Brewery score

[Beer-lord]

My high school friend moved to Japan in 84 and he comes in twice a year. His son in law was a asst. brewmaster at Abita then moved to the retail side. Tonite, whilst out enjoying so-so beers, he tells me he's picking me up at 12:30 Saturday to take me to Abita for a personal tour then a private party for their Black IPA (oh yeah!) unveiling. They put this out 2 years ago and they are pushing it again. Really, it's just average to me as is all Abita but I can't pass up a free drive, 45 minutes each way, a free tour, possibly help behind the scenes, free beer (did I say black IPA?) and likely free food. And, a ride home with a sober driver!!!
Score.
Film at 11!

[swenocha]

Always good to have friends with connections in the brewery biz. I agree that Abita has never been the top beer in any category for me, but they are pretty consistent and pretty decent in every category they are in. And it never gets better than having it fresh at the brewery. And free... did I mention free?

Have fun...

[Beer-lord]

Tonite he brough us the cask samples of the black ipa. Semi carbed but good. The citra is noticeable. Actually, I can taste and Abita a mile away and its a semi-masses beer but it's better the MBC. I never brag about my beers but I know my black is better than theirs. Course, I'll be smiles and polite while I'm in their brewery.
Last time I was there was 1988 before it moved. It was an ant in an anthill then and now it's still only an anthill on a mountain.

[Beer-lord]

Looks like Saturday night will be as enjoyable as the brewery tour during the day. The Imperator party is at a small and popular tap room and they are known for offering almost all the local beers. It's almost odd that they have so little national craft beer on tap.
I've seen the new label for the 'black ale'.... Abita Imperator is a robust black IPA brewed with a combination of pale, caramel, chocolate and black malts. This gives the beer a very dark color and strong roasted malt flavor. Liberally hopped with Apollo, Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo hops, resulting in a beer with intense hop flavor and aroma
It'll be sold in bombers at 8% ABV. Not sure of the IBU's.

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[Brewbirds]

Black IPA's again??? Are you intentionally trying to get rid of the Three Amigos writing sidekick???

[Beer-lord]

Excess baggage can be expensive and only 1 sidekick doesn't like them. He can carry the excess baggage.

[Inkleg]

Black IPA's again??? Are you intentionally trying to get rid of the Three Amigos writing sidekick???

Heck no, we love Ron. Plus what he won't drink just leaves more for us.

[BlackDuck]

Black IPA's again??? Are you intentionally trying to get rid of the Three Amigos writing sidekick???

Heck no, we love Ron. Plus what he won't drink just leaves more for us.

If he liked Black IPA's he wouldn't have time to write. He would be drinking all the time.

[Kealia]

And I haven't had time to do squat today.....

If you guys are all the 'dark ones' does that make me the really white guy of the bunch? If so, I don't like being called Cracker. Please use the politically correct phrase "Saltine American".
Thank you.

[Gymrat]

You may consider Anita a so so beer when you buy it commercially, but when you try it brewery fresh, you will think it is a spectacular beer. I even liked Coors when I tried it at the brewery.

[Beer-lord]

I think Abita knows that to stay profitable in our area when they came to be, they had to 'feed the masses'. While they wander out now and again with good beers like Jockamo and Andygator, a good amount of their beers are not really brewed with the craft drinker in mind (this from my friend who was an asst. brewer).
I'm still stoked about the private tour and then letting me hang around for a few hours and just watch stuff get done. I've offered to help.

WILL WORK FOR BEER!

And Ron, your imagination is in trouble.

[Beer-lord]

Twas a long day yesterday. Got picked up at 12:30 and didn't get back until 12:30 AM. Had a blast. Talk about a private tour....just me and the twin and Keith (the Abita guy). Can't get much more private than that. Got to taste a very special and extremely limited 30 keg amount of a Baltic Porter that was amazingly great. Right out the tank. Prolly only the 10th person to taste it at that point.
After a few hours at Abita, we went to the little Abita restaurant. It's not really owned by them due to some laws or something I care not about but it only serves Abita and 1 guest tap. Had a bite, then headed to a popular bar for more drinks. After that, we went to the Black IPA event. When that ended, it was closer to home at another watering hole. Jeez, I had trouble keeping up.
I did get to try some Grapefruit Slam draft and it was just so-so. Not bad but nothing I would brag about. The other beers I had were way too numerous to name or even remember.

Here's too many pics of the brewery. It's much, much larger than I thought.

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[mtsoxfan]

Great pics... I'm sure the day flew by too...

[Brewbirds]

Sounds like you had a great time and glad to hear it.

Now about the fact that your'e a Moderator and got four pics to post on this thread??!!

[Beer-lord]

LOL, I really don't do anything different with adding pics, I swear. It just works for me.