Sep 24, 2010

Abita S.O.S.

Abita S.O.S.

Abita Brewing out of Louisiana brewed up this German pilsner in an attempt to raise money for those affected in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. 100% of all the proceeds from the sale of this beer (and other retail items) will go to charity.

You have to admire what the brewery has done for their community with this and a post-Katrina chartible beer that raised over $500,000 for those affected by that hurricane. While I’m not a huge fan of some of the products the company produces, I did find this unfiltered beer — brewed Pilsner and Wheat malts — quite enjoyable.

Appearance

S.O.S. pours a light gold in color with a sizable white head that held its form well through its life in the glass.

Aroma

Smells like a smooth pilsner. Light cereal malts, a subtle sweetness and a light piny hop presence mingle together in this clean nose. The 7% ABV is no where to be found.

Taste

This beer is a pleasant surprise, especially considering the $4.75 price tag for a 22 oz. bottle. I wasn’t really expecting much from it going in, but the hoppy pilsner in my glass was a welcome surprise indeed. The flavors overall are subtle in character, yet very well balanced as the light malts mix with a decent hop presence eventually fading to a lingering bite in the finish. There’s only the lightest alcohol component, as well.

Overall

Like I said, this one caught me a little off guard. I hadn’t really known anyone who has tried it yet so the piny, citrus hops that really make up this beer (combined with the lighter wheat malt) made for an enjoyable drinking experience. And at the price point, I’m sure I’ll pick more up more S.O.S. at some point in the near future.

Rating: 3/5

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