Jack’s Abby (2019)

I didn't dislike it exactly but it didn't really work for me. It feels a bit like a session IPA with just a touch of pilsner malt. It does pack a lot of Citra flavor though if that's your bag.

 

I assume any pilsner with new age hops isn't going to scratch a classic pilsner itch.

 

Yeah, I immediately thought session IPA when I had it. I tend not to like session IPAs and I didn't like this. Alas.

 

Had one last night and didn’t love it either.....too bad as I had high hopes for it.

 

I just opened one and it's drinking quite nicely. The more I drink it, the more I like it. I will be buying another six of this for sure. Huge citra nose and flavor. Malt flavor emerges a bit as it warms. I would say the description on the can is pretty good: "Tropical Aroma, Fruity Flavor, Juicy Finish." Basically, the citra dominates.

As infectedlobster indicated above, if you are in the mood for a European pilsner or lager, this ain't it.

Drinking this beer reminds me of the original line-up of hoppy lagers that JA first produced. I loved going to the original, bare-bones taproom when they first opened for really fresh stuff. I'd leave with growlers of fresh Hoponius Union filled by Abby herself. They had a really good black IPA back then too, even though that style has never been my favorite. Straight from the source, that stuff was great. This beer, Citra Brau, reminds of the original JA family of beers, obviously in a good way.

 

Interested in your opinion on this one when you get around to it. I seem to be the only one enjoying it out of the people who have posted in this thread so far...

 

I had a can the other night and I liked it. I went into it assuming it would be a light citra-hopped lager, and that's what it is. Refreshing and easy drinking.

 

My less than enthusiastic response to the beer may be colored by its having replaced Saxony Lager, which I really, really liked, in the seasonal rotation. I assume I'll give it another try once I've dried my tears and reassembled my shattered life.

 

Just cracked open a Citra Brau and I love it. Crisp and juicy. Didn’t expect a Pilsner, so maybe that helped.

 

I bought a sixer last night & am enjoying it. Easy-drinking, light & fruity as I expected it to be. My favorite new beer from JA since Post Shift.

 

Yeah I really liked it too. But it does taste more like a session NEIPA.

 

That's a shame, it was a great malty beer. And then replaced by hops...

 

Upon your request: I like it a lot. It gave a good clean expression of citra upfront. I'd like to compare it to OC citra mantra but as you drink it does lose the pilsner characteristics it does have at the start . Citra mantra balances those two perfectly imo.

It was what I expected. In the realm of CI mo pils. It's very good and I will rebuy.

Don't go in expecting a classic pilsner and don't go in expecting an IPA and it will hit and exceed your expectations .

 

Kind of, but it's not a typical 2019 hoppy beer at all. I wouldn't call it a pilsner either, but it's closer to a pils than it is to a session IPA. It kind of reminds me of Calyptra, with a little more House Lager in the base and a little more refined and toned down hop profile. Maybe close to some of the better versions of Hopstitution if anyone else remembers those. So I don't know, it's a little bit of a new friend leaving town but an old one moving back in.

Citra Brau as their main spring seasonal, with Saxony as an occasional small-batch release in the Keller series does seem like a more sensible lineup for them. Hopefully the second half of that comes true.

 

Hopefully.

Because you can count on one hand (do you even need your entire hand?) how many Vienna's are on the shelves around here. You'd need an army of hands to count how many hoppy *insert any style* are on the shelves.

 

I’m not entirely sure if I agree with them moving to the Kellerbier series, considering that I have never seen any of those in stores in either NH or VT. Great maybe if you’re in eastern Mass., but otherwise a shame if you aren’t.

 

For what it's worth, Saxony started in the Keller series (early iterations) as Vienna Keller. I don't know if there were any issues with Saxony sales last winter, but it stinks to hear that JA pulled this as a seasonal. Definitely one of my favorites.

 

I'm sure that I'm forgetting some but I actually can't think of a ton of hoppy beers on the market right now that directly compare to Citra Brau.

 

Just to be clear, the idea that it would come back as part of the Keller series is entirely speculative. All we actually know right now is that it's discontinued.