Palmetto Espresso Porter

According to the 355mL cans of Palmetto Brewing Company’s Espresso Porter this dark ale is “handcrafted in the great state of South Carolina”—Charleston, SC to be precise. The beer claims to be “brewed with coffee” though there is no indication on the can just what kind of coffee it is or where it is sourced. The beer clocks in at a stable 6% alcohol and 25 IBUs. It’s a dark amber brew—fairly clear and with a thin layer of eggshell head.

The Espresso Porter has a sweet and bitter aroma combination that blends coffee notes with a sweet caramel lilt. The flavour is that of a sweetened iced coffee, with brown sugar notes. There is some bitterness here, but it manifests more as java than as hops.

Unlike my favourite coffee porters, this effort from Palmetto focuses less of the grainy bitterness of a potent French roast, and more on a sweetened cuppa joe. That’s not to say that it doesn’t work—just that I was expecting my coffee black and got cream and two sugars. Palmetto’s Espresso Porter has a beautifully enticing aroma and nice strength. The flavour is less remarkable and far too sweet, but it isn’t disagreeable by any stretch. Mostly, that’s not how I take my coffee. If you’re a cream abs sugar aficionado, this might be your ticket.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.