North Coast Brewing Company Le Merle
What the brewers say
“Le Merle is a rustic ale, pale in color, inspired by the rich brewing traditions of the Flanders region. Abundant hops and a Belgian yeast strain contribute exotic aromas of tropical fruit.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Spicy notes present with sweetness of malt and orange fruitiness. A hint of lemony tartness and some tropical fruit character. Some herbal notes that work well with the fruit. Not much yeast character.”
Flavor: “Malt sweetness up front. Sweet, maybe even too sweet, but sweetness was well balanced with acidity, hops, and carbonic bite. Mild hop character, earthy and lemony, with excellent yeast esters. Wish it were more carbonated.”
Overall: “Love the fruitiness and balance. A good beer, but really under-carbonated—not enough to carry the aromas and flavors. Could benefit from a little more complexity of flavors. Would work better as a tripel than as a saison.”
