North Coast Le Merle

/ Adam Barhan / Leave a comment


North Coast Le Merle, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The pour is a cloudy golden orange color with an huge white head that eventually dies down and leaves some nice lacing.

S: The nose is driven by the cracker and bread malt aromas along with a strong yeast presence. Some light citrus zest along with some pepper and banana. Not all that much that says saison.

T: The flavor is similarly boring. The intense carbonation mutes what flavor is there. Again, this beer is mostly wheat bread and yeast (almost doughy) with a light citrus component.

M: Over-carbonated to say the least. The body is medium, but the intense carbonation is just a bit too much.

D: This is a rather mediocre beer. North Coast gets a lot of notoriety because of Old Rasputin and Old Stock, but I’ve found most of their other beers to be mediocre.

Maui Brewing Sobrehumano Palena Ole

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Maui Brewing, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

a: murky brown yellow orange color. an inch of off white head quickly fades and leaves no lacing.

s: some cherries and malt with a juice aroma to it.

t: Not what I was expecting but not horrible.

m: kinda thin, lacks carbonation.

o: I was expecting an amazing beer from these two great breweries. I would buy this again but not what I expected.

The Bruery Saison De Lente

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The Bruery Saison De Lente, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: Poured a clouded, dirty blonde body with a large, white head.

Smell: Lightly doughy maltiness with notes herbs, green apples, musty leather, sour lemon.

Taste: Crisp malted barley with a mingling of whole grain crackers. Very subdued, very fleeting sweetness. Finishes rather dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: A nice saison but not one of my favorites in the catergory

Serving type: bottle

Westmalle Trappist Dubbel

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Westmalle Trappist Dubbel, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a big tan colored head.

S: The nose is good, but not over the top. Some dark fruits in the form of raisins, plums, and figs with plenty of sweet malt notes: molasses, caramel, and toffee.

T: A lot more intensity in the flavor. A great malt character that’s bready with balanced sweetness that provides some molasses, toffee, caramel. The fruits are over-ripe and sweet, mostly cherries, plums, and figs.

M: Medium in body with very ample to high carbonation.

D: Really a delicious and easy to drink beer. One of the better dubbels I’ve had.

Serving type: bottle

Petrus Aged Pale

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Petrus Aged Pale, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: Pours a clear golden body with a frothy head that drops pretty quick but leaves a fair amount of lacing

Smell: A whole range of tart fruit – pineapples, green apples, sour cherries, lemons and a bit of funk throughout

Taste: A blend of sweet and tart flavors that go back and forth through to the finish. A touch of wood in the finish

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, sour and puckering; low carbonation

Drinkability: A very nice sour ale that can be drank on a regular basis. Not too acidic or sweet.

Avery White Rascal

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Avery White Rascal, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, light gold body with a small white head.

Smell: Aroma of honey and tangy-scented wheat malt with a full spiciness and notes of orange peels.

Taste: Tangy, lightly sweet wheat malt followed by a dose of coriander and orange peel. Touch of honey. Distinct pear fruitiness Spicy hops with a light bitterness. Pinch of coarse black pepper near the end. Orangey, spicy finish with a faint lingering sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: Tasty,a refreshing summer beer for sure.

Orval Trappist Ale

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Orval Trappist Ale, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: Amber orange in color with 2+ fingers of foam

S: The nose is yeasty and a little funky with some tart apple notes.

T: Slight tartness, along with yeast and that subtle barnyard/wet hay funk. This is not necessarily bitter or sweet/malty in any way that I can tell.

M: The body is on the lighter side, with a high level of carbonation and a dry finish..

D: One of the more “interesting” Trappist beers

Serving type: bottle

Adelberts Dancin Monks

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Adelberts Dancin Monks, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

A: Pours a hazelnut brown color. Two finger white head forms and drops to a ring that sticks around. Lots of sticky lace is left behind.

S: Toasted malts, toffee sweetness, some plums as well. Simple, but enjoyable.

T: Toasted malts with a nice sweetness. Toffee, figs, plums.

M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Creamy and smooth.

Overall, very enjoyable if a bit simple. Very much worth a try if not familiar with the ATX brewery.

Adelberts Rambler Ale

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Adelberts Rambler Ale, originally uploaded by adambarhan.

Appearance: A hazy honey color with a strong white head

Smell: Bread, bubblegum, white pepper and green apple esters

Taste: Bready, up front, with a developing green apple character; herbal coriander and bubblegum. The beer grows progressively sweeter, after the swallow, bringing an herbal, green apple finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: An interesting take with good complexity but to me a touch sweet