Judge’s Review: 87 Rating – Zulu King Coconut Porter by Low Road Brewing

Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer | Year-Round | United States

By Michael Heniff

Judges Rating: 87
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 35
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 15

Zulu King Coconut Porter by Low Road Brewing is a porter brewed with coconut and is being evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (category 30A from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beers should have a harmonious balance between the spices, herbs or vegetables with the base beer style. Porters are medium-strength dark beers noted for their prominent dark malt flavors, which can include notes of burnt, chocolate or coffee.
Zulu King pours black in color, is almost opaque, and sports a rim of light brown head. The aroma is moderate chocolate malt over moderately light coconut aromas. The flavor is of moderate chocolate malt and lighter ashy and smoky notes with a light coconut with a light sweetness. The beer finishes with  moderate bitterness alongside moderate chocolate and burnt/ashy malt with a light coconut note.
Zulu King is a pleasant-flavored porter. The coconut complements the dark malts well without ever breaking harmony. The ashy note detracts somewhat, but this flavor is not unusual in many porters.