Le Merle
North Coast Brewing Co.

Le MerleLe Merle
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From:
North Coast Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Saison
Ranked #528
ABV:
7.9%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,428
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10%
Reviews:
544
Ratings:
1,428
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 24, 2024
Added:
Jun 03, 2007
Wants:
  49
Gots:
  184
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Patrick999:
Photo of Patrick999
Reviewed by Patrick999 from Florida

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cool, a domestic saison. I'd seen this one before but for some reason never thought to try it. 750ml bottle, corked and caged.

A - With some firm coaxing, the cork gave way in a controlled manner. Poured into a goblet, passes the saison appearance test with flying colors. Very substantial soapy meringue head, cloudy gold body. Ranks right up there with the very best Belgian examples of saison.

S - Passes the saison aroma test, too. A little peppery, but not quite so much peppery as a fruity aroma I can't quite place. Maybe some apple, strawberries that are about to go bad...also perhaps the pungent smell of lychees about to go bad.

T - Interesting, not really too hoppy saison, more of a wheatgrass taste, with some of that about-to-ferment fruit. Near 8% ABV not terribly noticeable, just peeking through occasionally. There's a definite element of funk as it warms. A lot of interesting flavor, but somehow doesn't come off to me as very integrated or locked in, maybe due to seeming a bit heavy on the pungent fruits. And I'm not crazy about the aftertaste, which to me almost seems macro lager-like, shockingly. I'm not knocking this too much, though, as it is complex and not at all boring. In edit, I agree with the guy below, though, this could use more of the peppery spice to balance it out, or more hop.

F - Has the Belgian feel pretty well down, feels pillow-light even though carbonation is high. Medium body.

D - As is often typical of the style, easy to drink. As someone who loves this style, I'd pick up again. It might not be quite as dialed in as some of the Belgian examples, but it's very clear that the guys at North Coast did their homework. I like seeing American brewers make beers like this, and I like it even better when they make it all the way down to the tip of Florida.
Aug 22, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.58 by minterro from California

Jan 24, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by MEnoMoney

May 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.53 by rpmello81 from California

Mar 18, 2023
Photo of RaulMondesi
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer doesn’t make me want to do anything. I don’t want to think about what could have been; I don’t want to think about what may be; I don’t want to pop on TCM; I don’t want to take out the trash… I “don’t” I am in a moment of “don’t.” It’s just so, and also… I get nothing from this beer. And in turn, momentarily, I want nothing.

Clean up after yourselves, my children.
Feb 03, 2023
Photo of maltmaggot
Reviewed by maltmaggot from California

4.12/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
appearance: golden/brass hued
smell: buscuits and honey, very light nectarine
taste: stronger honey, dried apples, pears, barely perceptible yeast. not a whole lot of malt presence, although I think that's intentional. in a word, fruity.
texture: fine carbonation, medium to light body leaning more toward light
overall: an interesting, fruity belgian style beer. it hides the alcohol extremely well, almost undetectable.
May 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.78 by Hophazzard from California

Oct 17, 2021
Photo of BerkeleyBeerSleuth
Reviewed by BerkeleyBeerSleuth from California

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Body is a nice golden amber. Aroma is spicy and almost like a sweet cider. Taste is of apple cider, fruity esters banana, bubble gum, and pear puree. Finishes slightly dry and warm, but the alcohol is well concealed. Bitterness is moderate to low depended on how much bitterness you like. Very good.
Sep 24, 2021
 
Rated: 3.56 by Curt3 from Ohio

Aug 29, 2021
 
Rated: 3.46 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Apr 26, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by JTuomi from Finland

Mar 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Eychung from New York

Jan 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by DerwinWentworth from Utah

Dec 02, 2020
Photo of frankdatank1337
Reviewed by frankdatank1337 from California

4.14/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great drinkable Saison. Gives you everything you want from a Saison without being pretentious. I'd recommend this to anybody who wants to try one for the first time.

Poured outta bottle into a Tulip glass.
Color is golden orange. Thin head. Smells like honey (faint smell). Mouth feel is smooth with lots of carbonation. Taste is cloves and honey. Simple yet amazing.
Oct 27, 2020
Photo of Ahypercube
Reviewed by Ahypercube from California

4.72/5  rDev +21%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
North Coast makes another clear strike for a perfect example of a classic style. The bottle has class and style, and the mostly-transparent apple juice body looks great with the fine eggshell white froth on top. Lacing covers the glass in dancing snowflakes.

Big notes of honeycrisp apple hit the nose off the bat, followed by ripe banana, walnut, lemon, coriander and clove.

Apple juice and honey are married with rhubarb and lemon, backed by walnut and clove bitterness with hints of oatmeal and dark chocolate on the finish.

Full-bodied and creamy with a tart bite; it's like an apple pie with bananas and walnuts--just missing the vanilla bean gelato.

North Coast never ceases to amaze me. My new favorite from them. Cheers!
Jul 10, 2020
Photo of Gordono
Reviewed by Gordono from Nevada

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I was surprised I enjoyed this beer so much. It wasn’t as sour as I feared it would be. It was very well balanced. The little bit of sourness was balanced with a little bitter and some sweetness. And the finish was clean dry, no lingering aftertaste. Looked great, golden yellow with a resilient white head. And quite sparkling. The nose was a little yeasty.

I would recommend and seek out this beer again.
Jun 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.11 by QuakeAttack from California

Jun 04, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 13, 2020
Le Merle from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 1428 ratings