Barney Purple Haze & Andygator

Review Date 7/28/2024  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Fruit Beer   Brewery: Abita   Country: USA   State: Louisiana   $ Per OZ: $.16 (B)   ABV: 6.1%

So, I saw an interesting beer at Total Wine the other day: Abita Barney, a blend of their Purple Haze and Andygator beers. Being a fan of both of these beers, it seemed a given I should try this one, so I picked up a bottle and brought it home. Just the other night, I popped it open, it being the first beer of the night.

Abita says:

The Barney is composed of two Abita favorites, Purple Haze and Andygator. A bold fusion of raspberry lager and Helles Doppelbock producing a unique blend ideal for the summer.

And hey, it’s summer so just the time to drink it!

Abita Barney has an alcohol content of 6.1% by volume and I paid $1.99 for my single, pretty reasonable these days. And not much more per unit than the $11.49 they were selling it for in six-packs.

Abita Barney pours to a hazy yellow reddish color with a moderate head of fizzy short-lived foam and a nose of bright raspberry fruit. Taking a sip, the beer is an odd duck to say the least. I get a bit of the malty pale doppelbock and a hint of cooked corn common to the style. Then the fruit kicks in with bright raspberry notes and a balancing (but not at all assertive) bitterness. The flavors do not complement but rather clash and this beer really does not work for me.

If you like both of these beers as I do, I would say this one is worth a try. For my part, though, it’s not something I would buy again.

,

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??