This evening, I cracked open a can of Palmetto Trail Pale Ale, from RJ Rockers Brewing in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I couldn’t resist picking up this beer from Carolina Beer Temple last week. The can actually had a trail with various markers and towns related to my home state of South Carolina. I guess you could say it ‘hits close to home’, but I digress.
The beer poured a light, pale golden color with a moderate haze, making it translucent. The beer had a rather frothy head post-vigorous pour. I had to pour it quickly as the beer began to foam out of the can as soon as it was popped.
On the nose, I detected a slight sweetness and a strong hoppy aroma. This hop-forward aroma nearly reminded me of an IPA. I would say that the hoppy aromas were more floral or piney.
The taste was well balanced with a light to medium mouthfeel. I immediately tasted that malty sweetness that had surfaced on the nose. This lingered throughout the taste before transforming into a bready or pie crust type flavor—again, attributed to the malts. Finally, the taste finished off with a pleasant yet forward hoppy flavor. I would say this was more piney or resiny. Fitting for this being a “Trail” pale ale.
The beer was rather light and very easy to drink, and I think it would be perfect on a spring or summer day spent on a hike. RJ Rockers bills the Palmetto Trail Pale Ale as the perfect trail beer, so I think they are right on with this. The slight sweetness, coupled with the piney happiness, and the light easy-drinkability definitely fits the description. Cheers to a great beer, RJ Rockers, and a day in the woods! #BeerReview #PaleAle
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