Merlin's Ale - Broughton Ales Ltd

zeff80

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared with my brother-in-law, who also likes wizards and also likes beer.

A - Poured out a hazy, amber color with a one finger, khaki head of bubbly foam. It left some sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of sweet malts, bread crust, caramel and a light notes of toffee.

T - It had a warming malty presence with caramel, toffee and sweet bread. Slightly bitter with a touch of grassiness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a nice English Ale, but like most I'm sure it is much better closer to the source.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 21:13:55 | More by zeff80

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter glass.

This beer is copper orange with a one finger white head. The smell is quite malty, lot of caramel and toffee and some bitter hops. Taste is the same, fairly bitter, some fruitness to it. A good bit of caramel, toffee and irish cream. Mouthfeel is smooth and drinkable but the beer itself is rather light for my taste. Overall, its pretty decent, I wish it were bigger.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 21:55:08 | More by TwelveOunces

Kromes

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A gold color with a slight chill haze and a thin line of white bubbles on top.

S: A nice toasted grainy malt and yeast aroma with a touch of hop and cherries in the background.

T: The toasted malt flavor provides a great base to this beer and lets the fruity esters and hop really come through. The beer is not very sweet nor is it bitter. The finish is somewhat dry and has a cherry flavor that lingers.

M:Light and refreshing. Finish is dry.

O: I wasn't expecting much here, so I was pleasantly surprised. This would make a good porch beer in the summer.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 13:33:39 | More by Kromes

obywan59

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear golden-orange with a 3 finger off-white head that leaves decent lacing.

The aroma is of toasted grain, lemony hops and sweet honey.

The taste seems more subdued than the aroma. I'ts lightly sweet with more toasted grain, and some light bitter hops and more lemon in the end.

Rather light in body and a bit drying, but somewhoat oily as well.

This brew is a very easy drinker. As light and tasty as it is, it seems to beg for a hot summer night.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 02:34:10 | More by obywan59

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a relatively clear golden orange with a thin white mousse that laces much deeper into the glass than one would expect.

S: Aromas of lemon candy, caramel, toffee, and earthy, tobacco-tinged hops are present on the nose. Very subtle and refined.

T: Notes of caramel, toffee, minerals, lemon candy, brown butter, leather, tobacco, and earthy, almost mossy ale hops. The finish is clipped and refreshing with rounded notes of earthy hops, leather, and toffee.

M: Medium-bodied, firm, and dry. Carbonation is active and crisp. Very quaffable.

O: This is a very nice Scottish bitter. As with just about every one of Broughton's ales, the flavor profile is subtle, complex, and intriguing. If you consider yourself a fan of English and/or Scottish ales, this one is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 16:44:40 | More by mrfrancis

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was a contribution from a friend to my fridge. It was nice to get something different from the norm.

The beer looks like apple juice in color. Now that I mention it... a minimal head and carbonation reasserts my comment; this looks kind of like apple juice.

Off the top I pick up peatyness and a sweetness in this beer. It smells like a refined english style.

This tastes like a good example of an ESB. I pick up the bitterness of the english hopping in this beer.

I'm glad I got to try this beer. It was a good experience.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 00:18:41 | More by ummswimmin

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This magical ale poured a nice copper color that was accompanied by a wonderful head that hung to the glass till the last drop.
Merlin's aroma was fruity and malty put also like old lipton tea.
Flavor was malty with some fruit flavors and a fairly light body.
Merlin was a very sessionable beer. However, I am not sure that I would like to explore its flavor on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 03:21:29 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

bum732

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

S: Very rich and malty, very grassy. Somewhat floral with some lavender.

L: Slightly hazy golden yellow, white head with decent lacing that dissipates.

T: Clean semi-sweet bread crust like malt. Medium grassy bitterness. Touch of herbal tea-like notes in the background. Finishes with a touch of sweetness and clean like spring water.

M: Medium carbonation, medium-bodied. Very clean.

A solid beer, not sure i would call it an ESB. Very clean maltiness, i'm sure it's much better fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 02:57:07 | More by bum732

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

With a vigorous pour, a sudsy, white, moderately diffuse head pops up atop this ale, collapsing weakly but leaving some lasting foamy swirls and light splotches of lacing. It sports a nice reddish-amber color and sits quite clear. Distinctly British big strong estery aroma - some unidentifiable fruit - with some ultra-light hops wafting on the perimeter. But, really, fruitiness is the name of the game with the smell and the taste. Some mild bitterness shows up front, lingers a little through the fruity wash immediately following. Real juicy and not much else. The malt feels a little suppressed in the middle of the flavor, though some light biscuit and bitter show in the finish as it warms. While it rolls soft and smooth across the tongue to the middle, after that it abruptly extinguishes like a snuffed match, dropping off kind of dry. Carbonation throughout is light and tickles just the edges of the palate. While it leaves wanting much more depth to the taste, I can't deny it drinks well - ideal for sessioning - as it leaves no footprints.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 01:38:25 | More by Bouleboubier

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.03/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Copper color, looks impressive. Aroma was almost macroesque corn or wheat?

Taste, can't believe this is an ESB, tastes more like a mild. Very muted, can't see what the fuss is about this. Just very watery. Everything is lesser than expected, the bitterness, alcohol, hops, caramel, just everything. Expensive for the lack of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2010 17:22:19 | More by Beerandraiderfan

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Into a pint glass, it poured a hazy amber/orange with two fingers of white, good carbonation, and good retention and lacing. The aroma included apple, tea, toffee, and malt. The taste began on a heather woodsy note, progressed to a malty/fruity blend midpalate, and finished on a soft tea-like flavor. Some fruitiness lingered afterwards. Smooth, medium-bodied, and spritzy. Great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 17:59:14 | More by donniecuffs

damndirtyape

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Single bottle (best by March 2011) poured into a Nonic glass.

Appearance: Clear orange-yellow copper color. Poured a 1/4" off white foamy head, which died down to a thin film of foam across the top. No lacing noted.

Smell: When cold and first poured - yeast, grapes, and hints of apples. As it warmed up, the yeast was replaced a stronger toasted malt smell and grapes/apples were diminished.

Taste: Toasted malts with a mild bitter finish with grape and sweet apple aftertaste. The more it warmed up (towards the bottom of the glass), the bitterness got stronger, but never extreme, and toasted malts are much more forward in flavor.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, juicy, and refreshing with each sip or large slug.

Drinkability: VERY drinkable. A definite session beer and I imagine it would be wonderful in a pub pulled from a cask. For how I got it in a bottle, it went fantastic with a meal (porkchops and tarragon beans). I really liked this beer and I wish this beer were available in 6 packs so I could have another right now. I find this beer notable for being very drinkable in both cold and warm forms - and each beer temperature has its own character. I will be picking up a bottle of this again next chance I get.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 23:50:02 | More by damndirtyape

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pint served by handpump into a shaker pint glass at the Guildford Arms in Edinburgh

A- Light copper body with excellent clarity. A 1 finger creamy head with good retention and lacing.

S- Minimal nose, some faint floral hop otherwise nothing to describe

T- Taste is also minimal, a faint malt sweetness balances to a tame hop bitterness that does not last long in the finish.

M- Low carbonation, creamy

D- Lack of flavour profile lets this ale down, otherwise mouthfeel makes it an easy drinking ale.

Serving type: cask

07-04-2010 02:43:11 | More by seanyfo

revolution

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - a medium gold ale, small head, sticky lace, looks to be relatively low carbonation

S - malt, grain, mild fruity odor, touch of hop aroma

T - malty sweetness with a hint of caramel fruitiness, apple, hop bitterness is there - moderate - and increases as the ale warms (may have poured it a bit cold), nice dry finish

M - light to medium body, smooth, low carbonation

D - tasty session beer. Great aroma, moderate hop bitterness with supportive maltiness. An impressive Scottish bitter.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2010 00:24:14 | More by revolution

PerroGrande

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours to a slightly hazy golden color. The amount of foam is moderate. It laces out fairly quickly, but solidly adheres to the side of the glass and lasts throughout the drinking process.

Smell: Hint of hops, maybe a bit of citrus in there. The aroma of this beer is very light.

Taste: Certainly not overwhelming or overpowering, but very enjoyable. Opens with a mildly hoppy bitterness. Citrus hints on the back of the throat follow, as does a nicely balanced hops and malt finish. The brew is smooth throughout, and there are not pronounced peaks and valleys of flavor.

Mouthfeel: Light, with a slight carbonation "fizz".

Drinkability: Very good. This beer would work nicely as a session beer and would complement a nice array of foods. Not the best ESB I've ever experienced, but a nicely balanced, enjoyable example of the style. This beer might be a good choice as a "bridge" beer between BMC and craft, or as an introduction to the ESB style.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 03:16:52 | More by PerroGrande

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.18/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a three finger off-white head that fades slowly, leaving a good lace. Nearly clear amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Watery, hoppy nose. Flavor does not follow the smell fortunately, a balanced ESB with some sweetness and hints of bitterness at finish. $5.35 for a 500ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2009 22:36:54 | More by jdhilt

Monsteruss

Colorado

4.63/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After pouring this wonderful ale, it had a nice wheat foam that was nice and pleasant to smell. The color of this great beer was a medium amber with some staying power. It has a light, yet robust and a great beaque smell with a light hops and complex flowery taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 22:50:21 | More by Monsteruss

atis

Finland

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear copper with low white head, the glass is full of small carbonation bubbles, slowly downsliding lacing. Aroma is rather simple, but pleasant sweetish caramel, light hops.

Taste starts with stronger hops with caramel malt, some frutiness sets in the dry finish. Light-medium body, low carbonation and some very light warming sensation.

Overall, quite light, but very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2009 20:25:17 | More by atis

brentk56

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy light amber color with a foamy head that laces better than expected

Smell: Primarily grainy, with a hint of biscuity malt

Taste: Biscuity, up front, with a developing grainy character appearing by mid-palate; the grainy flavors persist after the swallow, with a slight hint of lemony bitterness

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A session ale, no doubt, and I am not sure that I would characterize this as an ESB; I'm not that crazy about the flavor profile, to be honest

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 18:31:56 | More by brentk56

cvfish

Louisiana

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - This beer poured a cloudy orange color that produced a small white head that did not retain and barely laced

S - The aromas produced by this beer were simple, grains and citrus

T - The taste of this beer a had a sweet malty taste to it, some citrus to it, and a slight wash of bitter hops at the end

M - The mouthfeel of this beer had a light body to it with good bit of carbonation to it, more artificial feeling than anything

D - Maybe I have been corrupted by American hops, but my buds did not pick up many hops tastes to it, and the price of this beer leaves a lot to be desired, cannot see myself picking this one up again

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2009 21:35:28 | More by cvfish

froghop

Washington

2.98/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours a clear pale orange with a very small egg-shell head, and some lacing.

smell is of corn, malt, touch of citrus, hops, and caramel.

taste is crisp, watery, tangy, grain, some citrus, hops, some caramel, and malt, ends with a little bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2008 01:37:43 | More by froghop

champ103

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a murky pale orange color. A large white head forms that gently recedes and leaves a little lace behind.
S: Malty and peaty aromas with a nice woodiness. Some very faint fruitiness as well.
T: Sweet, toasty malt. A bit musky. A metallic and coper flavor as well.
M/D: A light body that is thin and watery. Smooth and easy to drink though. I would not have a problem making this a session.

Just an average bitter in my opinion. It is a plan beer and not complicated. It seems to be lacking in body and boldness of flavors that I love in other ESB's though.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2008 01:29:59 | More by champ103

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a beautiful golden to copper with a frothy white head, and lacing which lasts throughout the beer.

Sweet fruit, almost peach or citrus with faint hop notes.

Again, quite sweet, almost candy like, with faint hops on the back of the palate and perhaps some light woody notes as well.

Nice balance, with a little bit of bite in the aftertaste. Very smooth, but slightly syrupy.

This ESB is easy to drink and fairly true to character from others I have experienced. It does lack something in the taste, which I cannot pinpoint, but overall, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2008 03:07:27 | More by CHADMC3

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: Poured a pale straw-orange color with a thin sudsy white head leaving little or no lacing behind.

S: a faint fruity aroma of apples, and honey malting with some light fresh citrus notes.

T: The flavor was clean and crisp with a light grassiness for hopping with a light malt sweetness rounding things out for the finish.

M: smooth and nicely carbonated providing a light tingling sensation.

D: Labeled as a bitter but the hops seem very subdued and light per style. A lightly hopped ESB drinking more like a lager. Moderately good.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2008 23:09:20 | More by beerthulhu

sschliv

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nothing overly impressive about this one.

Poured golden-amber with a small head that quickly dissipated.

Aroma was mildy sweet.

Taste started sweet with only a mild hoppy aftertaste.

Mild carbonation and low alcohol content made this a easy drinking ale.

I wouldn't go out of my way to find this one again, but wouldn't pass it up at the local pub.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2008 00:59:50 | More by sschliv