Abita Strawberry Lager 6Pk

Abita Strawberry Lager 6Pk is a fruit-forward American lager brewed with real Louisiana strawberry juice, packaged in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles at 4.2% ABV. What separates this beer from most fruit lagers is the use of approximately 120,000 pounds of locally harvested strawberries each year, added as juice after filtration rather than as artificial flavoring. With over 97,500 ratings on Untappd and a loyal following across the Gulf Coast and beyond, it has become one of the most recognized fruit lagers in the American craft beer market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.2%  |  Origin: Abita Springs, Louisiana, USA  |  Style: Fruit Lager  |  Brewery: Abita Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Abita Brewing Company was founded in 1986 in Abita Springs, Louisiana, a town long known for its pure artesian water. The Strawberry Lager is built on a base of pilsner and wheat malts, hopped with Vanguard hops, and fermented with a German lager yeast strain. After filtration, juice from ripe Louisiana strawberries—harvested at the tail end of the crop year when sugar content peaks—is blended into the finished beer. This post-filtration fruit addition preserves the bright berry character without introducing heavy pulp or haze, keeping the body clean and sessionable.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh strawberry jumps from the glass immediately, backed by a subtle crackery malt sweetness and faint wheat breadiness. A hint of strawberry candy lingers just beneath the surface without overwhelming the grain base.

Taste: The entry delivers a pronounced burst of ripe strawberry that carries through the mid-palate with a gentle sweetness reminiscent of strawberry shortcake. Underneath, clean wheat and light barley malt provide structure, while a soft carbonation keeps the texture lively. The sweetness stays controlled—present but never cloying.

Finish: A brief initial sweetness gives way to a surprisingly crisp, dry close with just a touch of bitterness. Strawberry reasserts itself at the tail end before the palate dries out cleanly, inviting another sip.

How to Drink Abita Strawberry Lager

Serve well chilled, ideally between 38–42°F, in a pilsner glass or pint glass to showcase its pale golden hue and strawberry aroma. This beer is built for straightforward, uncomplicated drinking and shines on its own, though it also works in beer-based mixed drinks. A Strawberry Lager Shandy (half beer, half fresh lemonade) amplifies the fruit notes on a hot day. A Lager Michelada with lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire creates an unexpected sweet-savory contrast. A Beer Mimosa pairing this lager with a splash of orange juice makes for a playful brunch alternative.

Best For

• Summer cookouts and crawfish boils where a light, fruity beer keeps the mood relaxed
• Introducing craft beer to friends who prefer lighter, approachable flavors
• Pairing with Gulf Coast seafood spreads and Cajun cuisine
• Bringing to a potluck or gathering as a crowd-pleasing, easy-drinking option

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Abita Strawberry Lager taste like? It delivers a prominent, natural strawberry sweetness up front over a clean wheat and pilsner malt base, finishing crisp and moderately dry rather than syrupy. The overall impression is fruity and refreshing without tasting artificial.

How does Abita Strawberry Lager compare to Redd's Strawberry Ale? Abita Strawberry Lager uses real Louisiana strawberry juice and a traditional lager base, resulting in a cleaner, more natural fruit flavor with a drier finish. Redd's Strawberry Ale leans sweeter and more candy-like, and many beer reviewers specifically recommend Abita as the more authentic-tasting alternative.

Is Abita Strawberry Lager good for beginners? At 4.2% ABV with a gentle sweetness and no aggressive hop bitterness, it is one of the most approachable craft beers available and an excellent starting point for anyone exploring fruit lagers.

Where is Abita Strawberry Lager made? It is brewed at the Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs, Louisiana, a small town on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain known for its naturally filtered artesian spring water.

What foods pair well with Abita Strawberry Lager? Grilled shrimp or crawfish benefit from the beer's fruit-forward contrast to shellfish brininess. Spinach and strawberry salad creates a complementary flavor echo. Soft goat cheese or brie match the lager's creamy wheat malt character. Cajun-spiced dishes like boudin or jambalaya find balance in the beer's sweetness. Light desserts such as vanilla pound cake or shortcake work as a natural pairing.

What sizes does Abita Strawberry Lager come in? The most widely available format is the six-pack of 12 oz bottles, though seasonal availability and regional distribution may include draft and other package sizes.

Is Abita Strawberry Lager worth the price? It positions as a mid-range craft lager, and the use of real strawberry juice rather than artificial flavoring gives it a quality edge over many mass-market fruit beers at a similar price point.

Why Abita Strawberry Lager?

The defining feature here is authenticity of ingredient. Abita uses roughly 120,000 pounds of Louisiana strawberries per year, harvested at peak ripeness and added as juice after filtration—a production step that most large-scale fruit beers skip in favor of extracts or syrups. The result is a fruit lager that tastes genuinely of strawberry rather than strawberry-flavored candy. Built on a clean German-style lager foundation with pilsner and wheat malts, it balances sweetness with enough malt backbone and dry finish to remain sessionable. For anyone seeking a fruit beer that respects both the fruit and the brewing tradition behind it, this Louisiana original remains a benchmark.