Abita 20th Anniversary Pilsner

Brewed by Abita Brewing Company
Style: Pilsener
Covington, Louisiana USA

Sampled on 8/3/06: Pours a clear deep golden with an airy, well-lacing white head. Big earthy Saaz hoppy aroma has some hay and grainy maltiness. Body starts with a mild pale malty sweetness and some grainy drier bittering hop presence toward a drier fairly authentic finish with American lager yeast character.

Bottle. Unfortunately, nothing really stands out about this beer. Standard pils, yellow in color, fizzy. Standard dry hoppy flavor, clean crisp finish.

This could get killed by calling itself a Pilsner, but for creativity I gave it ok numbers. Poured a really ugly pale yellow color, looked a lot like a pale macro. The thin but very persistent head with excellent lacing saved its appearance. The aroma was floral, grapefruity, soapy. The flavor was citrus, floral, soap, some more floral/soapy fragrances, as if my wife walked in the room with a bunch of perfume on, even though she doesn’t wear perfume. The pils malts were light but the only thing keeping me from thinking this was really just an American Extra Pale Ale, as the hops were all American. Light thin watery body. Drinkable, but basically hop water, boring.

Clear gold with a slight white head. Citrus and grassy hop nose. Sweet honey and light biscuit flavors, more grass and a bit of grain. Crisp and clean. Nice.

Clear golden body with a small fizzy white head. Sweet grassy hops aroma. Sweet honey flavor with some light grassy hops and a touch of grain.

I don’t why, but I just did not like this beer. I usually love Abita products, but this just was not good. My beer was skunky even when it was drank well before the suggested date and I think it sucked.

Pours with a golden body topped by a thin to medium thick, white head with some lacing. It’s slightly sweet and malty with a slight grassy, hayey hop note that gives the beer a touch of bitterness. Light bodied, smooth and a touch dry.

Decent aroma. Golden color with light head. Very good flavor with somewhat malty intro and nice hoppy finish - just the right amount of bitterness. Well balanced. Some floral notes and sweetness are noticeable. The best pilsner Abita has done. This is right up there with Amber and Turbodog for me. They should make it a permanent offering.