Abita Andygator
I’ve only had a few of Abita’s brews in the past — Turbodog and Pecan Ale — and was never really all that impressed. And to tell you the truth, the only reason I purchased this bottle of Andygator was due to the price. At $3.99 for a bomber of this fairly strong (8% ABV) beer, I’d be hard pressed not to pick up a bottle.
Described as a “Helles Doppelbock,” it appears to be the only one of its kind. I’m pretty sure this is just your stronger than average Helles Bock or Maibock with the “doppel” thrown on for more of a marketing spin than anything else. That all said, it’s the best Abita beer I’ve had so far.
Appearance
Andygator pours a pale, golden yellow in color with a large white head that faded quickly, leaving no trace on the glass.
Aroma
This one smells malty and slightly sweet — much maltier than its color would lead you to believe — along with a nice helping of hop citrus, as well. There’s an earthy, grain presence late in the nose.
Taste
Andygator is much sweeter than the nose lead me to expect. It’s actually got a decent syrupy mouthfeel to it, but far from being thick. The hops and malts play well together, mixing nicely with the grain presence. For the higer ABV that it has, there’s really not much of an alcohol heat, even as the beer warms.
Overall
While not a terrible beer, there are more authentic and better maibock/doppelbocks out there that I would definitely pick up over this one. Served cold, it was refreshing after a long drive home in the Summer heat (car’s A/C was on the fritz), but just not what I want from the style.
Rating: 3/5