Brewery is located in Abita Springs, Louisiana. Tours are offered Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturdays on the hour from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. All tours begin in the tasting room, where the taps are opened for tasting of almost all of Abita’s brews. For Craft Brewers Week, the tasting room and brewery will also be open today for tours at 2 p.m. The visitors center will also be open every day this week for complementary beer and cheese pairings. Taste Pecan Harvest Ale paired with Comte, Blarney Castle & Emmentaler cheese today.

The Abita Brew Pub, located just down the street from the brewery on the Tammany Trace bike trail, also serves most of Abita’s beers on tap along with samplers and a few brews that can only be found at the pub.

Where to Buy
Abita Beer is available in 43 states and a few locations outside of the country. Click here to find Abita in your area.