Abita Turbodog:
Hello all and welcome to the first installment of Airport Bar Beer.   Today we come from the bar at the Jazz Lounge at New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport located outside the Gate C entrance (I think).  As with any trip to the great city of New Orleans, Abita beer is almost a must have and today is no different.  Turbo Dog is probably the most often found of the Abita family, finding it’s way to many restaurants, bars and personal coolers across the Abita distribution area.  While the amber may be their “entry” beer (and a dime a dozen), the Turbo Dog is unique enough in taste and name to draw people in a lot easier than another amber or bock.  The beer pours well, and honestly I was surprised by the color of the beer, thinking it would be lighter than the dark molasses color that you see here.  There wasn’t much of head on the beer though the one that did form was dark in color and emitted a nice roasted malt and chocolate nose.  The beer itself leaned more towards caramel and roasted malts though none overpowered the other which leant itself to a very pleasing balance.  The taste is of a bittersweet coca with the malts leading the way throughout the sip, providing a uniform experience throughout.  There is a bit of a burnt aftertaste with mine but nothing to powerful or unpleasant, just different.  I’m really glad I got to have another go at this beer again, I don’t recall this ever being really high on my list of Abita favorites but sampling it again has brought it to the main fold of favorite Abitas.  I don’t think I could drink a six-packs worth, even over an extended time frame, but slipping in a single when building a six-pack in the future is definitely possible.