Le Merle - North Coast Brewing Co.

rangerred

Tennessee

4.14/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle into a tulip.

Pours a nearly clear medium gold with a huge billowy white head. The head sticks around seemingly forever leaving huge globs of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Spicy aroma with pear, orange, and lemon that is very typical of a Saison. Nothing off at all that I can detect.

Flavor is more pear and lemon with a little bit of orange. There is some bready malt detectable in the background. While bitterness leans towards the light side the mouthfeel is very dry as any good saison should be leaving some lingering spice on the palate.

Overall, a really good example of the style although there is nothing that really stands out as unique. Nonetheless it is one that I would drink on a regular basis if it was cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:43:17 | More by rangerred

heygeebee

Australia

3.6/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

From Platinum.

Appearance - hazy light gold, less head than expected. Little lace or film.

Smell - yeast, orange peel, lemon zest.

Taste - funk, lemons, yeast, orange peel.

Mouthfeel. - light and zesty.

Overall - a flavoursome Saison.... Many underlying flavours in the base beer. Not as easy drinking as some... Is that a good or a bad thing ? :-)

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 12:50:55 | More by heygeebee

fatmusic14

Colorado

3.86/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

At first, I thought it looked like a substandard pilsner. I looked closer and noticed the waves upon waves of bubbles floating to the surface like Charlie. Its neverending, really. Decent head, thin but plentiful. Dissipates quickly but leaves about a quarter inch. No lacing.

Smells like the springtime. Herbal, earthy, citrusy with hints of other fruits.

Tastes almost exactly like it smells. Very subtle tones of lemongrass, banana. Not so subtle tones of grapefruit and small malty aftertaste.

M - Top Notch

O - Sure. Go ahead. Grab a few.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:23:31 | More by fatmusic14

BeerlyLegal

California

4.65/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Le Merle is a smooth brew for any celebratory occasion or summer evening. Hints of champagne and lady juices along with apples and natural herbs. Sourish with little aftertaste, this brew has pale/light characteristics and with a 7.9% ABV this makes it a perfect way to start or end the night.

Overall, this is as light of a Belgian I'll ever enjoy and would consider this to be the real champagne of beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 04:58:28 | More by BeerlyLegal

Jree261

California

4.16/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours cloudy golden out of the bottle with off white foam

S: Straw, stone, red fruit, citrus

T: Cherry, citrus, tastes like the beach on a summer day

M: Good medium full mouthfeel with round fruit.

O: Excellently balanced with a good finish. Makes me excited for summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:38:05 | More by Jree261

Meldrick

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I poured from a 750 ml cork and bale bottle into a large tulip glass. The first thing I observed was the brilliant orange color and the billowing off-white head. The aroma was citrusy and bready, reminiscent of a piece of toast with marmalade. The flavors were bright with the initial impact of fruitiness followed by the malts. The overall mouthfeel is average. Le Merle maintains a perfect balance of hoppy bitterness and sweetness of the malts. It finishes crisp and dry.

Le Merle is absolutely my favorite beer and my home is never without a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 05:58:55 | More by Meldrick

Murrhey

Montana

3.89/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml cork and cage bottle into a tulip glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. No brewed or best-by date. Reviewed live.

A- Ridiculous fluffy white head, four fingers in thickness with a retention that lasts for days. Fluffy white lacing and thick, hazy orange color.

S- Tropical fruits and interesting yeast character. Bubblegum, and some noble hops make this fairly attractive.

T- Extremely refreshing, strong hop character and a wet fruity smack to it. Really just a well-balanced, well constructed beer. Yeasty and noble hops.

M- Full-bodied and wet, with a little tangy feel as well.

O- Delightful beer in a style I'm growing to appreciate more and more.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 03:18:37 | More by Murrhey

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml Corked bottle...beautiful label and overall design. served in chalice. Significant carbonation and nice head...medium size...lace...lasting.
Aroma of amber malts and wheat.
Mouthfeel is bubbly for several minutes. Flavors of citrus, kiwi, berries, light honey, and a variety of spices. Minimal malts, hops or alcohol.
Ahhh...as a saison, well I'm partial to this style, this one is very nice. Not too sweet or spicy or funky, but full bodied and very tasty. At 7.9 abv it's higher than traditional farm worker saisons by a long shot, but that's fine for today's after work "let's have a few tasty gems" lifestyle. Ayieee!!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 06:21:45 | More by DenverLogan

blakelive784

Colorado

2.88/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12.7 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a tulip, reviewed live:

A - Pours a hazy honey golden color with a fizzy, white, two finger head. Retention is OK. Standard fare.

S - Lemon, light pepper, slight funk, doughy yeast, and crystal malt. Relatively simple for the style, though balanced and inviting.

T - Heavy citrus, light peppery spice and basic yeast. That's about it. Simple. Could be a nice base for a better beer.

M - Light, crisp and refreshing. Nearly ideal

D - Needs some serious work. Too simple. Run of the mill Saison. I wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 05:00:53 | More by blakelive784

kojevergas

California

2.68/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

375ml brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into an EKU 28 stem-snifter in me gaff in Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery. Acquired at Lukas Liquor in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm slightly over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

Yields a satisfying cork pop upon opening. No upsurging issues or anything.

A: Pours a two finger white colour head - a bit too thin - of slight cream, decent thickness, and good retention for the high ABV. Decent lacing. Body colour is a nontransparent translucent pale copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Not quite on par for the style, but generally inviting.

Sm: Light funkiness, pale malts, some dull lemon zest, and fairly stale citrus ester hops. An average strength aroma. Surprisingly, no yeast is detectable. No alcohol is detectable either.

T: Lemon and citrus zest in a dull and somewhat stale sense. Pale malts. Hints of funk. No real yeast character. No alcohol comes through. It's too simple; there's little to say about it. Lacks complexity and subtlety. Not particularly balance either. Meh. It leaves a lot to be desired. Lacks the subtle peppery character present in every quality saison I've had.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some tingly coarseness from the crystal malt. Decent carbonation. Okay palate presence. Doesn't feel custom-tailored to the flavours, but it works in general sense.

Dr: Drinkable but unremarkable. I wouldn't bother with this again. There are far better beers in the style. Not recommended. Hides its ABV well, but that's one of the few things it has going for it. A severe disappointment from North Coast.

C-

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 04:59:16 | More by kojevergas

bskrtz

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cork sealed small format bottle served cold in glass beer challis at Fat Pour, Chicago

A) Hazy, golden brass with billowy off white head

S) Lemon zest, alcohol esthers, sour dough & apricots

T) Outstanding - sweet caramel malts, mild hops, apple pie & other yummy baked goods

M) Well balanced, medium body. Alcohol is a bit high for the style but hardly noticable

O) Thoroughly enjoyed this beer but note: found it closer to a traditional Belgian blonde than Saison. Another good beer from the folks at North Coast.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 04:11:10 | More by bskrtz

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter

A: Golden with a white one finger head that lingers. Good lacing.

S: Citrus, lemons, Belgian yeast.

T: Follows nose. Light pepper in the mix. Smooth, tart and zesty. Dry finish. Very nice.

M: Medium, creamy, chewy. Good carbonation.

O: A great saison. Would drink again. One of my new favorites.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 17:01:02 | More by brewskifan55

CommanderOfAwesome

California

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a golden yellow with a light and fluffy head. decent head retention with tons of carbonation evident.

S: Very lemony with some zest and spice. Getting strong bready aroma as well.

T: Taste of a lemon bread with a tart dry finish. Light and refreshing.

M: Light to medium bodied, tons of carbonation on the tongue with a dry finish.

O: Very solid above average Saison. Great to drink during the day while doing an activity.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 21:26:47 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

silentdonkey

California

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Straw yellow, slight haze, with a fizzy white head that quickly dissolved.

S: Mild citrus and some peppery notes. A little hint of yeast. Not a whole lot going on here.

T: Very nice dry, crisp, and refreshing Saison. A slight spiciness/pepper from the yeast, mild malt flavors, and a bit of citrus (lemon & grapefruit).

M: Very carbonated. Has a nice crisp tinge. Perfect summer time beer.

O: A very solid Saison for the price. Not very complex, but its simplicity works.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 22:20:19 | More by silentdonkey

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750mL bottle into an Allagash cervoise glass.

A: Copious white, fizzy head. Clear gold, slight haze. Definite carbonation.

S: Spicy grain. Boring yeast. Cracked white pepper.

T: Sharp and engaging, this is a good beer. The maintaste is spicy yeast and not much else. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy it a lot, but it's fairly one-dimensional. The endtaste is drying and lightly peppery.

M: Insanely spicy, carbonated, and bright without ever being overbearing. This is like drinking a bright spring day's sunshine.

O: Highly recommended. Would have again, and again. Very drinkable, very pleasant, very spicy.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 04:56:47 | More by AgentMunky

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap, at the shitty brewpub restaurant. A very attractive beer, bright yellow, tons of cloudiness, pristine white head, about 1.24" in depth. Looks very nice. Good dry aroma from it, mild clove, if at all, nice. Citrus is in the right amount, lemon, ever so slight orange, grains of paradise, mango.

Taste, more of the same, very dry, mildly citrus, plenty enjoyable and easy to drink. Stays away from belgian phenols, banana and bandaids, pretty clean, minimal funk. A tad of pepper to it. Barely perceptible, which is to say its right where it needs to be. Carbonation is high, but appropriate.

Overall, this is one of my favorite saisons out there. Doesn't get a lot of hype for a few reasons, its not Old Rasputin, most of North Coast's other stuff is just mediocre, and its readily available.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2012 16:47:55 | More by Beerandraiderfan

beergoot

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice light yellow body with a rich, thick white head. Sweet and sour (tart) smell; grapefruit, oranges, sweet spiciness, light malt notes. Soft, smooth, and dry body; medium-heavy in nature. Slightly sweet malt taste with a stronger tartness.

A superbly balanced and complex beer. All factors meld well and compliment each other, making for a delicious late summer (or in the case early fall) adult beverage. Not too sweet, not too tart, alcohol doesn't dominate anything -- a real pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 22:32:09 | More by beergoot

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

outstanding saison here. this is easily my favorite north coast beer to date. it pours a pale goldenrod color, cloudy but neat looking at the same time. a one and a half inch head rests on top and doesnt go away. the nose is great, fresh farmy yeast delivers a very organic feel, not as funky as some saisons, but refined and elegant. the yeast is the star of the show here, but there is a nice wheaty malt base and some gentle fruit flavors, golden raison, tangerine, lemongrass. its a very well balanced beer, completely devoid of any alcohol presence, despite being nearly 8% abv. it still feels like a felicate brew at that level. the feel is great, excited carbonation gives it a really bright mouthfeel. the body is medium, and really satisfyingly drinkable. at less than 6 bucks a bottle, this is one of the better beers my money has bought lately. a great late summer/early fall saison.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 19:23:42 | More by StonedTrippin

micjah

4.23/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Slightly hazey golden yellow color that creates a large healthy off-white head.

S: I smell sweet and spicey with a faint honey and fruity undertones.

T: A nice musty yeast funk with some honey and other minor spices (maybe pepper), exactly what strong summer seasonal should be..

M: Great carbonation, with an extremely smooth start and a dry tart finish that prevents you from putting the glass down without taking another sip

One of my favorite farmhouse, strong summer ales that I have ever sampled. I really like this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2012 18:28:27 | More by micjah

sommersb

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 08-06-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 375ml brown bottle, corked and caged
Glassware: Tulip
Purchased: Single from Grace's, Nashville

Hazy yellow color, with a white head of 3 fingers. Shows good lacing and very good retention.

Aromas are spicy, fruity (lemons), and peppery. Also has some musty Belgian yeast smells. Taste is zesty and spicy, with tropical fruits. Bitterness is low. Very tasty.

Feel has a lively carbonation on a medium body. Finishes with a good balance of sweet fruitiness and a dryness from the yeast.

Overall a very impressive saison. I'd pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 00:20:25 | More by sommersb

DivaTron

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- A dull amber. A bit cloudy and syrupy. A glassful of foam at first... thick enough to chew. Beautifully sparkling. Fun, inconsistant lacing that at one point will linger for minutes, and at others disappears immediately.

S- Just a bit sharp. Fresh, buttery, with a hint of basil... or fresh cut grass. It's summertime in this bottle.

T- An easy-going saison. It delivers some herbal seasoning... but mostly sticks to a clean buttery palate. As some sweetness develops the butter turns into a pleasant caramel. Very upfront. Fades into a pleasant coppery/metallic bitter-tang. Truly, excellently refreshing.

M- Front-forward presence on the tongue and roof of the mouth... very little going on backside. Some nice carbonation that adds bite but doesn't distract from the smooth buttery taste. Most of the flavor fades quickly enough to leave you with just a hint of alcohol.

I often look for a saison that is steeped with black pepper and herbal spiciness/weirdness. This might be the opposite. But the delivery is very good. It's crisp and buttery, with most of it's flavors in the foreground... with little left underneath to ponder. These are all good and bad things depending on what you are looking for. But it fills a niche that I haven't quite seen before, and for that I commend it.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 04:02:31 | More by DivaTron

GilGarp

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375 mL bottle served cool into a goblet.

Le Merle is a beer that has, for whatever reason, eluded us in Colorado. We get most of the other North Coast beers here but this is the first time I've seen Le Merle on the shelf.

The cork releases with a loud pop and I pour it straight into the glass. It has a slightly hazy pale yellow color with thin white head. It settles slowly but leaves no lace.

Aroma is evident even from a short distance away. A beautiful Belgian yeast provides a pleasant fruity smell. A little bit of spice in there too.

The flavor is much more bold with big notes of spice, pepper, and lemon. It is subtly sweet at first but turns more funky and tart towards the middle. It finishes dry leaving me longing for another sip.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and high in carbonation but on par for the style.

Overall a well done saison and one I'm glad to have in our state.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 22:27:11 | More by GilGarp

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml. bottle, corked and caged, poured into a tulip glass.

A: Deep golden in color, almost orange, with a foamy white head that slowly settles. Lacing is solid and sticky.

S: Yeasty up front, with some honey notes, giving way to some citrus, pepper, and grassy undertones.

T: Fresh bread and funky yeast in the foreground, with a mid-palate consisting of pepper, citrus, and fruity esters. Finish is clean and has a grassy note.

Notes: Moderate to medium in body, with a very clean mouthfeel. Great complex flavor and balance make this a very palatable brew. For the money, Le Merle is a steal, as it rivals some of its Belgian counterparts.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 05:03:19 | More by WYVYRN527

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I love this bottle. It is artsy and minimalistic with its outline of a merlin bird. I especially love the subtle touches of yellow for the beak, eye, and beer name. The color scheme is simple: black, white, and gray with touches of yellow. I also love the choice to cork this beer. I think fat bulbous corks are awesome, and I love the little twisty things that go over it, as well as the designs on the top of the little twisty things. Overall the bottle feels classy and simplistic and I really enjoy it. This bottle is definitely worthy of a prime spot on your shelf.

The beer pours a nice paling yellow at the bottom of the glass with a slight oranging on the top. It’s almost straw yellow with a slight ambering at the top, and a huge fat whit bubbly head that has a decent retention, and sticks to the sides of the glass, forcing peaks to run up the edges in a wall of lacing. The beer is also quite hazy, but sits in the glass beautifully. The smell is light and fruity sweet with some nice lingering spices and a strong underlying citrus orange kick. Pineapple also seems to be present in the smell, which is lovely.
The beer tastes quite strangely bitter, with a very harsh cut on the tongue. There is a nice light fruity flavor to this beer, much like the smell with spicy hints and very sour feel in the mouth and on the tongue which has got me lips puckering slightly. This is far more of a sour-ale than any other saison I have tried, reminding me more and more of a lambic ale. Carbonation and harsh bitter/sour attacks the tongue right off the bat and hides some of the more slight spicy flavors that seem to exist as ghosts in the beer. The beer leaves the tip of the tongue tingling with harsh bubbles, and thus mutes a lot of the after-flavor as well. Orange and slight pineapple are still present in the flavoring. Overall I feel like the beer sits too sweet and harsh on the tongue which kills other flavors complexity and doesn’t really make it for me. This beer has an awesome bottle and pours very lovely in a glass, but its taste and smell don’t deliver. I rank this a meh beer with an awesome bottle (I really like the bottle if you haven’t noticed…).

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 00:32:58 | More by Maxwell

chugalug06

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A good looking bottle. Nice subtle label. Brew pours three-finger, white, fluffy soap, head. Brew is Very murky orange-yellow.

Pineapple, orange, lemon, pepper, and Belgian spice. Slightly tart.

Very smooth and drinkable. High carbonation, wet and refreshing. Lemon, orange and peppery-spice dominate. Yep, is a mild tart saison.

Whoa. This brew totally caught me off-guard, as it sat on the shelf, I almost passed it by... Glad I didn't. Highly recommended at the $7 price and for an easy summer drinker. Compares well to Great Divides Colette.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 03:26:01 | More by chugalug06