Palm / Palm Speciale - Brouwerij Palm NV

larryi86

Delaware

2.6/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- A clear amber color, with a three finger with head.

S- Light, toasted malts, floral hops, touch of fruit. Definitely underwhelming.

T- Weaker version of the nose, slight caramel malts, light toasted malts, almost no really hop flavor, bland is the easy why to describe the taste.

M- Light, watery.

O- A very underwhelming beer, not much different than American Amber/Red Lagers I have had. Definitely will keep passing by this.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 18:51:17 | More by larryi86

impending

California

2.2/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

33cl into a tulip. Pours a crystal clear, filtered, copper amber, minor dense cream colored head lasted briefly, minor lacing.

Aroma is weak as if diluted, slightly sweet, slightly fruity.

Taste lacks any sweetness, any definition, nothing identifiable. Amazingly bland. Does not improve with warmth. Lagerish
Light to medium bodied lively mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 04:41:41 | More by impending

socon67

New York

2.5/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Saw this on tap at Wild Wings and figured, why not?

A - Amber pour, mild carbonation, no lacing. Is this really a belgian pale? Looks like an amber, but hey.

S - Smells sweet of fruit. A little bit of malty sweetness is present.

T - This just isnn't doing it for me. There is a residual sweet flavor, but I'm used to a belgian pale to have *some* tartness and yeasty component. This has none. I know its a macro generic, but it would be a poor example of an american amber.

M - Smooth, light bodied, and pleasant drinker. Clearly the best quality of this beer.

O - This is a trainwreck that is okay at best, but there has to be better options. Don't expect much.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 01:16:59 | More by socon67

CaptJackHarkness

New York

4.83/5  rDev +45.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served in a Palm branded chalice on tap at Kodiak's.

Bright copper/amber body with a finger of off white head. Soda-like carbonation, nice lacing of glass. Scent is lightly citrus, fruity. Taste is sweet, apricot the barest hint of hops. No aftertaste or bitterness. A nice "dessert" beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 17:16:22 | More by CaptJackHarkness

lstokes

Illinois

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

This is a nice glowing orange with a small tight head and very visible carbonation--all kinds of bubbles just rushing up and sticking to the edge of the glass! The mouthfeel is as watery and fizzy as this led me to expect, but the taste is really sweet. Sugars, malts, a bit of apricot? and some earthy hops in the end. But mostly sugars. Overall a quite one-note Belgian macro. Nice enough to drink but one was enough for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 17:04:41 | More by lstokes

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Pours a light amber color. Tight head. Slightly off-white. Leaves speckles of lacing.

S-Toasty. Very slight hops. A bit skunky. Light yeast too.

T-Much like the nose. Has a strange twang to the taste. Was unsure if I liked it or not when drinking it. Lightly breaded. Barely any hop presence.

M-Bunches of carbonation. Medium to light body.

O/D-Mediocre and unmemorable. Not awful. Just pretty bland. Could have been much worse.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 03:20:33 | More by VelvetExtract

karait95

Mexico

3.73/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Yellow with some amber hue color, the head is white and big more than four fingers with a medium dissipation, carbonation is not to intense and therefore no permanent layer is on top of the beer. Body looks light more than robust.

S: Not to intense smell for a Belgium at the beginning but more intensity is added while time passes, at last is very intense and with some sugar, barley and minimum of hops.

T: Clear flavor, again it increases its intensity as time passes for a full malty with some alcohol.

M: Sweet in general with some balancing points of hops basically but not to bitter balanced and with good medium lasting.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 02:46:10 | More by karait95

vfgccp

New York

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

A- Low lacing, and moderate to low head retention. Golden color, with touches of light ice tea. Nice clarity, with close color to a nice copper ale.

S- Strong belgian yeast characteristics. Notes of moss, and grassy aroma. Slight hints of mineral / salty.

T- Light amber malt. Front end is bright and acidic. Middle notes blend to a medium malty taste. Finish washes out to a very mellow taste. Interesting blend of the Belgian flavors and the amber maltyness, but the finish is a bit too light.

M- Bubbly on the front which is nice, overall it is pretty light. The finish is nice, has a very smooth feel which adds to drinkability.

O- Very drinkable, a nice blend of two styles (amber / belgium). Very smooth and mellow. This would be a great beer for someone looking for a smooth and malty alternative too the average ale. I would not look to this as a true belgian ale offering, but as a beer that is more interesting and has a wider appeal this is a great.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 04:29:47 | More by vfgccp

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

30 cl. bottle poured into a Palm tulip. Thanks to my aunt for bringing this back from Europe for me to try.

A: Pours a clear amber hue with a cream-colored head that settles quickly to a thin froth on the surface. Sticky lacing coats the side of the glass.

S: Caramel and fruity notes are dominant, along with some floral, grassy hop aroma.

T: Caramel and toast malt notes, along with a fruity yeast character. Hops are floral, and also lend just a hint of citrus on the tail end.

Notes: This moderate-bodied beer has a very soft mouthfeel, and is quite easy to drink. It's not the most flavorful beer in the world, but it's still pretty good. A great session brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 05:55:22 | More by WYVYRN527

jerryjeff

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Okay, I'll admit when I was in Belgium I had one of these and wasn't as impressed but I purchased a six pack in the U.S. and was much more pleased. I don't know that it deserved the lower end reviews I've seen on here anyway. It's meant to be a sessionable belgian pale ale and I think it fulfills that pretty well, is it a wonderful trappist or even as good as Affligem? likely not, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth having.

Aroma
Sweet caramel maltiness with a bit of fruity overtone, not overpowering but strong and vibrant. Very nice.
Mouthfeel
Higher carbonation with a slight amount of presence, maybe a bit of oiliness on the palette. Some bitterness along the sides of the mouth. Could have a bit of improvement here, but I don't like a lot of carbonation.
Appearance
Amber with reddish tint, poured to stark white head which quickly dissipated.
Taste
Some sweetness on the palette with the malty caramel toffee flavors coming through, this is a rather drinkable beer.
Drinkability
I'd like to see how many I could get through, light on the palette with a pleasant and not overpowering taste.
Overall
Affligem still likely my favorite of the sessionable belgian pale ales but this is really good and drinkable. Nice scent which is belgian in style with the fruitiness but not too far. Meant to be a session beer and I agree…

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 00:54:16 | More by jerryjeff

Paincane

Georgia

2.93/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Amber golden color with thin white head and not much lacing. Poured into pint glass.
S: Grain, malt, musty aroma with some hops presence. Not much nose really.
T: Grainy with some malt. Slight hops bitterness.
M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
O: Frankly, I was disappointed in this beer. It was Not very well balanced and not very flavorful. I stopped at one and probably will not have another.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 03:31:23 | More by Paincane

ZenAgnostic

Texas

2/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

12oz bottle poured into a Trois Pistoles goblet. Back label stamped 03-22-2012. Since this is a negative review, I will also say that the batch seems to be 3.23 08:55. Got it at Hendershot's Coffee in Athens, GA.

Appearance - Light clear copper amber body. Small white head with decent retention.

Smell - Mostly corn. Almost no hop presence, especially for a pale ale. Nutty with some banana. Smooth with no off smells.

Taste - Boozy and astringent. Reminds me of what I remembered Budweiser used to taste like when I was little and tried a sip for the first time. Aftertaste is a bit copper or metallic.

Mouthfeel - Astringency is offputting on the first sip, but on subsequent sips starts to mellow out a bit.

Overall Drinkability - This beer is really strange. I really want to like it. It has some different qualities that make me like it, but on the other hand the off-characters are so prominent that I can't help but admit I can't enjoy it. It's really a chore to drink, and I would really never again try this in my life. But it's definitely interesting. It's entirely possible I just got a skunked bottle, because based on the other reviews, it doesn't seem like I'm supposed to be getting what I am.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 01:11:23 | More by ZenAgnostic

argock

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. No freshness date although numerals for notching on back label. Received as a gift from a thoughtful friend -- thanks Anne!

A: Pleasing, clear amber with 1-finger of off-white tightly bubbled head with decent retention and numerous small spots of lace all around the glass.

S: Light but malty aroma with only some mild herbal hopping.

T: The maltiness really comes through nicely in the flavor with caramelly, lightly toasty, and mild nutty character. The hopping is very mild in flavor but with light-medium bitterness that grows with more tasting. The aftertaste is a little cardboardy in nature.

M: Very smooth with lively carbonation and light-medium body. Very easy to drink and a nice coating quality as well.

O: I liked this beer pretty well for its malt-slanted character, but I wish it had a little more malt complexity and maybe some Belgian yeast notes. All in all, I am glad I got the chance to try it and wouldn't shy away from it in the future. Palm would be a good gateway beer for people moving from BMC to better beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 02:10:04 | More by argock

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.75/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at Delaney's, served in its proper branded glass. The only 2-for-1 happy hour beer I hadn't reviewed already, so why not.

A: Crystal clear medium amber body beneath a very nice three-finger head of soft, frothy white foam. Great rocky retention, and plenty of lace. Gorgeous beer.

S: Bready malt, a touch of caramel, and grassy hops. There's a distinct vein of harsh huskiness that distracts me from the rest of its elements, though. Not terrible, but far from great.

T: Rough grainy sweetness dominates (sadly), with some welcome caramel leading in to a bittersweet, sticky finish. Even more boring and disappointing than the nose. Weak.

M: Hugely lively, prickly medium body. Meh.

O: I didn't have high expectations for this one, and it didn't even live up to them. Not a good beer at all, although not quite terrible enough to slam unrestrainedly.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2011 02:30:55 | More by woosterbill

NODAK

Tennessee

4.22/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Has an aroma of cereal grains and a honey-like sweetness. Fairly sweet on the nose, which differentiates it from other Euro lagers.

The taste of the body of the beer has a mixture of a cereal grains with the honey sweetness that was found on the nose. During the initial part of the taste, the two go together and provide a pretty good balance. Towards the finish, the sweetness really comes out and becomes dominant, allowing the beer to end on a sweet note. Again, this is the defining characteristic of this beer in my opinion and what will make it identifiable versus other beers like this. In fact, the website even boasts about the "honey-like sweetness".

Very drinkable beer here, albeit a pretty simple one. I'd choose this one any day versus most of the Euro lagers that I see in mass quantities when I go to the store.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 01:05:58 | More by NODAK

rel

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

You can skip the rest: Very well rounded beer.

If you're still reading, this beer pours with a little frothy head, amber and copper colors, minimal retention or lacing.

The smell is the nicest part of this beer. Sweet bready malts, lightly toasted, with hints of honey and fruits.

Crisp. I really like that word. It sums the beer up pretty well. Not too sweet and not too bitter makes a beer easy to drink. I hope this replaces Budweiser for the people, I guess they'll just have to make a Palm Light.

The beer leaves a little metallic aftertaste. Well carbonated, leaves me and my mouth feeling bubbly.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 04:21:09 | More by rel

ferrari29

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer poured on-tap at Brasserie Beck in DC into a Tulip shaped glass

A - Beer pours with a healthy looking dark copper, clear body; well carbonated; pleasant two finger white colored head formed; held very, very well; ringed lacing formed around the glass

S - Very smooth and delectable scents of toasted malt and biscuit; slight fruit aroma

T - Smooth biscuit malt flavor; touch of sweetness, fruit; well-balanced taste and clean finish; not much bitterness, but very enjoyable

M - Creamy and effervescent; lingering biscuit flavor

D - Great drink; very enjoyable; low alcohol content, but packed with roasted malt and biscuit flavor; give it a shot, you won't be disappointed

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2011 01:58:13 | More by ferrari29

Luigi

North Carolina

2.58/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours out a two finger head at first then settles down to a small lace around the glass.

The smell is slightly toasted malt, sweet, and a hint of hop bitterness. Oddly enough, the hops remind of an English pale ale more than a Belgian pale ale.

The taste is dominated by the sweet slightly toasted malt. Again, a hint of hops pull though as well a hint of Diacetyl.

Lightly carbonated and pretty smooth drinking

Overall, for a Belgian Pale Ale this ale fails. If this was an English pale ale, I would give it an average score.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 06:12:38 | More by Luigi

Avagadro

New Jersey

1.75/5  rDev -47.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

A: Pours a nice copper color with a thin foamy head, and moderate lacing emanating from the laser etching on my glass.

S: Aroma is very thin, with a noticeable hint of creamed corn. Instead of an esterful presentation of fruit and spices, I am dealt a mess of overcooked veggies and cardboard.

T: Low flavor, to appeal to the masses, with plenty of cardboard and corn to go around. Not only is it not flavorful, it is offensive.

M: watery and lifeless...

O: A pathetic brew that doesn't deserve to associate itself with its great country. At least Stella, while light, is well composed. This brew is a mess.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 00:46:26 | More by Avagadro

GratefulBeerGuy

New Hampshire

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

This one has an pure amber color with gold hues, active with a rather thin and small head for the style. minimal coverage.

The aroma is mostly honey-amber sweet malt, bready, toffee but tangy with a strange metallic smell.

A tangy, sour yeast, metallic edge, overlly sweet bready and honey malt takes control. Very strange balance, rather low complexity for Belgian yeast, very neutral. the hops are pretty hidden and the malt is overpowering.

crisp feel at first but also a bit mundane and dull for a Belgian brew.

Not one of my favorite Belgian experiences that's for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 22:41:19 | More by GratefulBeerGuy

nickthetick

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: pours a clear copper color into a palm balloon glass with a thin amount of light khaki hear that tries to hold on for a while but really can't.

S: I don't get much in the nose. Ok caramel malt qualities some sweet orange and I bit of bitter peel.

T: a lot like the nose only more so. Deeper malty sweetness and a better hop character. Tastes more like a pale ale than it looks or smells. More citrus notes.

MF: smooth, medium body, ok effervescence saves it from being too syrupy.

O: too sweet for my taste buds, for a pale ale that is. It seems to me this is more of an Amber ale than anything. I thought at first I was reviewing the wrong beer but this is how it is titled so it must be right.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2011 23:58:57 | More by nickthetick

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Amber pour, average head. Usual blase amber aroma, slight toastiness, not much hopping.

Mild carbonation, mild taste, even less hops than average, or US version. Didn't bring the appreciated yeast flavors from that region, but nothing offputting either. Watery at times.

Just didn't bring it. Too expensive to be part of a regular lineup. Glad I got to try it at SDIBF and not drop serious cash. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 22:47:42 | More by Beerandraiderfan

badun

Florida

2.58/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I was really looking forward to this beer as I've been in search of a good summer session ale for a while. I'm very disappointed in it based on price and what could have been. For $8.50 a six-pack (11.2 ounce bottles), I expect something more than a thin, nearly tasteless ale. I was not expecting a flavor punch in the mouth, but what taste there was mainly came from a slightly metallic and sour aftertaste. Nice looking head, pretty amber color liquid, and decent amount of alcohol (5.4%) but totally blah when it comes to taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 23:44:23 | More by badun

BucannonXC5

California

3.95/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a tap into a goblet. Color was dark red, almost brown. About 1 3/4 inches of head. Smelled fairly hoppy. Heavy smell, but rich and flavorful. Not too much carbonation. Pleasantly bitter and didn't taste much like the smell. It somehow got better as it went on. Very smooth taste for the high hops.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 08:09:20 | More by BucannonXC5

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured at the Sharp Edge Bistro On Penn, a crystal clear amber body with a white head fine even lacing. Aroma has a mild nuttiness with tame fruits, nice cereal grains with a pretty bland nose as a whole. Flavor wise is very much like any boring amber ale but with a heavy price tag in this case it was like 7.50 for a standard pour in a signature glass. Semi sweet grassy herbal hops a bit of caramel biscuit malt backing it all up let me down a very one dimensional snooze alert flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium bodied light carbonation really no fireworks. Overall really not interesting enough to peak my interest ever again, a beer that is Belgian but the age of mass produced marketing campaign in Belgian ales.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2011 16:58:44 | More by WVbeergeek