Palm / Palm Speciale - Brouwerij Palm NV

JMad

Texas

3.33/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark golden/ copper color with about a one finger white head that reduced into a filmy layer. The aroma has just a hint of caramel malt with some grassy hop in the background, some earthy tones as well along with bread. The taste is smooth, nice and easy drinking with some more of that caramel malt and a hint of lemony hops, more bread and a slightly metallic finish. The beer is light/ medium bodied with nice carbonation and a slightly dry finish. I honestly thought this beer would have more flavor, it didn't but nonetheless it is a simple easy drinking beer that I could enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 01:09:18 | More by JMad

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a tulip. Poured red-orange with a one finger off-white head that subsided to a half finger slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, caramel, earth, earth hop, and caramel hop. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, cream, and caramel hop. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a fairly decent brew. I had heard quite a bit about this one from numerous people, but I have no idea why they were raving over this one. The aroma and flavor on this one were very weak in intensity. There were some good notes in the aroma, but you had to work so hard to find them it was ridiculous. The flavor on the otherhand wasn’t bad, but it was definitely average for the style as nothing stood out at all. Worth trying, but I doubt I will be doing so again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2012 10:39:11 | More by thagr81us

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Mulligan's in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a crystal clear dark orange to copper in color with moderate amounts of carbonation. The beer has a finger tall off-white head that has very good retention properties - leaving about 75% of what was there originally covering the entire surface and a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aromas of caramel, toasted, and pale malts with some light amounts of sweetness. Additionally there are hints of light fruits (green apple) and Belgian yeast. Hop aroma is grassy.

T: Similar to the smell, this beer starts with the pale and caramel malt sweetness. After that, there is a light amount of light fruit (green apple). Light amounts of bitterness from the grassy hops.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This beer is very easy to drink, enjoyable, and sessionable. The beer has a very good appearance and I feel like I needed to review this one since I frequently review from my Palm glass.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2012 22:39:24 | More by dbrauneis

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

2.65/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

330 mL bottle purchased as a single from the LCBO; best before Oct 18 2012.

Pours a bright, clear orange-amber colour, topped with a modest off-white head, one finger in thickness. Poor retention; it thins out before a few minutes have passed, and other than the collar, it produces little lacing. Malty, grainy aroma, with some honey sweetness and the distinct note of corn syrup. Not especially enticing, and not what I am looking for in this style.

Approachable, simple flavour. As with the nose, the malts are the dominant force on the palate, providing a bready, sweet backbone with some pear, appleskin and corn notes. Not much hop presence, and very little yeast for a BPA. The finish is fairly neutral, with a slightly malty aftertaste that lingers briefly. Light-bodied and pretty watery, with carbonation that feels a bit flat. Reasonably drinkable, but if I'm going to have something of this ilk I'd rather just have a pale lager.

I can accept the categorization only because it's made in Belgium and the yeasty fruitiness does seem to support the idea that it is an ale. It's a little less drinkable than your average imported lagers, and not much tastier. Honestly, it has more in common with American blondes than most of the BPAs I have tried, and that is probably what I'm going to remember it as.

Final Grade: 2.65, an unmemorable C minus. To be fair, Palm's label admits that there is corn in here, so it was a bit doomed from the start. There are so many high quality Belgian pale ales out there to compare it to, and the ones I have tried all compare favourably to this. The relative blandness makes it easy to throw back quickly, but most people who bother will probably find it to be an almost completely forgettable glass of beer. I would drink this again if it were being offered, but I don't plan to revisit it.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 06:53:05 | More by thehyperduck

brureview

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I recently tried this in an airport. Not bad. Served in a tulip glass. There is no head. The copper color is okay and there isn't much of a smell. It's a bit bitter and very carbonated.

It's a decent beer when nothing else is available. It's certainly better than Heineken. Certainly better than the average American-adjunk offerings.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 17:20:24 | More by brureview

Giggy

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I would rate this as a very average beer. A lot better than American domestics but fails in comparison to all of the specialty beers. Would put this in the same line as Heineken, Stella, or
Becks.

A: very attractive amber pour with a slightly off white head. It is very clear with very small carbonation bubbles that continue to rise up the side of the glass.

S: not much in this category. Some toasty malt, bread, caramel and honey. Very faint floral from hops that doesn't appear until beer warms up a few degrees.

T: very fresh and crisp. Dry with a slight bitterness in the finish.

M: medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation.

O: very drinkable and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 19:13:53 | More by Giggy

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

An average pour yields a finger of cream colored head. Body is a nice amber color with a little bubble action going on. Head keeps a ring and dusting and lacing slowly crawls its way back down the glass to the body.

Sweetgrass immediately greets the nose. Yeast, mild cracker aroma and a bit of bitter green apple compliment.

Grass, yeast and crackers make up the bulk of the flavor. There is a nice green apple finish.

This beer is light bodied. Goes down easy. Makes me feel like I should be mowing the lawn.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 20:45:57 | More by CFHMagnet

Mora2000

Texas

3/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours an orange-amber color with a white head. The aroma is heavy on the grain with some toffee, honey and graham cracker notes. The flavor is similar, with the grain coming through the strongest. I also get some sweetness and a touch of toffee and bread. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Fairly bland, but nothing offensive. Easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 03:46:33 | More by Mora2000

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark Amber, head is thin and white, retains decently, a little lacing.
S- The aroma is kinda bland, with generic pale malt being about the only thing I get. A touch of Belgian yeastyness.
T- The taste is green apple, pale grain, a bit of light malty sweetness and a faint Belgian yeastyness in the finish.
M- Medium-light body with a fairly crisp carbonation.
O- Pairs well with food but is generally uninteresting on its own. Not terrible, but not worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 22:39:17 | More by jsprain1

Gmann

New York

2.7/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Palm snifter. Pours a golden copper color with a short dense head that quickly settles into a light ring.

There is a general fruitiness to the aroma; perhaps some ripe and tart apples and lemon. Kind of has the Euro Lager grainy aroma. Not much in the way of phenols from the yeast. Meh.

Taste is very much in line with a Euro Pale Lager. There is some fruitiness from the assumed ale yeast but everything else is screaming lager. A lot of grass and hay notes. The malt is dry and cracker like. Again no traditional Belgian notes from the yeast.

The feel is light and crisp. Quite dry. Drinks very much like a lager.

Not sure if they were going with a beer to compete against Stella. As a BPA, I find this beer to be extremely boring. I guess I am not digging the yeast that they used. Perhaps a good alternative to a Heineken or Euro mass produced lagers.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 19:44:29 | More by Gmann

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours clear amber with a finger of foam that dissipates quickly. Aroma is malty, slightly phenolic, with a hint of fruitiness.

First sip is quite malty, with a harsh middle twinge of phenols, finishing sweet, with a metallic twang. Overall not great. Something just doesn't strike me a right, but I'd prefer a crisper finish and maybe some more pronounced contributions from the hops or yeast.

Overall, a very average beer. No reason to seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 04:11:37 | More by FickleBeast

kojevergas

California

2.38/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle served into a generic pilsner glass in Antwerp, Belgium in June 2011. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a one finger head of no cream, bad thickness, and crappy retention. Colour is a semitransparent gold-amber.

Sm: Very light aroma of barley is all me broken nose picks up; all apologies, lads.

T: Simple moderately full-bodied barley foundation with cream, hops, and slight caramelized malt. Balanced well. Built alright.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with decent coarseness on the climax. Partially complementary of the flavours of the body.

Dr: Too simple even for its low price. Easy to drink but a poor quality brew. I wouldn't get it again.

D+

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 00:16:12 | More by kojevergas

Douberd

Netherlands

3.23/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

One of the most widely available belgian beers here in Netherlands, along with Jupiler, I guess. I had it many times before and the supermarket around the corner had it on offer recently, so I grabbed the chance to get a whole crate of it. It was also a good choice for my new tulip glass to be used for the first time.
The small bottle of 300 ml gave me a beer light amber in colour, with slighty beige head of two fingers in height, with good retention, which left some traces of lacing as it was going down.
A sweet aroma coming mostly from roasted malts. That's where the faint caramel aroma is coming from too.
Taste is fruity you could say at first, but then the flavour of the roasted malts overcomes everything else. Slighty metallic aftertaste.
On the body is quite thin, with an average carbonation.
Now, I like Palm and for a moment I thought it could replace my usual lagers and pilsners that I drink after a long day at work, but after having it continuously for almost a week, I find it a bit boring, to tell the truth. Still, a good beer to break the routine every once a while.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 18:43:25 | More by Douberd

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly hazy golden-amber color with 2 fingers of fluffy white head with decent retention.

The scent is of light toasty grains, some fruit, and notes of yeast.

The taste is also pretty light, mild apple taste, notes of toasted grain and some yeast.

Light bodied, smooth, creamy, and a bit thin. low carbonation.

This was an ok beer, I thought it was much too thin for the style and the flavor was lacking a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 17:41:48 | More by BeerCon5

CrazyDavros

Australia

2.05/5  rDev -38.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours amber with a large, lasting, white head.
Nose shows grassy hops, spicy notes and faint honey. Pretty boring.
Flavours include hay and bready malt alongside faint fruity and spicy hops. Again, nothing interesting..
Could use less carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 10:05:19 | More by CrazyDavros

macrosmatic

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes. Poured from bottle into something (didn't write it down).

A: Nice head, some laciness. Nice amber color.

S: Smells like an average Belgian (the beer, not the person). Yeasty with background of fruit, but seems nondescript.

T: Malt/caramel up front, mildly fruity, with a somewhat dry finish.

M: Carbonation seems a little low. Maybe a little thin on the back.

O: "Average" about sums it up. Wouldn't refuse another but certainly not going to seek one out.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 00:36:03 | More by macrosmatic

tdm168

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Wine 101 in Wake Forest.

Pours an orangish gold with a soft, white head that has little retention. The nose has a sweet smell as well as notes of apples. The flavor opens up with caramel and apples and is followed by mild clove spice and a bit of Belgian funk. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, smooth, but a bit too crisp.

This is as underwhelming as it gets. There isn't anything memorable about this one. I'll pass.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2012 23:45:39 | More by tdm168

UCLABrewN84

California

3.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at Congregation Ale House in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a clear dark orange with a foamy tan head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain/malt, caramel, and some slight yeast aromas. Taste is pretty much the same and a bit watery overall. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer but at least it looks good in the glass.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 01:58:38 | More by UCLABrewN84

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a bright, clear amber with limited head and no sign of lacing. Mouthfeel is oily and without a lot of body, but not unpleasant.

Aroma of pure Belgian yeast, with some caramelized malt sweetness in the background. The yeast is even more prevalent in the taste, although fruitiness follows with a decently dry finish.

This isn't a stye I'd choose regularly, but a beer I've seen repeatedly and wanted to give it a shot. Glad I did, but am unlikely to purchase future bottles.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 01:04:31 | More by hopsolutely

KajII

North Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

[Best served in a Trappist glass]

The pour was a clear golden copper with a small (less than 1 finger) white foamy head that dissipated quickly and had some fair spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a toasted caramel malt, a floral hop and a musty yeast with notes of dried fruit, caramel and banana.

The taste was lightly sweet and a bit malty with a mild caramel note from the start and finished with a crisp mild hoppy taste and had a hint of fruitiness at the end. The flavor lasted only a short time with the malty sweet fruity flavor left behind.

Mouthfeel was very light in body and a bit watery in texture with a good lively carbonation.

Overall a pretty generic Amber Ale with a great drinkability...

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 18:41:28 | More by KajII

Everydayoff

Thailand

3.1/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330ml bottle poured into a chalice by freshness date.

A:
Transparent copper amber color with a small short-life white head, it dissipates and leaves some sticky lacing patches. Carbonation is high.

S:
Herbal hop comes first following and mingling by honey, slight medicinal note, bread malt and tart fruits.

T:
Mixing by fruity ester, sourness, orange peel, sweet bready malt, balance by slight hop bitterness.

M:
The body is medium, smooth mouthfeel with soothing carbonation, dry finish.

O:
There is not much thing to expect, just average Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 09:00:41 | More by Everydayoff

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Out of a bottle “Belgium’s Amber Beer” was a clear apricot orange color with a good amount of rising carbonation and a thin skim of off-white head. The retention was less than impressive and it only left small spots of lacing like far away stars. The aroma was mostly euro pale-lager malts with the typical strong emphasis on grains and a light undertone of adjunct grains. The flavors were, well, exactly like the aroma suggested. Not exactly Belgium’s finest. Still, it was not unpleasant in any way, just right down the middle and what it lacked in complexity it made up for in drinkability. Very well balanced and highly sessionable. The mouthfeel was average, the body light and the carbonation good.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 23:11:13 | More by thekevlarkid

elgiacomo

Georgia

2.63/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz green bottle, best by June 17, 2012. Served at around 45F.

Pours clear amber with a one finger off white head that leaves some lacing and recedes to a small cap.

Aroma is some fruity malt, grainy, bready, some caramel, a bit metallic. Good strength.

Flavor is similar, starts with sweet fruity malt, caramel, some bread and grains, finishes quite sweet, minimal bitterness.

Mouthfeel is light bodied, good carbonation.

OK beer. For me it comes across as part light Amber Ale and part Adjunct Lager. For $9 a six-pack...there are better options.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 02:15:46 | More by elgiacomo

Samp01

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a medium hued amber with a nice white head. Aroma and Taste is grains, some grassy notes finishes with some lightly toasted caramel malts end a bit of nutty flavor and bit of funkiness, some light bitterness. A nice light to medium body and crisp mouth feel with moderate carbonation. Overall a bit light for an amber style ale, not the worst but there are plenty better brews.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 15:20:03 | More by Samp01

sommersb

Tennessee

3.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 01-26-2012
Freshness: Best by 08-01-2012
Packaging: 330 ml brown bottle
Glassware: Cervoise glass
Purchased: Single from Publix, Huntsville

A: Bright copper color and clear, with a fair amount of bubbles streaming from the bottom of the glass. The off-white head is a couple fingers high, with good retention and very good lacing.

S: Bready malts and some light fruit smells, but overall not much aroma.

T: Malt-forward, this beer is moderately sweet with little or no bitterness. Clean and lager-like, with a caramel flavor.

M: Crisp with moderate level of carbonation. Easy drinking, with a lightly sweet aftertaste.

O: An OK beer, but not one I'd seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 03:12:42 | More by sommersb