So this was fun! There I was in Asheville, North Carolina, and it was time for a beer. There aren’t many places better to be than Asheville when you want a beer, I tell you, and that’s where I was. We had booked a hotel very close to the Biltmore Estate because my Beloved Barbara wanted to tour it, and so we did. The great thing about Asheville though, is that you’re never far from beer. And I wasn’t, because the French Broad brewery was only a half mile’s walk away, with a Catawba Brewing taproom right across the street from it.
Catawba has a brewery in Morganton, North Carolina but they also have taprooms (they call them tasting rooms) near the Biltmore Estate and in South Slope, Asheville. They’re sort of like tied houses if you will, as they only pour Catawba beers, but they don’t sell food-just beer. Here I enjoyed a sampler and a few beers, one of the best of which was Catawba King Coconut Porter.
King Coconut Porter is a seasonal beer that had just been released actually. I enjoyed a pint at the brewery and then bought it in cans the next day at Bruisin Ales. I was told by the staff there that they thought it was better than last year’s version. From the label:
King coconut is sometimes called a candy bar in a can, but we like to think of it as a slice of paradise. During brewing, the sweetness of delicious chocolate, roasted, and caramelized malt is balanced with a touch of British hops bitterness. The King is then aged on oven-toasted coconut for several weeks to build its tropical character! Take a sip, sniff the aroma, and let your mind drift to the islands.
Catawba King Coconut has an alcohol content of 5.2% by volume. It was running $4 for a pint at the taproom and $10.99 a six-pack at Bruisin Ales, though they do tend to run on the high side. I paid $17 at the taproom for a pint of the King Coconut, a sampler of four beers and a logo glass to take home, and that with a $5 tip.
Catawba King Coconut Porter pours to a jet back color with a medium head of spritzy short lived foam and a rich dark chocolate pudding nose. Taking a sip, the beer has deep dark chocolate malts that are slightly undercut by the slightly thin body (I want more obviously). You can’t argue with the rich chocolate notes and the smooth, creamy coconut. The coconut definitely comes through, and that’s what I want. The beer finishes roasty bitter and satisfying.
I think the thin body really detracts here, even for a porter. Still, it’s very delicious and very drinkable with loads of chocolate and soft coconut flavor. Certainly a beer that I would buy again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler