SOS (Save Our Shore) - Abita Brewing Co.

deebo

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at a seafood joint in New Orleans.

A-a hazy dark golden appearance (obviously unfiltered) with a skimming of white head with significant lacing

S-pure German pilsner malt with noble spicy hops

T-clean and crisp like a pils should be

M-given this is a higher ABV pils the mouthfeel is right-significant but not overwhelming. Carbonation is average

O-a solid easy drinking Big sassy pils. Plenty of malt a bit lingering havy in the finish but definitely a solid brew

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2012 01:56:57 | More by deebo

nickd717

California

3.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Draft.

Mostly clear golden in color with a decently formed white head.

The aroma has pale malts and a nice blend of grassy and citrusy hops, a little IPAish almost.

The flavor is pretty good too - one of the best I’ve had from Abita. Slightly sweet maltiness, fairly bready, with good hop bitterness and some orange notes.

Medium-bodied and fairly crisp despite the imperialness (word?).

A nice beer overall.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 22:14:19 | More by nickd717

JizackFH

New York

3.03/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had on-tap at Sunswick 35/35 in Astoria, NY on 5/27/11.
Review taken from notes.

A - This beer pours a pale golden straw color. It has a small white head on it. The head has decent retention, and it leaves behind some specs of lacing on the glass.

S - It smells of mostly of pilsner malts. There is also a decent hop presence and some spices as well.

T - It tastes of pilsner malts up front. There are some spices and lemony citrus flavors present. It is a tad grainy, and there is a sort of unpleasant bitterness in the finish.

M - This has a light to medium body and good carbonation. It goes down pretty easy and is decently refreshing. The finish has a harsh bitterness that I can't get over though. There is also some dryness to it.

O - This has decent drinkability. It goes down fairly easy, and it refreshing. Overall, I thought it was a decent pilsner. It was a little bit underwhelming, and I didn't like the bitter finish. It was worth a try though.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2011 13:22:05 | More by JizackFH

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Thank you to shan8454 for this one in trade.

Appearance: Golden with a slight haze. White head of about 2 fingers and it leaves a trace amount of lacing.

Smell: Floral notes with hops and some pine.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth light to medium bodied. Taste of hops and piney notes. Some other flavors I can't quite nail down.

Overall: Good brew for a good cause. I would have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 19:39:57 | More by Cavanaghty

Beermazter310

Nevada

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Brewed in louisiana. Bottle from bevmo for 3.49 and 75 cents goes to charity to save our shore. First time trying it. Nice big white head looking hazy n pale yellow. Flowery, very hoppy for a pilzner. Crisp clean n refreshing. Im impressed. Id buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 03:03:41 | More by Beermazter310

oN3xM

Illinois

3.59/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - A nice clear golden pils with low amounts of bubbles but a huge foamy, 2 finger head that depletes quickly.
S - Subtle hints of honey compliment the aromas of grassy wheat and malty grains.
T - The weizen taste of banana (I don't know what it is; I always taste hints of banana in hefeweizens) along with the honey and wheat drive gives this beer its light and relaxing profile. Very little alcohol taste.
M - Very light and thin. More carbonation than expected considering almost no bubbles in appearance.
O - A nice beer to sit back and relax with. Drink it cold or don't even bother. The difference is startling.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:27:27 | More by oN3xM

outdoor7or24

Georgia

3.94/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Picked up in NOLA on a recent trip, poured into pilsner glass, 22 oz bottle.
A: pours a light golden color, nice bright pillowy white foam head with fine bubbles, decent lacing, carbonation
S: pilsner malt, light earth notes, slight lemon, light hints of floral boquet
M: thin and light, creaminess kinda like low fat milk
T: pilsner malts up front, slight bitterness, cracker, wheat, grass, some sourness, finishing up with hops.
O: good brew, worth trying, would buy again

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:35:47 | More by outdoor7or24

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - a light haze to the lemony gold brew. About a finger of white bubbles on top. A little soapy, pretty sticky, leaves little flares of lace all around the glass.

Aroma - Soft, wheaty, lightly floral. A smooth aroma, if that makes any sense, perhaps a bit of honey.

Taste - Soft and wheaty as in the nose. The hops are equally mellow, with pleasant florals and a restrained citrusy edge. The swallow pushes the bitterness a little more, drying out on the finish.

Mouthfeel - smooth, clean and refreshing. Medium body, a muted carbonation level.

Drinkability - A great session beer, reminds me of a Blue Moon-Heineken hybrid.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 05:22:00 | More by brewdlyhooked13

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Snagged a bottle of this stuff for 3 bucks. Sweet deal.

A - Clear bright yellow with a respectable level of tiny floaties. Head was only a 1/4 inch but pulled back to a thick lace ring. Head has a decent level of stick.

S - Nice it has a decent level of spicy hops and some pilsner malt to boot.

T - Eh not bad. Skunkiness is low with mild bittering hops and some sweeter malts.

M - Medium and not as crisp as I expected.

Overall for an imperial pilsner it's not bad. Granted its not my favorite style but it was worth the 3 dollar price tag. Plus 75 cents goes to help nature and shit! Hells yeah!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:00:32 | More by DrDemento456

fank2788

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served in a mug
Nice golden yellow in the glass with a near pure white head that retreats to a layer of small bubbles. The smell is of sweet malt and bread with a bit of spicy hop character in the background, a touch of fruity ester comes through as well. The taste follows the smell with a base of clean and slightly sweet pale malt. The hops are restrained but definitely present with great noble hop spice and grassy flavors. The carbonation is somewhat low to moderate and the finish of this beer is almost very clean leaving just a bit of sticky hop flavor and malt. Overall this isnt a world class german pilsner but it is a pretty good american made example of the style and the cause benefited by sales of this beer make it well worth it.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 00:33:27 | More by fank2788

eod81

New York

2.95/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a 22oz bottle at Whole Foods for $5. Nice deal for an Abita special brew, or so I thought.

A- Golden yellow with bright white foam, filling up my glass with a two inch head which sank slowly and left a mild lace on the glass.

S- Sour apple smell, with some typical Pilsner notes. Very interesting vanilla comes through as the beer warms.

T- Sour fruit continues into the taste, a bit metallic and tangy. Some staleness, but the tasty vanilla saves the flavor profile in the end.

M- Alcohol in the mouth and nose, and rather syrupy for a pilsner. I might have pulled this back to a session-beer ABV, but it works if it's kept very cold.

O- I don't plan to buy this one again. I'm glad that $0.75 made it to a good cause, but unless a sour-vanilla pilsner sounds right up your alley or you're a big fan of ABITA already, I'd say skip this for Purple Haze or their standard Amber.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 22:29:47 | More by eod81

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly hazy straw yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that died down but consistently left a thin head covering the surface and lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of wheat along with some hints of grassy hops in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of wheat along with some hints of lemon and a very slight amount of bitterness. There are some hints of peppery spices in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I wouldn’t classify this beer as a true pilsener—it is more like a hefeweizen, but either way it hides its alcohol very well.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 15:27:28 | More by metter98

acevenom

Louisiana

4.88/5  rDev +31.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours hazy golden with an abundant white head. The head dissipates, leaving lacing on the side of the glass. There are a lot of tiny bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. The smell is of sweet malt and hops. It's such a bright earthy smell. The taste is sweet from the malts and is balanced by the hop bitterness. There's some citrus flavor from the hops, which helps cut with the bitterness and sweetness to produce an excellently balanced beer. The alcohol does not come through in the taste, but you will notice the effect as you continue to drink the beer. The flavors only get better as the beer warms. The beer is medium bodied with a creamy, yet crisp mouthfeel. The crispness comes from the abundant carbonation. This is very easy to gulp. Overall, this is an excellent and interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 00:11:18 | More by acevenom

mikemoore8711

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +32.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Golden dark color, nice blond head.
Aroma: Light clean spicy aroma
Flavor: Smooth clean beer sweet malty flavor, slightly hoppy, finishing with a light peppercorn and spices
Mouth: Full bodied with a fuzzy carbonation
Overall: I like grade on A-F scale. This is beer earns an A. Quite a very good tasting beer. Its clean taste is a testament to the local natural spring water used to brew this beer. Abita Brewing Co. has dedicated 75 cents from every bottle sold toward the rescue and restoration of the environment. This is differently a must try beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 01:35:34 | More by mikemoore8711

rand

California

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From 650 mL bomber to Schneider & Sohn pilsner glass

A: SOS has a crisp snap and festive, effervescent appearance as it fills the glass. Light yellow straw in color, and clear, the brew forms a fluffy, pillow-y, 2-inch head that slowly recedes.

S: It smells of light earthy grains, with freshly baked bread in the distance. A touch of lemon zest in tow. The beer has a subtle bouquet - some deep inhales are necessary.

T: Cracker-like, earthy malts meet a touch of tea-tinged hops. Notes of lemon pepper and honey add some depth. The relatively high ABV is completely hidden, giving this smooth pilsner high drinkability. The balance of flavors works well as the brew leaves little residue between sips.

M: Light-to-medium bodied, slightly viscous for the style. Could use a touch more carbonation.

Although not remarkable, SOS is a fairly smooth and drinkable pils. Refreshing too, this is a nice companion to my soup and salad lunch.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 05:59:59 | More by rand

mjord23

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass.

A: Pours a nice golden straw color. Not much to speak of in terms of head, but what is there sticks around. No noticeable lacing.

S: Very nice smell, really brings the traditional pilsner notes out. Notes of yeast, nice and crisp.

T: Strong taste upfront, but dissipates too quickly for my liking. Light citrus. Good, traditional pilsner. Nothing stands out, but nothing that sticks out as a negative either.

M: Smooth. Very drinkable, I could see myself enjoying this on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, at 7%, it's just not session-able (if that's even a word).

O: A good, but average pilsner. I've had some that I greatly prefer, but I wouldn't turn this down if offered it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 23:51:58 | More by mjord23

smakawhat

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a pilsner style glass.

A real nice foamy and slightly creamy off white cap, lots of various sized bubbles off this on the pour is made. Lots of staying power here. Body is slightly cloudy, a mix of lemon and deep brass gold, some pin head bubbles sticking to the glass. Looks solid and appetizing. Great lacing too.

Faint crisp hop, sense of faint lemon, and bread dough on the nose. Dense malt just wants to come out and play but not quite getting there. Smells alright.

Palate hits refreshingly and lightly but with a good sense of rolling malt. Citrus character is lost in a mash of dense malt body, and slightly boozy character. Finish makes a nice sweet bready taste and feel. Hop angle comes out nicely with some sweet malts, but is not that noticeable.

Overall there is some noticeable alcohol heat but nothing that warrants a gag or disappointing drinking experience. This feels very easy drinking, and offers a good pilsner enjoyment. I am usually not that impressed by this brewery but I could easily have this again and probably will.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:10:40 | More by smakawhat

Dodt

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

was surprised to find this little gem in the discount section at the bottle shop , decide to take here home with me. color of this beer reminds me a bit of apple juice
smell reminds me of fresh sliced apples . a nice crisp tasting beer makes me wish i would of picked up a second bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 03:45:51 | More by Dodt

AgentZero

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Golden colored beer, pretty clear, with a bit of a white head. Decent bit of stick on the sides.

S - A bit of breadiness and abit of pale pilsner malt and sweetness. Slight bit of hops and more grain.

T - Taste is the same as the nose. It's definitely a straight forward pilsner, light and easy to drink and pretty refreshing. Nothing ground-breaking here, but an enjoyable portrayal of the style.

M - Light, pretty crisp, moderate carbonation.

O - Average beer, but that doesn't make it hard to drink or unenjoyable. Nothing I'd buy, but you could do worse.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 19:59:52 | More by AgentZero

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.35/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a one finger pure white head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Crystal clear pale amber/yellow color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Light hop nose and flavor is a hoppy caramel. Light hoppy/bitter finish. $2.04 for a 22oz bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, Vt.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 23:06:36 | More by jdhilt

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber into a pint glass.

A: Pours a crystal clear light gold body with a full inch of sticky white head. Nice retention and moderate lace. Attractive.

S: Quite clean, and pretty interesting as well: classic Pilsner aromas of bread and herbal hops are definitely prominent, but there's an unmistakable hint of citrus character as well as some tangy wheat spice. It's nothing really memorable, but it is distinctive and enjoyable.

T: Follows the nose precisely: classic bready malts up front, with the depth of wheat flavor giving it some distinctiveness midway through and the hops (seemingly both Noble and American) providing a clean and solidly bitter finish complete with floral, herbal, and citrus notes. Tasty.

M: Medium bodied and a trifle too frothy, but pleasantly lively all the same.

O: I wasn't sure what to expect out of a wheat Pilsner, but this one really hit the spot: it was refreshing without being boring, distinctive without being overbearing, and drinkable without being bland. Solid beer.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 02:19:59 | More by woosterbill

armock

New York

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from some dive bar in Houston, TX

A - Poured a straw color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of sweet malt with some grassy hops

T - Follows the nose with sweet malt upfront and grassy hops in the finish

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

O - I wasn't expecting much from this one but its a pretty decent beer that tastes good worth getting sometime if you see it around

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 17:02:49 | More by armock

BeersCriteria

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours a light yellow body with a small white head.

S- Simple clean grainy/grassy smell with a little malts.

T- Has some sweet citrus fruit like taste with a good pine bitter ending. It is a good buy though, it's $4 and the proceeds go to help clean up the shores so you have to give them props for that.

Food Pairing- Fish or shrimp, maybe a shrimp poboy to be more exact.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 02:33:40 | More by BeersCriteria

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.33/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Transferred over from the Abita session in my tasting notebook.

Looks similar in color to Andygator (golden honey) but this one has a two finger fluffy foamy head that stuck around for more than a minute and left behind some pretty nice lacing, body is light and carbonation is at exactly the right sort of effervescent level for a pilsener. Smells mostly lemony but also medium pale malt scent is there, flavor is not nearly as heavy on the hop spicing as I had anticipated. (I originally thought it would be a Czech-style until I did my homework) but it works as a German Pilsener that depends almost entirely on floral and earth toned hopping. I'm not picking up on any of the subtle fruit tones mentioned by other BAs, however. So I'm left with a really pretty beer that has a really great mouthfeel and very simplistic and clean flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 20:24:29 | More by WastingFreetime

jtierney89

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Found this at a dave and busters, only craft bottle they had, probably sitting on the shelf for the past year (there was unadvertised special on the bottle for 4.95) pours a very nice golden color with about an inch and a half of well retaining head that clings to the glass well after every sip. Super neat appearance. Smells of floral, citric and piney hops. Very pungent and nice. Taste is clean and light in body, grainy sweetness up front and nice hop bitterness on the back end.

Nothing special in particular about this beer but a very clean and decent flavored pilsner (which is a tough style to pull off correctly)

Decent for a charity beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 20:03:02 | More by jtierney89