SOS (Save Our Shore) - Abita Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pale lager yes, imperial pilsner no. Malty, Saaz hops. A little funky and malty aroma. Yellowish body. Rather a story of sugary malt predominates, with drying, slight bitterness in the finish. A drop of lemon. Above average carbonation. Passable beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 15:02:41 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Sun-splashed Golden Delicious apple yellow with steady streams of bubbles leading up to an ivory colored crown that reached three fingers on the pour. The lid looks like whipped marshmallow and is beginning to leave sea foam lace on the glass.

The nose is fresh, clean and bright. Given color and aroma, it's easy to tell that nothing darker than pale malt (wheat, pilsner) is present. Sterling and German Perle hops were fine choices, but they could be more pungent.

Even though S(ave) O(ur) S(hore) tastes hoppier than it smells, it still doesn't have a very aggressive alpha acid attack. That seems to have been determined at the design stage since the IBUs at release were just 35. This is still good, balanced, drinkable beer.

The malts are white bready and modestly sweet, which is a perfect foil for the gentle nip of the herbal-earthy-grassy hops. A little lemon citrusiness might be present as well. This stuff is tasty solo and should be more than fine alongside all sorts of foods.

With respect to both flavor and mouthfeel, this lager seems more like 5.0% than 7.0%. It's a little light on the tongue (no problem there) and the carbonation is within the wide range of acceptable. Ridiculous amounts of sticky lace almost earn it the next highest appearance score.

S.O.S. is much better beer than Abita's other high-ABV offerings (Andygator and Abbey Ale). In fact, it's right up there with their best. Even though the shoreline will eventually be returned to normal, here's hoping ABC has the good sense to continue to brew this refreshing German-style pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 12:59:56 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

abita has always been a mixed bag for me, mostly not really digging their offerings but this one changed me a bit as i really found it to be quite enjoyable. served cold with pizza and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 10/01/2010.

the pour was a nice mild amber color with two fingers worth of white head that capped the top of it quite nicely. settling down it left a nice bit of lacing around the edges of the glass.

aroma is nice hints of citrus hops and lots of bready malts that really start to kick in as it warms up. nice hit of light lemon and citrus in the front of the palate that quickly blends with a really nice and full bodied malt profile. light caramel, bready and earthy notes with a light touch of cereal in the finish. really quite nice.

overall a very solid beer. not the biggest fan of big pilsners but the hops help this one to work. would not mind having this one again at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 00:44:30 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of rmalinowski4. Served in a tulip.

Pours a very clear golden color with a thin white head. Not much retention but some good spotty lacing and a nice collar on the way down. The nose carries quite a bit of bready malt with an ever-so-slight presence of floral hops. The flavor is mostly bread with a touch of sweetness and grain. Nothing too complex and no real hops. The body is not terribly impressive. Fairly thick and chewy with lower levels of carbonation. Some alcohol and no real hop presence. Not a big fan of this.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 23:34:26 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a goodly hazed, straw-colored body with a tall, billowing, white head. Slight smattering of lace collects on the glass like so much tar on the Gulf beaches.

Smell: Clear-cut scents of pilsner and wheat malt housed with notes smelling of sun-drenched grasses, saltines, a pinch of white pepper, husky grains, and orchard fruits.

Taste: A crisp, grainy taste of pils malts paired with a noted twinge of tangy-tasting wheat malt. Modest sugary-toned sweetness. Fruity ester accents suggesting Bosc pears and Golden Delicious apples. Eventually a touch of simple honey emerges. Lightly floral, spicy hops with ample bitterness. A bit more of that bitterness and some peppery alcohol hints grace the dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: Sure, it's a little high on the alcohol, but, thankfully, it doesn't stray too terribly far towards unrefreshing, cloying territories. Overall, a good beer for a good cause. You know, it's nice to occasionally use my evident alcoholism for the forces of GOOD.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 19:48:07 | More by ChainGangGuy

UCLABrewN84

California

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

Pours a slightly hazy light yellow with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a thin cap. Nice foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of wheat/grains, grassy notes, and some citrus aromas. Taste is of bread grains and some herbal/citrus zest hops. Mild hop bitterness sticks to the palate after each sip. A good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good pilsener that I am glad I picked up. It's nice to see a brewery involved in the community with this type of cause.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 01:11:58 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As if any opportunity to support the good cause is enough, doing so with a good beer in hand is a reward for all. Abita continues to be a civic leader in the Gulf communities.

this pilsner begins with a hazy straw color, light carbonation, and subsequently a light but dense creame of a head- taking on a cask ale-ish appearance. Light on retainage and lacing, the beer has a rather still appearance.

Abundant floral notes fill the nose, backed by soft esters of apples and pears, topped with a honeyish, pilsner malt sweetness.

Clean pilsner flavor of crackers, raw grain, and soft confectioners sugar give a subtle and clean sweetness and sturdiness to flavor. Hop bitterness is assertive, maybe even aggressive but cleanly so with strong herb, spice, and earthy grasses. Light fruity esters (again, apples and pears) weave into alcohol bite/bitterness.

Rich malt flavor in the initial sip leads quickly to a fleeting malty weight and into a dry and bitter clean finish. Alcohol warmth is low even for a 7% abv beer that is higher than what is normally associated with the style.

It's obvious that Abita isn't only about making a half-hearted attempt just for the support of a good cause; rather the beer has to be sturdy and of the quality that is expected for proper support of the Gulf Shore clean up efforts. It's a delicious beer worthy of often consumption with or without the proceeds to charity.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2010 02:06:47 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a 1/2 liter stein a clear light to medium golden with a thick fluffy white head that settled very very slowly leaving globs of broken lace behind.A great mix of yeasty fruitiness,and spicy hop in the nose,a tinge of iron from the malt comes in to play as well,just a great mix.Lightly toasted wheat malt flavors along with some sharpness from the healthy dose of hops,light caramel sweetness as well.Airy mouthfeel makes it glide down easy,wow this is a great brew!Easily the best thing I have had from Abita,a brewery I dont go to often.A great cause and a great beer!...In my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 20:25:10 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Budweiser pokal.

I'm not sure I've had a semi-charitable beer before, so I'm not sure what to expect here. It pours a clear pale straw topped by a thick wad of white froth, which almost etches the glass as it dies away. The nose comprises clean florals, very light citrus, a hint of coriander, and a soft grainy quality. The taste is just as clean and simple, though a bit more wheat finds its way on the 'buds. The body is quite light, with a light carbonation and a crisp finish. Overall, a very nice, if somewhat ordinary, pils, but very easy-going and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 00:47:59 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

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

I'm saving the gulf. What are you doing?

Beer poured from a bottle into a tulip glass. Beer is yellow and slightly hazy. Forms a thick head of white small bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Aroma is pilsner malt and some fruit, interesting.

Beer is medium bodied and light in character. Bright in the mouth and slightly bitter at the end. It was a good lager overall and I would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 00:54:29 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to my brother for sending me a couple of bottles of this beer.

The beer pours a clear gold color with a white head. The aroma is basic pilsener with some pilsener malt and lemon notes. The flavor is a mix of malt and grassy hops with quite a bit of sweetness. This is maybe a little sweeter than your traditional pilsener, but other than that it is pretty good. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Easily the best beer I have tried from Abita.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 04:06:31 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a clear, golden-yellow color with a bubbly, three-finger, khaki colored head of foam. It was a long-lasting head that left traces of soapy lace.

S - It smelled strongly of cut grass. There were nice aromas of grains and some floral notes.

T - Good flavor of grains and caramel. There is is nice spicy hop bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied pilsener with a dry finish.

D - This is a very good Pils and it doesn't hurt that it goes to a good cause.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 22:20:25 | More by zeff80

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

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a four finger thick, light tan colored head that leaves some nice lacing as it slowly subsides. The beer is a copper / gold color that shows a hazed, straw-gold hue when held up to the light. The nose smells of sweet grain and faint lemon-like hops. A deep draught of the aroma yields some faint graininess and some hay-like notes, but this is surprisingly muted for a beer of this strength. The most dominant notes in the nose are a light herbal / spicy character that comes from a mix of the hops and grain.

Sweet up front, with a corresponding palate fullness (though not more than I would expect from a beer of this strength), quickly though a nice bitterness coats the tongue to balance the up front sweetness. The bitterness lingers into a long finish, but a sweet graininess is never far behind. The mix of hops and malt remind me of herbal-honey flavors. The malt character is almost the most dominant note here; it also contributes flavors of dried grassy grain, and some pale-whole-wheat crackers. There is a touch of a tin-like flavor to the finish somehow and this seems to be wrapped up in the herbal hop character that flavors this beer.

This is not nearly as aggressively hoppy as it could be; with the Pilsner moniker on the label I expected a more hop leaning beer. This beer has an ample malt backbone, and the subtler hop character makes this more of a hoppy Heller-bock to me. It is actually a bit simplistic in both the hop and grain department in the end though. Still this is not bad and worth a try and the cause is certainly a good thing.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 01:56:01 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a bright gold color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains lager yeast, light malts and some hops.

T: The taste starts out with bready flavors of lager yeast and a thin but hearty malt character. There's a faint bit of sweetness and a decent hops presence providing a good balance. The after-taste is slightly bready and has a good Pils type of bite to it.

M: Smooth and very crisp, light-to-medium body, medium-to-high carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a nice strong than average Pilsener that is worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 18:16:21 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

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

I was happy to find this in Missouri, any time I can drink beer for a cause, I'm down with that!

Pours an effervescent gold/bronze with 4 fingers of cream colored head. Superior head retention & lacing

S: Bready with wet grain, grassy hops as well

T: Grassyness, crackery & lemony notes up front. Dryness, grassyness, grapefruit & slight metallic hop notes as this warms along slight grainyness. Finishes grassy, with slight honey & apricot notes, along with lemons & grapefruit, almost pulled a 4.0

MF: Medium bodied with soft carbonation. I would've liked a bit more maltyness to balance out the hops

Drinks easy, the ABV is well hidden. A bit more complexity would've helped the cause

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 03:44:15 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a golden yellow color with 1/2" head that slowly falls. Some lace paints the glass.

Smell: grass and lemon zest are most notable.

Taste: lightly grainy malt base with grass, soft biscuit tones, and lemon zest create a decent beer.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp to start, lightly crisp at the finish. Aftertaste is relatively clean.

Drinkability: nice refreshing beer that is very easy to drink. Definitely worth giving this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 18:25:54 | More by Gavage

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Slightly hazed golden hue with a fully formed thick billowing white head. Fine speckled lacing left behind as the head dwindles down. Lemongrass, herbal qualities, very nice light biscuit malt presence...solid pils from Louisiana. Upfront citric, grassy, biscuit malts and a dry yeast finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied even carbonation going on. Drinkability all day effortless beer drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 00:53:50 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Impressive dense head that settles slowly leaving a chunky lace. Hazy light gold color.

Green grass aroma. Slightly sour with a light bittering hop in the background.

Not as soft as most pilsners--the hop is harsher and more bitter with strong grapefruit notes. Round mouthfeel as if this were an ale. The carbonation is lighter. The malt flavors are secondary. The aftertaste has a mild sourness, but it's predominately bitter.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2010 01:21:37 | More by smcolw

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

Billolick

New York

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

Gotta love a bomber of tasty quality beer for $3.99. (@DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY) Pours hazed medium golden amber, under a tiny bubble off white head, that leaves respectable fine lacing. Not bad looking stuff. Fruity and grassy nose. Enjoyable enough pilsner, but it lacks the snap and crispness of the higher rated brews of the style. More grassyness, more pleasant lager sensibilities. Smooth in the mouth from start to moderately long finish. Decent beer for a good cause. Just how do they make any $ putting out a $3.99 (!) bomber and why cant other brewers do the same with at least some of their brews? $3.99 ?!?

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 01:46:28 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a pilsener glass.

a - Pours a clear golden color with two fingers of fluffy white head and light carbonation evident. Lots of retention in the head and a little bit of lacing.

s - Smells of wheat, spices, orange, and lemon.

t - Tastes of wheat, bready malts, spices, floral hops, and light citrus.

m - Light body and low to moderate carbonation. Crisp.

d - A very easy to drink, decent pilsener. Some nice wheat and citrus. Would try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 00:38:23 | More by mdfb79

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear gold, with 2 frothy fingers of eggshell-white head. This retains with a rich looking finger that rings the sides of the glass with sticky lacing. The aroma is grassy and spicy with a touch of damp earth. This is fairly forward with some bright citrus character as well (especially lemon) which mixes with the wheat and bready malts to give off quite the ripe twang of flavors in the nose.

The taste is moderately bitter and spicy in the mouth, with a flavorful bite of earthy citrus. Zesty fruit and the sweetness of the malts give this a bready tanginess that permeates the profile. The finish is dry with lingering notes of citrus peel. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy on the edges but then gets much more prickly as it hits the tongue and give this an overall smooth crispness across the palate.

This one just worked for me. The citric flavors of the hops and the bready twang of the wheat and Pils malts combined with that crisp body to make this a flavorful and easy drinking affair. I think that the lemon and wheat in particular gave this a breezy summer feel that I enjoyed. I could see myself sipping on one of these on the beach. This is a worthy beer for a good cause. Pick one up if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 18:12:09 | More by Kegatron

Zorro

California

3.28/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hazy yellow colored beer with a tall and thick white colored head.

Smells soapy and herbal. Cracker malt aroma and some grapefruit in the scent. I can smell noble hop in this but it isn't the only hop in here.

Starts out Sweet with a bitter finish. NW style hop with a distinct grapefruit flavor. Distinct wheat malt flavor. Somewhere between American Wheat Beer and a Pilsener, this doesn't neatly fit in a standard category.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Interesting beer and a charity beer for the Louisiana oil spill. No need to stock up on this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2010 02:38:37 | More by Zorro

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A lemon-brass pour is topped off by a 2 finger, frothy, eggshell white head that left thin spongey stratified rings upon its slow lapse. Clarity was fairly good with the easy recognition of text on the far side of the glass while carbonation was limited to one or two bubbles rising in near isolation at a slow, leisure pace. The lacing was the best aspect of the visual appeal I thought, with a high rate of coverage and glass coating sheet.

S: Soft malted wheat and semi-dry lemons and oranges come first. You will have to let this warm a bit to get a good feel for the hops but they do eventually show. Warm fresh alfalfa sprouts come to mind, very earthy and green in smell.

T: A bit thin flavor wise on the open, won't impress you much with its substance. Soft wheat and thin show of oranges. Some fresh green alfalfa sprouts surface for hopping. Midway the pilsner malts sweetness surfaces while it transcends to a bit of dry flour and wheat with some graininess. Some mildewy citrus rounds things out a bit with a musky tartness on the fade.

M: Light bodied, creamy smoothness completely void of effervesce.

D: Fairly easy to consume, though you wont necessarily be wowed over in the process. Worth a purchase if not just for the cause (.75 donated to clean up in the gulf).

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 22:51:42 | More by beerthulhu