20th Anniversary Pilsner
Abita Brewing Co.

20th Anniversary Pilsner20th Anniversary Pilsner
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From:
Abita Brewing Co.
 
Louisiana, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
5%
Score:
89
Avg:
4 | pDev: 11%
Reviews:
86
Ratings:
92
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 14, 2016
Added:
Jun 16, 2006
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerSox:
Photo of BeerSox
Reviewed by BeerSox from Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle into pilsner glass.

Slightly cloudy gold hue with a thick creamy white head that lasts for a while, then settles to a thick cap. Plenty of stringy and spotty lacing.

Rich piney, spicy, and citrusy hops greet the senses, with a grainy malt background.

Strong bitter hops dominate the palate for a while before giving way to a biscuity malt presence. The finish is loaded with lingering bitter hops. Medium bodied with a generous amount of carbonation lends a little bite to the tongue. Dry finish from the hops.

I was impressed with this one. Good strong hops but not overpowering. I'm glad I got a chance to try this one.
Nov 04, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by harpus from Alabama

Oct 14, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by ArbyLagers from Louisiana

Aug 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by rorjets from Connecticut

Dec 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Jun 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.04 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 16, 2012
Photo of connecticutpoet
Reviewed by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

3.97/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One finger head atop a clear yellow body on the pour. Appropriate for the style.

Aroma was medium bodied malts, very light on the hops. Slightly grassy, and a little bit grainy. Overall pretty good, as most lagers I seem to encounter are skunky.

Taste was initially bitter and slightly lemony. A little bit of sweet grain flavor was apparent. Not bad.

Mouthfeel is pretty good. Not unforgettable, but good.

Drinkability is good for the style. I am not a big fan of lagers, but comparing it to others of the style I have had, this was better than average.
Mar 27, 2009
Photo of tmoneyba
Reviewed by tmoneyba from Ohio

3.46/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle on 07/13/2006.

Poured clear golden color with a large frothy head that lasted and poroduced very good lacing. Moderate floral sour citrus hoppy aroma. Medium body with soft carbonation. Medium smooth citrus bitter flavor with a medium bitter finish of average duration.

Solid refreshing beer.
Nov 13, 2008
Photo of nick76
Reviewed by nick76 from Florida

2.68/5  rDev -33%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
The aroma has corn malt, and floral hops. The appearance is hazy gold with a small head. The flavor is like the aroma. The palate is average. Overall it's so so at best and gives the feeling that this is sub par beer. I am not sad that it has been retired.
Nov 10, 2008
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

3.22/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle.

Poured a lighter to medium (with a slight haze) golden color with an averaged sized white head. Aromas of grass, grains, floral and light citrus. Tastes follow although on the weaker and somewhat watery side with somewhat of a honey sweetness to it. Thin body.

Notes from and tasted on 3/19/07.
Nov 04, 2008
Photo of williamherbert
Reviewed by williamherbert from New York

4.27/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A hazy bright golden color. Half a finger of foamy head. A classic pilsner look.

The smell is a pleasant flowery aroma, with bitter Euro/German hops. Doesn't have the too-bitter chlorine smell that afflicts too many pilsners. Really crisp.

The taste has a nicely bitter but diverse hop flavor. The bitter is there, but so is a nice flowery, estery hop. Like a very hoppy pale ale. The malt does have the characteristics of a pale, but steps aside wisely to play straight man to the hop. This is a really good flavor; slight grapefruity finish.

The feel is fizzy and bubbly like champagne. Very nice. Supports the effervescent flavor. It's a superior, flavorful pislner. Lots of diverse tastes. Wonderful finish. To me this is what a pilsner should always aspire to.

http://jbojangles.blogspot.com/2008/05/twelve-pack-review-abita-party-pack.html
May 19, 2008
Photo of deepsouth
Reviewed by deepsouth from Mississippi

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
this beer poured a clear golden color with a tan ring. the smell is bready, yeasty and i also smell floral hops. the taste is very floral with a faint malt sweetness. nice balance and a bit of spiciness as well. the mouthfeel is consistant for a pilsner. this is one of the better offerings i have had from abita. a pretty decent pilsner, which is usually not a style i drink.
Apr 16, 2008
Photo of BBM
Reviewed by BBM from New York

4.2/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Found this beer as a part of a mix-six pack shelf, I guess they had them leftover from last year. It poured a slightly cloudy goldenrod in a pils glass with a foamy white head and web-like lacing around the glass. Aroma was musty, earthy, and slightly sweet.

I was surprised by the amount of fruity hop flavor this beer displayed. There is a distinct sweet citrus taste, as well as some grass and tea-like notes. The malt profile here is reserved, but everything is in proper balance. Mouthfeel is medium-thin and well carbonated. I was extremely impressed by this pils, I wish Abita would have made it a regular, because I would certainly buy a six-pack of this.
Oct 30, 2007
Photo of techdiver
Reviewed by techdiver from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours a hazy gold with modest one finger head that dissipates quickly.

Nice hop aroma, well balanced, inviting.

Taste is very well balanced, possibly the best Czech Pilsener I've tried. Wish more of this were available. Took a while just to obtain this one sample.

Light, clean mouthfeel; not heavily carbonated.

Great drinkability, could easily consume mass quantities if I could find it.
Sep 22, 2007
Photo of tempest
Reviewed by tempest from New York

3.85/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Whoa, there's some crazy funk in the aroma after the pour, but it mellowed out to a nice grassy and herbal smell. At first I wasn't crazy about this beer, but given a little warmth the hops opened up nicely. The malt never came out, and that's the only thing holding this fine pilsner back. I'd say it stack close to the best imported pilsners on a good day.
Sep 17, 2007
Photo of Osiris9588
Reviewed by Osiris9588 from Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle dated 11/26. Pours a pale gold, a bit cloudy toward the top of a pils glass, clear toward the bottom--a torrent of bubbles raging up through the center. Thin but creamy white head--decent retention and some spots of lacing.

The aroma is floral and citric, with a slight grain note. The flavor is light, with a light grain sweetness, some lemony citrus and soapiness, and strong hop presence on the finish, though the malt also adds a creaminess on the tongue at the finale.

The mouth is light-bodied, the carbonation is sufficient. Solid complexity for the style, and it is very well balanced. Extremely drinkable, and one of the best in the Abita stable.
Aug 02, 2007
Photo of biggmike
Reviewed by biggmike from Mississippi

4.27/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Probably the best Abita beer that I've had so far, I wish they would make this a part of their regular lineup. Poured golden with nice white head and nice lacing on glass. Hops taste and aroma is evident right away. Extremely high on the drinkability scale. A great beer.
Jul 19, 2007
Photo of Beerbuddha
Reviewed by Beerbuddha from Florida

3.15/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance - Gold color with minimal head.

Aroma - some light citrus and stong hops.

Taste - very robust hop flavor. Has a dry aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - crisp and light.

Drinkability - This is a good spring beer. I would recommend this to friends. Not one of Abitas best beers though.
Jul 15, 2007
Photo of JiminKY
Reviewed by JiminKY from Kentucky

4.97/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Please forgive the brevity and lack of specific detail in this review. This is the first time I am doing a review from memory, rather than from notes or with the beer in hand. I just had to give props to what is THE BEST PILSENER I HAVE EVER TASTED. Czechvar, SN Summerfest, Pilsener Urquell, and other Czech Pilseners I've tasted are not even in the same league, as far as I'm concerned.

I am not a particular fan of Abita brews. I find the TurboDog, Purple Haze and Fleur-De-Lis decent, but they are not brews I would specifically seek out or choose over other examples of their respective styles. That is not the case with this beer. I've cleared out one store and will hit other outlets to do the same, if possible.

Abita 20th Anniversary Pilsener is one of the few lagers that I can say I would definitely choose over an ale. I cannot recommend this brew highly enough, and wish it would become a regular offering from the brewery.
Jun 07, 2007
20th Anniversary Pilsner from Abita Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 92 ratings