PALM BELGIUM ALE: A New Addition to 3 & L.

After numerous requests, we are proud to bring onboard PALM BELGIUM ALE! A unique offering from Belgium, home of the Strong Ales, here's a write up of PALM ALE from Greg Clow of Taste T.O. -Food and Drink in Toronto (no comments from the Peanut Gallery please):

The flagship beer from the family-owned Brouwerij Palm in Steenhuffel, Belgium, and known as Palm Speciale in its home country, Palm Ale is a bit of an anomaly in the world of Belgian ales. Bearing little similarity to the strong, malty and robust Trappist and Abbey-style ales that Belgium is most known for, Palm is instead a mellow amber ale more suited for quaffing on a patio than sipping by a fireplace.

This light and drinkable character was exactly what brewmaster Arthur Van Roy was attempting to capture in 1904 when he first brewed the beer that came to be known as Palm Speciale. Worried by the increasing popularity of Pilsners and other foreign lager styles throughout Belgium, a number of brewers in the province of Brabant started to craft beers that were lighter than typical Belgian ales but still brewed using traditional Belgian methods.

The resulting beers were branded as "Speciale", and once Van Roy's proved to be the most popular, he added "Palm" to the name, indicating it to be an award winner. Over a century later, Palm Speciale is now the best selling ale in Belgium, and while "best selling" isn't always analogous with "good quality" when it comes to beer, it is in this case.

Pouring a bright, clear golden amber with a creamy white head, Palm is visually attractive, especially when served in the distinctive branded glass. The aroma is mild, likely due to the thick and persistent head, but the notes the peek through are appealing, with hints of caramel malt and cut grass. The flavour is more noticeable, but still mellow and balanced, with some light fruitiness (peach and melon) and toasted malt, a hint of yeast in the middle, and a surprisingly dry finish with crisp hop notes. The finish in particular makes this a very drinkable beer, and at 5.4%, it's possible to enjoy a couple without doing your head in; something which certainly can't be said of many Belgian ales...

Next time you're in Third and Long, give it a try and write your own review of PALM ALE.