Purple Haze

For nearly 25 years, Abita has been synonymous with New Orleans, and their beers are now widely distributed. Although based on a lager, Purple Haze, one of their most popular offerings, is assuredly a fruit-accented American wheat beer, displaying all of the expected tart, fruity aromas and flavors. Given a post-filtration dosage of raspberry puree, this beer pours slightly cloudy, with the faintest purple tinge to its golden color, and it throws a frothy, longstanding, dense white head. Although the aroma is fruity, most judges did not consider it overtly “raspberry” as much as just a general fruitiness. There is some malt and wheat character to the nose, but it is exceedingly subdued, and the fruitiness takes center stage. Rick was one judge who picked up raspberry, noting a “huge raspberry paste/raspberry fruit leather” character, while Nick found the raspberry subtly done with a trace of sourness behind it. The raspberry made itself known more in the flavor than aroma, with all of the judges commenting favorably on the brewer’s adroitness at infusing a substantial raspberry presence without contributing “artificial” flavors. Lee was pleasantly surprised by the “punch of raspberry” accenting the faint wheat tartness, and Tom found that tartness and raspberry essence to be quenching and refreshing.