North Coast Le Merle

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Fort Bragg, California USA

Bottle. Yeast and subtle fruity aroma. Light hay colored hazy appearance. There is a hint of spice in the flavor. With the apple undertones there is also a certain dryness I like. A nice interpretation of an often overlooked style. I really dig this.

Corked bottle bought at Sam’s and served in my NB worthy glass: Slightly hazed golden hue with a light fluffy head and provided excellent lacework upon the glassware. The aroma has notes of prickly pear, mango and crabapple, pepper and sweet basil, honey cereal, grassy and dirty yeast esters.

The taste starts with equal doses of twangy fruit and sweet malt with just a quick dash of cobweb yeast. The finish has a light spiced and herbal hop character along with strange nuttiness. The mouth feel is sprite and refreshing but the alcohol which is hidden well when cooler does start to show a bit after warming. If the carbonation was a tad tighter and the finish a bit more dryer, this would be a 4+ beer. Still I found this a worthy effort and something you should try.

Cloudy orange, with a thick rocky head. Sweet toasty aroma, mixed with some fruity notes. Flavor is citrusy - mango? - and apples and pears, with a dryish finish. Tasty stuff!

Bottle at Stone. Hazy yellow with a fizzy white head. Slightly sour aroma with barn yard funk. Ctirus taste with hay notes and a dry finish.

The aroma was estery with a strong fruity presence which presented as a tad sweet when first poured. As the head formed a well achieved earthy and peppery characteristic emerged. The aroma reminded me of mango. The beer was clear golden amber in the chalice with a white frothy tightly bubbled head. The flavor was tropical fruits of pineapple, mango with pears and a peppery earthy hop and yeast presence. The flavors worked well together and with a light bit of caramel and a nice dry finish the beer was well crafted. The body was medium with a moderate level of carbonation. The aftertaste was fruits and pepper which lasted long into the aftertaste. The only place that alcohol was notable was in the warming which occurred post consumption. A nice Saison! 750 ml corked and bailed bottle. Purchased at State Line in MD.

750. Pours hazy gold that clears as it warms, thin and fading white head. Aroma of lemons and oranges. Light body and active carbonation that keeps a bit of a head on the beer. Spiced fruit and yeast taste. Dry finish with just a hoppy hit to it.

750ml bottle: Pours a hazy yellow with an everlasting, thick white cap. The aroma is dirty belgian yeast, some funk with apple and pear esthers. Mild caramel and fresh dough sweetness as well. Easy drinking with a lush mouthfeel. Malt leads the way in the body, noting caramel, toffee, vanilla and almond. A grassy hoppiness picks up the sweetness and balances things into a nice, dry finish. Very nice.

Bottle. Aroma of spices and yeast. Orange peel, lemon zest with some dry and slightly funky yeast. Pours hazy dark orange with a big, foamy white head. Dry, tart and crisp flavor. Yeast, white pepper, citrus zest and some doughy malt. Lively, fizzy and crisp carbonation. Medium bodied. Inoffensive saison.