purple shmaze

For my premier review of beer on this barley pulpit, I have to be the premier downer, as well. Yes, you knew it was coming. I am forced to review that horrible scourge unleashed upon our fair beer-drinking society, Purple Haze. Concocted by the normally excellent Abita brewery, makers of the reasonably satisfying Turbodog, Purple Haze is absurdly bland. It claims to be an American-style wheat, flavored with raspberry, giving it a violet hue and a tinge of tangy berry. Not so. At all. Frankly, in a similar style of beer, I preferred a six-year old keg of Bud Light that turned up a party. That had character, and a bit of a floral finish. This, well, hell, I preferred a six-year old keg of Bud Light! People, do not succumb to the temptation to drink this rubbish. The raspberry flavor is nominal, and tastes rather like a brewing error (the mind conjures up scenes of a giant raspberry, a lá the Kool-Aid Man, bursting forth from the walls of the Louisiana brewery and taking the place hostage). Lifeless and bland, this is the beer poseur's Budweiser. I rate it two ICKYS.