Merlin's Ale
Broughton Ales Ltd

Merlin's AleMerlin's Ale
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From:
Broughton Ales Ltd
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Pale Ale
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 11.63%
Reviews:
82
Ratings:
97
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 21, 2020
Added:
Aug 17, 2001
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
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Ratings by oberon:
Photo of oberon
Reviewed by oberon from North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a nice clear golden with a two finger sticky head that leaves a fair amount of lace,light aroma of caramel and like a few others have noted a soft lemony note comes thru but its faint.This is a soft and subtle ale but thats not all a bad thing a firm and lightly sweet malt stand out with just a touch herbal/spiceyness going on.Now this is a true sessions ale flavorful but light well made for what it is.one of the lighter ESB's I have come across not sure if I would put it into that category maybe just a standard UK bitter?
Dec 19, 2004
More User Ratings:
Photo of drmeto
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany

3.27/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.25
10.5°P
4.2%Alc.
Hops: Perle/bramling Cross/East Kent Goldings/Citra
Malt: Pale/Crystal
L:
-pours a clear deep golden with a small to medium,foamy,white head
-low to medium carbonation visible
S:
-grapefruit,caramel,Honey,Peach,faint toffee
T:
-Follows the nose + spicy
F:
-medium carbonation
-light, watery body
O:
o.k Bitter that really lacks in terms of mouthfeel.
Jul 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.6 by Sexmortus from Arizona

Aug 06, 2018
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.92/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Pours a dull copper, hefty, 3/4" white head. Aroma was almost malt liquor like, corn, sweetness.

Taste isn't bitter, this comes off less an esb and more a british mild. Its like drinking a light beer with a a tad bit heftier weight to it. I don't really get this beer, seems more like a novelty product for the artwork (which is cool) more than anything. Only sold in an inconvenient and expensive format, and it isn't even that good. Would not bang again.
Nov 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by Foley67 from Scotland

Jan 03, 2015
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

3.12/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
500ml Bottle from Aldi Supermarket, Scotland (£1.59):
Clear, medium amber with a foamy white head that stops just short of being patchy.

Some hops & earthy notes with a few grassy ones alongside a touch of sweetness & freshly cut grass. Biscuit malts & some floral notes with some light grain feature but the beer isn't the strongest on the nose, although balance is good.

Biscuit malts & faint sweetness, a slight tang initially with nice floral flavours backed up by caramel & a bitter aftertaste. Some earthy hops round things off.

Light-medium & smooth, although there was the odd touch of grain. Dry with moderate carbonation & a fair balance although the mouthfeel seemed the weak link in this beer, only just though.

Started not too badly at all with a nice hoppy taste & bitterness but to be honest it was a fairly standard beer & it wasn't too exciting either sadly. It's drinkable but not great, nor is it one I'll pick up again I'm afraid.
Jun 30, 2014
Photo of charlatan
Reviewed by charlatan from Scotland

3.33/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Half pint at 'spoons in Greenock. Light gold coloured beer with relatively little head and not much of a nose, but certainly on the metallic side. That metallic smell was reflected in slightly leafy hops which dominate here (not huge, but firmly in control). This is not at all sweet and has a dry finish.
Jun 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hanglow from Scotland

May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by poolemhore from Maine

May 18, 2014
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.31/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A 500ml bottle with a BB of March 2014, so it's just out of date. Hopefully still OK. Acquired a while back from a supermarket. The label states that the beer is named after the legendary wizard Merlin who lived in Caledonia.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A deep, hazy amber colour with light carbonation. Forms a large head of creamy off-white foam with good stability; this slowly reduces to a thick surface layer. Good lacing. Aroma of biscuity grain with hints of light caramel, subtle floral hops, grass/hay, fruity ale yeast and faint stewed leaves. Pleasant but a bit dull.

Tastes of grainy malt with a dry finish. Notes of mild caramel, biscuity grain, faint floral hops, grass/hay, fruity ale yeast and stewed leaves. A touch of cardboard in the background. Well-attenuated, followed by a restrained, leafy bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and dry, with soft carbonation and decent body. Somewhat astringent, accompanied by an aftertaste of stewed leaves, ale yeast and faint malt.

Hmmm - OK though nothing special. Looks pretty good, while the aroma and flavour have a tired blend of grainy malt and mild, grassy hops. Body is alright. It's fine but a rather boring brew - where's the magic? No need to hunt it down.
Apr 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jerseyislandbeer from Jersey

Apr 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Evil_Pidde from Sweden

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Bandi from New York

Sep 29, 2013
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation along with hints of amber hues. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that quickly died down, leaving some lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of fruity yeast are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the overall taste is quite fruity and also has some hints of pale malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer goes down easily and is quite sessionable. I enjoyed the fruity yeast flavors in the smell and taste.
Sep 29, 2013
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the 16.9 ounce bottle into a Samuel Smith English tulip pint glass.

a: A clear amber formed an inch high white head which receded to a surface foam film and lacing.,

s: Moderately malty. Nice!

t: Reminds of drinking British Real Ale in English pubs. Malty and full of body, with a fairly dry malt finish. This despite the "Best By" date of 11/12, (or perhaps because of it?) Probably why it was on sale for $2.

m: Surprisingly and pleasingly hefty considering its clarity.

o: This is a traditional style English/Scottish brew, which is generally unpopular in the US these days, but which I really enjoy, perhaps partly because it brings back fond memories of touring the UK in the 80s and 90s. There are many much better summer refreshers, but if you want a tasty malty pint, this will definitely satisfy!
Aug 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by harpus from Alabama

Mar 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Nov 09, 2012
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
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.
Nov 02, 2012
Photo of TwelveOunces
Reviewed by TwelveOunces from Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
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.
Jul 05, 2012
Photo of Kromes
Reviewed by Kromes from Georgia

3.94/5  rDev +9.1%
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.
Jul 02, 2012
Merlin's Ale from Broughton Ales Ltd
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 97 ratings