This SC beer is the best pale ale in the US, according to a national competition. Tried it yet?

Patrick McCreless
·2 min read
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A beer made in South Carolina has been crowned the best pale ale after recently winning a national taste-testing championship.

The Palmetto Trail Pale Ale by RJ Rockers Brewing Company in Spartanburg has won the overall Grand Champion spot for pale ale at the summer event for the 28th annual United States Beer Tasting Championship. It also won the Best of the Southeast Pale Ale award.

According to a press release from the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, a total of 726 beers from 180 breweries were examined across 18 different beer categories. The competition determined both a grand champion and the best entry from each of seven U.S. regions.

“The USBTC takes a unique approach in that its competition is held in multiple stages,” the press release states. “Sequential field trials are conducted wherein judges evaluate beers and select the best to advance to subsequent rounds. This allows beers to be judged in relatively small flights while ensuring that the best beers are still determined through head-to-head competition.”

The Palmetto Trail the beer is named after is the longest and largest trail construction project in South Carolina. Established in 1994, the project currently has 380 trail miles completed.

“The mission of the Palmetto Trail is to foster an appreciation for South Carolina’s natural and cultural resources, providing opportunities for active recreation on the Palmetto Trail and other trail systems that can be enjoyed by all in South Carolina,” the press release states.

RJ Rockers donates a portion of sales of the Palmetto Trail Pale Ale to help support the Palmetto Trail.

RJ Rockers became Spartanburg’s original brewery in 1997, the brewery’s website states. It operates in downtown Spartanburg with a solar-powered microbrewery and offers live music every week, along with games and other events.

With more than 16,000 barrels of capacity, beer-lovers can find RJ Rockers’ handcrafted brew throughout the Southeast on draft and in cans.