Steendonk
Brouwerij Palm NV

 

 

Nose reminiscent of lemon and a light wheat. Mouth simple, a little spicy but not too much and especially with a tangy side rather pronounced. The finish offers the same sensation, the lemon zest acid but it is without much conviction. Is reminiscent of the White Vedett but without the smell of lager. Witbier banal without ever done.

Sorry but this following comment is in french :

Appearance : Bière blanche de couleur jaune très pâle, limpide (sur levure ), finement saturée, mousse blanche serrée et stable.
Smell : Odeur douce et fromentacée, nez frais légèrement fruité et acide. Taste and mouthfeel : Saveur équilibrée et sèche de céréales, pointe acide puis légèrement amère, bon corps, bouche agréable et fine.
Drinkability : bonne bière blanche de style Belge

Sur pression (on tap) at the Mappa Mundo overlooking a great view of Saint-Gery in Brussels.

I had no say in the matter as the bartender threw - not one, but two - lemon wedges into the drink. They quickly sunk and sat on the bottom, causing steady release of a stream of minuscule bubbles. The colour is an odd lemon/lime tinge. The body is hazed and cloudy with a big white head that manages to leave behind a draping of lacing. It eventually would almost fade out, I think the citrus being the only thing keeping it - quite literally -afloat.

The aroma is weak and faint. Dominated by a bill of citrus housing lemon, lime and orange. Light spice only by means of coriander. Boring.

Perhaps it is only off tap but the mouthfeel is far, far too creamy for the style of witbier. This creaminess takes away any bout of refreshment. Entirely too smooth with no spice coming through. No texture of wheat, not even any acidity from the citrus either.

Flavour is that of stale coriander and dried out orange peel. The wheat is hardly present. Taste is thin and watery with any spicing being absent. The lemon wedges also really cut into the flavour - a lot - which for all I know may be a good thing, it doesn't really seem to hold any taste otherwise. This is a sub-par example of the style - and that's all there is to it.

Had on tap at Horta, in Antwerp.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, straw color with a white head that thins to a ring, leaving patchy lace.

Smell: Bananas, cloves and yeast. The pepper and characteristic witbier spice are present, but very light.

Taste: Lightly sweet fruitiness, bananas especially. There's some graininess and spice, but nothing strong or characteristic of a witbier. Lightly hoppy.

Mouthfeel: Watery with low carbonation.

Drinkability: Watery without sufficient carbonation, therefore not that great to drink.

The foam is half compact and half with big bubbles. Yellow turbid, milky appearance.
The smell is dried flowers, camomile, lightly fruity (apricot). Vanilla pudding? Then the spices (orange peel).
The taste is anonimous, light spicy, pepper. A point of sourness. Then camomile againa.
Light and drinkable, too much..
Aftertaste with some bitter, and ligh spices (orange).
No defects, but nothing remarkable.