Palmetto Pale Ale - Palmetto Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Rustic orange that is full-to-bursting with fine yeasties. The firm, tacky, manila colored head looks as rustic as the beer on which it sits. I much prefer 'dirty', unfiltered beer with unkempt heads and glasses that are messy with lace (like this one). No need to hold out that pinky. Grab the glass with authority and let's get down to business.

The aroma needs to be hoppier. I consider 'balance' to be a dirty word when it comes to APAs. If the nose is any indication, Palmetto Pale Ale's flavor is going to be more or less proportional in terms of malt and hops. I also like my pale ales more pale malty than caramel malty (this one favors the latter) because I don't want any competing aromas or flavors coming between my taste buds and the hops.

The nose was a harbinger of the flavor. Caramel malt comes through the loudest and hop flavor, although not smothered completely, gets lost in the din. I said flavor, not bitterness, because the malt contributes much more flavor than sweetness and the hops contribute much more bitterness than flavor. It's an odd combination: a bitter, caramel-flavored APA. Since I prefer 'em hoppy and bitter-sweet, I'm less than enthralled.

Keeping style in mind, the mouthfeel qualifies as medium. There's no sense of roundness or creaminess though. The increasingly bitter back end results in a bone dry finish that calls to mind words like 'arid' and 'desiccated'. If you session this one, have a pitcher of water handy.

Palmetto Brewing Company is hit or miss for me. Porter and Amber are hits and Lager and this Pale Ale are near misses. I'd still like to see them try a few more styles; four seems like too narrow of a focus. Thanks to WOLFGANG for the last of the (current) Palmetto brews from the Palmetto State.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2005 20:40:52 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a clear amber with a big white head that laced up nicely. Smell was deep citrus hops with a bit of a malty sweetness underneath. The taste followed suit, bit of a caramel back to it. This was a very balance pale ale to say the least. Extremely complex and very very good. This is highly drinkable and I could see myself having this stocked in the fridge constantly, in fact, its local so I will be!!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 00:32:20 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a light amber, clear body with a decent head and some nice lacing

Smell: A little floral hoppiness on the nose

Taste: Lays down a sweet malty base that is quickly matched by some nice grapefruity hops

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with nice carbonation

Drinkability: Another fine effort from the folks a Palmetto; an extremely pleasant pale ale

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2005 18:33:52 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle courtesy of Unclemattie: Poured a hazy amber color ale with a small head with minimal retention and no lacing. Aroma of light caramel malt is somewhat weak. Taste is dominated by some light caramel malt with no discernable hops presence. Full body with some medium to low carbonation. I guess this one is OK but nothing truly extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2008 15:59:54 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A standard and pure pale ale that hits all the halmarks of the style, with a balance and boldness that's uniquely American pale ale.

Pouring a medium copper color, the beer carries a modest haze from the late addition hops. A firm white head forms with consistent froath, retains well, and laces equally.

Caramel and frutiy aromas rise from the glass with a reinforced scent of caramelized sugars, citrusy oranges and with a hint of floral and perfume character. The nose sides slightly on the malty side but not without a good showing of hoppy grapefruit and fresh cut grass.

Flavors also slightly favor the malts. Light caramel and toffee play on the tongue while the hops build from a soft candied grapefruit and orange taste and toward a slightly resiny, piney, grassy bitter taste in finish. With no frills in taste, the beer is pure, simple, and comfortable.

With early caramel sweetness, the beer seems more like an American amber ale, but the sweetness is soon engulfed by the hops and the beer turns decidedly toward an American pale ale with the increased bitternss, dryness, and citrusy bite. Still, the sweetness prevents the beer from complete dryness and drinkability.

Where caramel richness is exhibited, I'd prefer more depth in malt richess but without the caramel malts as great. This is a great choice for those who like Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale but think it's too spicy or bitter.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 03:19:37 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another Palmetto brew from "Garagekegger",this one poured a clear copper with a nice one finger head that settles pretty quickly,aroma was dominated by sweet caramel malt also I picked up just a little biscuit dough but it was faint.Most definently a malt dominated pale ale,caramle is dominant upfront with a small dose of pine in the finish.A session-style ale in my opinion a little unbalanced but pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2005 14:19:44 | More by oberon

Gavage

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: clear orange in color with a fluffy two inch head. Thick lacing paints the glass during the session.

Smell: caramel, citrus, and a soft biting hop bitterness are easy to detect.

Taste: caramel, orange slices, bits of grapefruits, and some softer fruit sweetness are paired with a decent bitterness level.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp throughout. Medium bodied. Aftertaste focuses on the bitterness and caramel tones.

Drinkability: a nice session pale ale to quaff while at the beach. Pick some up.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2008 22:38:06 | More by Gavage

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one is a bit one dimensional, but still decent. There is a fair bit of spicy hop tone on it that carries somewhat of a burn with it. Citrus tones seem hijacked by all of the previously mentioned. Like I said, decent. If toned down and matured up, might be nicer. Cask conditioning might do it some good too.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 08:15:53 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark gold color. Clear. Light head but good lace. Mostly malty aroma; lots of caramel malt flavor. The flavor has a modest hop spice that lasts through the swallow. Neutral body and carbonation.

This is very much a run-of-the-mill American Pale Ale. No flaws.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 20:05:56 | More by smcolw

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Wild Wings in Hilton Head, SC.

Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a one-finger, off-white head. The head recedes into a thin pancake on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of faint citrus hops with good amounts of caramel malt. As the beer warms it turns a bit buttery.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Caramel malt flavors up front with citrus hop flavors that are slightly more intense than they are in the aroma. The ending is mildly bitter.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing the glass and could have another.

Overall this is a decent pale ale that could be improved if it was a little lighter on diacetyl. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2009 00:46:41 | More by glid02

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Color is a golden coppery yellow with a super even head of off-white and tight foam about a finger high and some of the tinyest spots of lace I've ever seen. Smells a bit musty with some citrusy orange coming through and breadish notes of pretzel, nice and medium soft on the nose. Taste is smooth of nice, somewhat chewy and sticky malt with a light balance of hop, quite mellow and very easy, the best part is the slight tang and drying quality near the end thats very subtle and pleasing. Good medium body and a very mild and light chewyness, very soft and pleasant for a pale. This is a pretty decent American Pale and possibly worth checking out, session beer for sure, damn easy drinkin' here.
Thanks to Kipp for the trade

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2003 19:59:17 | More by tavernjef

avalon07

South Carolina

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a light amber color with very little head or lacing.

There's a malt aroma with some sweetness mixed in.

The taste is okay, with malt, a little hops and some sweets. Could've used a bit more complexity.

Not a whole lot of carbonation, but a decently smooth finish.

Overall, this is fair beer. It's not as good or complex as Palmetto's other brews, but it's not a bad beer either.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2008 20:53:15 | More by avalon07

kylehay2004

Florida

3.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: 1.5 finger head, amber with more on the orange side.

S: Solid hop aroma, a little orange citrus

T: Caramel malt, with citrus mirroring the aroma and mild hops

M: Moderate carbonation. Refreshing and light to medium bodied.

Overall: I think they are approaching the right hoppiness for a Pale Ale of my liking but not quite there.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2011 03:22:02 | More by kylehay2004

francisweizen

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle. Magic Mushroom on King St. Orangey gold amber with a nice fluffy head of white foam. Aromas of nice American hops and biscuity malty goodness. Taste is a bit hoppy with a nice biscuity toasty malt profile. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and drinkability is good. solid for sure, and good in the SC summer heat when teamed up with a nice slice.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2008 00:49:34 | More by francisweizen

nickfl

Florida

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with one finger of white foam on top of a clear, copper colored body. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves good lace.

S - Light toasted malt and some herbal hops.

T - Toasted malt and toffee up front with some herbal hops appearing in the middle. Pine and caramel malt in the finish with light bitterness.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - A pretty average pale ale, some American hop character, though it is dulled a bit by the thickness of the malt character.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 02:35:12 | More by nickfl

blackie

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: pours a weak off-white head with low retention, the beer is a medium amber in color

s: grassy hop aroma, lightly tropical-citrus but very much muddied and disguised by the high caramel malt aroma

m: low-med carbonation, medium body, could use a little more life and balance, especially in terms of carbonation

t: caramel malts on the sweet side dominate the palate over a grassy citrus hop flavor, light-moderate bitterness in the finish

d: good for just a couple, enjoyable, reminds me a lot of a "less clean" Carolina Pale

bottle at Blossom and one single from Whole Foods

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2008 05:02:20 | More by blackie

champ103

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a great beer that I had when vacationing just outside of Charleston. The aroma is of a typical grassy, citrus, and piney hops. Lots of malt in the nose as well. The taste is well balanced with citrus hops up front and lots of caramel and candy like malt. This reminds me a little of some English Pale Ales that I have had with a good creamy mouthfeel that is well carbonated. A great session beer as well. I drank a lot of this on the beach.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2008 15:02:42 | More by champ103

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer arrived at the table a crystal clear pale amber golden with a low white head that fell slowly to lace the glass.

The aroma was muted till the glass warmed. It was one of those frozen glasses so the aroma took some time to develop. The aroma was med caramel with some fruitiness and a slight hop presence.

The flavor was nice and hoppy with a strong crystal malt presence and cirtusy and grassy hop flavor.

The finish was dry with pleasant caramel and mild bitterness lasting well into the aftertaste. The body was medium and well accomplished.


Pint at Mellow Mushroom in Columbia, SC. I've had this one before, but this time it was great!

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2004 11:48:15 | More by GCBrewingCo

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Although this is a better, more drinkable beer than the Palmetto Amber, I didn’t find it nearly as well-made as the Porter. I sampled this one several times on a recent trip to SC. It’s one of the local beers, that seems to be everywhere in Charleston.
The aroma is both malty and hoppy: a nice mix, although it’s I would have expected more hops. The smell is both floral (flowery) and sweet. Color is a dark, cloudy straw-like gold. The head is white, sits relatively high, and is sticky.
Taste is solid and clean. It’s a bit grainy and chewy. There’s a foretaste sweetness that can be distracting, and a cracker-like doughiness that runs throughout the beer. Finish is appropriately bitter. The hops are muted, but present through the entire beer. It’s not spectacular, and doesn’t particularly stand out. Still, it’s very drinkable and worth having.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2004 01:27:37 | More by Suds

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a nice golden color without a head to speak of. The smell is sweet malt with hop coming through secondarily. As the beer warms, the malt overpowers any hint of the hop. The hop is definately in the foreground of this beer's flavor. It's nice and tangy and bitter. The hop stays nicely on my tongue, but not in a bad was as some beers will do. Overall a nice flavor. The beer is a nice moderatly thick feel in my mouth without too much carbonation to get in the way. This could be a session APA if I could get my hands on it again. I recommend trying this if you can find it. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2004 02:13:10 | More by kmpitz2

cjgator3

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a golden amber color with a thin white head. The aroma is sweet toasted malt and a touch of caramel and citrusy hops. The taste is similar to the aroma with some malt and citrusy hops in the long biter finish. Overall, this is a pretty solid pale ale. It certainly is not my favorite pale ale out there but it is a pretty solid offering that is recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2007 04:33:41 | More by cjgator3

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured from the bottle with a very thin foamy head that stayed for a short while. The color was orange/amber that was also slightly hazy but certainly not cloudy.

There was no visible carbonation and a scant amount of lacing remained in the glass.

Aroma has very subtle spicy notes and also caramel notes.

There is a real nice balance to the flavor which begins with a rush of roasted malt flavor balanced by nice hop bitterness. Then you move to a spicy, peppery moment and some slight sweetness. Finally, there is a nice hop finish that lingers for a few moments, but doesn't take over.

I would say this is medium in mouth feel and you detect a slight amount of carbonation as you drink.

Nicely drinkable.

I nice little beer that I do enjoy when vacationing in South Carolina.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2008 12:11:01 | More by Reagan1984

argock

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a clear glass tumbler. No freshness date.

A: Clear rust with off-white 1-1.5 finger head and scant lacing

S: Light caramel tones with mild herbal and floral hops

T: Sweet caramel and pale malt flavor blends smoothly with leafy, herbal hops bitterness. Malts win but the balance is pretty close.

M: A bit light-bodied for an APA which is surprising given the malty flavor. Relatively low carbonation and caramel/toffee aftertaste.

D: Drinkable and respectable APA but nothing too special. Made for folks in the South who like their APAs on the malty side.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2009 05:00:31 | More by argock

bditty187

Nebraska

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Hazy, coppery-bronze in hue with a glint of amber; it’s a lovely color. Off-white foam, sadly the head never topped a half finger tall. Head retention was poor as well, a dainty soapy cap quickly formed. There was minimal subsequent spotty lace. Overall, this is a good looking (but average) beer.

The nose is VERY sweet. The maltiness is like a barleywine. I kid you not. Is my nose broken? Rich caramel notes with some dark fruit hints. The hops are in the background which is a bummer for an APA. However, the citrus notes play wonderfully with the malt. Fairly potent; I like the malt complexities. While the malt bill smells like a barleywine it lacks richness and that nearly tangible sugary quality. Still, I find this quite inviting!

Of course the palate does come close to matching the malt depth that the nose promised. Still, this beer tastes like a shadow of a barleywine. It is hard to explain. It has barleywine taste but “baby strength.” Of course this could all be in my head. If it is, so what… I like it! Caramel malts, dark fruit, with a citrus backbone. The malt is the driving force even though this isn’t terribly malty. How odd. The finish is a bit empty. As much positive I have to say about this beer it is all kind of silly. For an APA this beer is very average but I am reviewing this based on taste alone. I DO like how it tastes and that is all that matters.

Medium/medium-light in body, low but natural carbonation, with a fairly watery mouthfeel. IMO, the mouthfeel needs much improvement.

As much as this smells and tastes like a baby barleywine, its not. If I want a barleywine, I’ll drink one. If I want an APA, I’ll drink one. This is neither. It is not very hoppy or rich in malt. Sure, it has flavor but it lacks body. I am happy I tried this, it was interesting but one is enough for me. Thanks timtheenchanta it was enjoyable in the moment.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2006 13:15:39 | More by bditty187

RBorsato

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hazy with a dark golden-copper color and a full light tan head. Light hop aroma and malt aromas present. More malty flavor than hoppy. Medium bodied with a spicy cinnamon-like (?) finish. A balanced beer with no characteristics standing out in either direction.

More like an English style pale ale to me.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2002 11:23:36 | More by RBorsato