Australian Mountain Pepper Berry
Amber's Brewing Co.

Australian Mountain Pepper BerryAustralian Mountain Pepper Berry
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Amber's Brewing Co.
 
Alberta, Canada
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
5%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 17.99%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
23
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 22, 2014
Added:
Jun 21, 2006
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  1
A crisp, clean, simple lager flavoured with sundried Australian blueberries. The blueberry imparts a slight blueberry /cherry nose but no "fruity blueberry" taste. The fact that the berries have been sundried means that they impart a wonderful tinge of black pepper on the back of your tongue. Since pepper enhances flavours it brings out this beer like no other beer you have ever tasted.... We brought the flavour to North America to share with you.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TJMcScmeebs:
Photo of TJMcScmeebs
Rated by TJMcScmeebs

4.5/5  rDev +32.7%

May 21, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

Mar 22, 2014
Photo of sAws
Reviewed by sAws

1.19/5  rDev -64.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
One of the worst beers I have every tired.

It pours an medium golden yellow. Smell of sour fruit and yeast. Taste is horrible bitter of sour fruit with an almost vinegar taste. It tastes so bad I thought the bottle might be bad but I tried another and had someone else try it and they thought it was ok. I would never drink this again.
Jun 22, 2012
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

4.17/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pepper Berry pours a deeper golden color, like apple juice, with a nice lacing head. There is a nice dry smell, semi sweet smell. The taste is dry, has a nice taste, semi sweet, and finishes with a nice malty taste, similar to a nice pils. Very nice and refreshing, good taste, and finishes dry. Overall I found this a very enjoyable beer.
May 28, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by bumchilly25 from Canada (BC)

May 20, 2012
Photo of joemcgrath27
Reviewed by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

3.2/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Have enjoyed this a few times in the past but never reviewed.
A - hazy golden, short white head quickly dissipated to nothing
S - bready aroma with hints of sour fruit, also a musty smell
T - bready and grainy with tart sour berries, light earthiness, with pepper notes lingering, definitely a unique flavour mix
M - medium carbonation, a bit on the water side, fruity tartness and mild dry
O - I vaguely remember being more impressed in the past, but probably was not drinking with a critical tongue, big points for uniqueness, but there's just something about it that is lacking, almost like they tried to add the key flavours to an existing bland brew, still worth a try though
Dec 08, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by jmdr from Canada (AB)

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of andrenaline
Reviewed by andrenaline from Canada (ON)

3.32/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - Pours a pale golden colour with the slightest haze, no head, little retention and no lacing.

S - Quite mild, some sweet caramel with a touch of pepper on the finish.

T - The peppery notes come through off the top alongside some caramel and maple. A bit of a nuttiness follows with some toffee and a bit of a woody flavour lingering. Unique indeed.

M - Medium bodied ale that goes down smooth and finishes surprisingly wet.

O - A tasty ale, but nothing spectacular. Worth a try and easily sessionable if you can find it on tap, but don't expect to be blown away.
Jul 02, 2011
Photo of maclean25
Reviewed by maclean25 from Canada (BC)

2.78/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I bought a six-pack of these while in Edmonton for the weekend.

It pours with very little head and no lacing. It looks like apple juice, golden honey colour.There is some leafy-floral bouquet but smells ginger ale. and it tastes like unsweetened, flat ginger ale. Little hops in the background with a hit of pepper aftertaste. There is little in terms of carbonation and tastes flat. It has a medium-heavy body. Overall, I expected more zing; more carbonation would have been nice. Ultimately, its like drinking unsweet ginger ale.
May 10, 2011
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.69/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
341ml bottle poured into pint glass feb8 2010

A clear golden yellow with lots of carbonation but no head or lace

S very floral with some blueberry and honey, very strong smell and rather pleasant

T not far from the smell but not quite as strong and with a little spiciness

M fairly light, lots of bubbles and a little tingle on the tongue

D surprisingly easy to drink and I could see this making a decent patio brew come summer

I have no idea what an Australian Mountain Pepper Berry is and neither dose my Australian girlfriend but it makes a respectable brew at the end of the day
Feb 09, 2011
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.49/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
The beer's yellow-gold complexion and glaring amber sheen give it the air of being basted in the oven with butter for about an hour or so at 375 Fahrenheit. Damn tasty looking stuff. Or at least it would be if it had even a shred of head. A beer without head just looks somehow incomplete and way less tempting, like a cupcake with no icing.

The aroma is like something out of that scene in Fantasia where everything comes to life; my nose feels like it's fluttering in the air, guided by an animate, vivid, whimsical cast of scents that include apricot, flowers, juniper berries(?) and maple sugar(?). It's a bouquet that, like a soul, is not easy to pin down or define. It's unique... and I like it.

At the time, I had no idea what an "Australian mountain pepper berry" was. (Apparently it's a kind of peppery sundried Australian blueberry.) Could of fooled me. Actually, it did fool me. It struck me as something similar to juniper in that they had that kind of herbal quality that is vaguely fruity, but without the berrylike sweetness.

I was really disappointed that none of the sensation of the bouquet carries over into the taste (the brewers, on the other hand, seem to feel otherwise and, from what I gather from reading their website, intended as much). Apart from a hint of floral hops, this flavour is dominated by little else than dull doughie pale malts. It could be a lot cleaner, crisper.

The character and expression is fantastic and awfully unique in the aroma but it's found only there and even then it fades without constant swirling. Beyond that this is a fairly dull, mediocre beer that becomes a little unpleasant once it looses its starting chill and initial charm. My two cents: keep the pepper berries but work on improving the base beer.
Aug 24, 2010
Photo of Sharkbitten
Reviewed by Sharkbitten from Canada (AB)

3.43/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Arrived as a dark golden pint with little to no head (could have been due to dispensing at the bar).

S: Curious mix of conventional malt scents mixed with what I can only imagine pepper berry smells like (having not tasted it alone). Not an unpleasant smell to say the least.

T: This is a beer that definitely has several distinct 'stages' or taste. Initially the beer tastes like a fairly malty lager but this quickly fades letting the nice taste of the pepper berry shine through.

M: Fairly standard for Amber's beers

D: I can't see myself having a large number of these but it seems like it would be the sort of beer I could keep a six pack around until I feel like a little variety.
Dec 31, 2009
Photo of IronDjinn
Reviewed by IronDjinn from Canada (AB)

3.77/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I hadn't really sampled this stuff since Alley Kat stopped contract brewing it and Amber's started producing it at their actual brewery location.

Pours out a slightly hazed deep golden hue, short tight creamy white head that lingers as a decent sized cap. Intermittent swatches of lacing.

Intriguing aroma, bready malt backbone, allowing the mountain pepper berry to do its thing, herbal, slightly spicy pepper, with faint fruity flowery notes.

Sweet bready malt up front in the flavour, mild spice in the middle with a sweet and savoury floral finish, flowery and soapy (in a good way for a change!) aftertaste with small pockets of spice.

Impressive mouthfeel for a lager, fuller end of medium-bodied, smooth with a balanced presence of carbonation, quenching and fulfilling.

Good stuff, much better than its original incarnation, and even better on tap when you can find it, a curious lager that has enough character to make a regular fridge beer or a sessional.
Oct 01, 2009
Photo of sammytag
Reviewed by sammytag from Canada (AB)

3.42/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
An intriguing little beverage from Edmonton's Amber's Brewing.

On the first nose, I get a (surprising!) medium strong, belgian-style clove note, with not much else to speak of.

On the second nose, after letting it breathe for a while, I get a strong smell of montreal smoked meat. This is the bizzare part of this beer. I've had this one a couple times, and I always get the montreal smoked meat smell, which, is not bad, depending on what you're into. There's also a nice - though quiet - smooth sweet caramel-y note on this beer, once it warms up a bit. A graininess is present, but needs some serious coaxing.

The meaty nose comes through to the taste, along with a very light spiciness. The spiced character functions more like a seasoning than something piquant or eye-watering, which, again, could be good or bad, depending on what you like.

Something to note, in general, the hoppy and malty characteristics of this beer are very, very downplayed. On the nose, the hops play a definite back seat, but are well married with the smoky essence. On the tongue, I pick up a quiet malt background, and the hops make a late appearance to contribute a crispness before the aftertaste rolls through.

All in all, a good beer. Intriguing but not fascinating. This beer would benifit by being "turned up" to give it a stand-alone quality. Amber's Australian Mountain Pepper Berry would be good in a marinade or anything bbq. But, it will probably turn you off if you're expecting a really crisp lager or super pronounced hop or malt characteristics.
Aug 19, 2009
Photo of Shadman
Reviewed by Shadman from Canada (AB)

3.92/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Looked interesting and I'm a sucker for looks.

Clear, slightly browner shade of amber yellow..almost looks like a Rye & Ginger. Big head, fades to a white cap that never left. Small amounts of lacing and very few carbonation bubbles.

Definite whole peppercorn aroma, especially after the beer warmed a bit. Bit of warm bread notes and a touch of applesauce smell.

Smooth and easy to drink. Pepper is always present from start to near finish, but doesn't overwelm things like I was afraid it might. Somewhat mediocre aftertaste, slightly sweet & sticky. Still a good taste overall.

Thins out @ times and I found it to be a bit to sticky. Could used a tad more oomph from carbonation.

One of the better spiced beers I've tried seeing as I am not a pumpkin pie lover, etc.
Aug 03, 2009
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

4.04/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Nice bottle with an interesting twist - as far as my reading can tell it contains the pepper berry, which is described as fruity yet spicy.

Nice amber pour with a small white head, and a little bit of lace. Fruity sters in the aroma, and a hint of spicy - quite complex and interesting. The fruit leads off the flavour, beginning with lots of blackcurrants and blueberries, before transitioning to a light pepper kick. No real heat from the pepper, but the flavour is clearly there. Medium-light mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

This is a very interesting beer - very fruity yet complex, and I really liked it. Thanks Alex for sending this bottle!
Dec 13, 2008
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

3.67/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Big thanks to Voonder for hooking me up.

Pours a lightly hazed amber/orange, thin fizzy white head forms, quickly settles down to a tiny collar, no real lacing, disappears pretty quick. Smell is interesting, sweet and sugary, berries, strawberries, light bit of spice, wheat, quite fragrant and fruity aroma, peppery. Taste is sweet at first, some brown sugar and fruit jellies, then a neat spicy pepper twang, some wheat and yeastiness, kind of a sour Belgian ale character to it, pretty interesting. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with high carbonation, goes down pretty easy, would be nice in the summer. Pretty decent beer, different and quaffable, and I like the peppery character. Thanks Alex!
Dec 10, 2008
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.43/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
341ml bottle. I've seen this in six-packs in the stores for a while now, with the intriguing name, and obfuscated production origins. I grabbed a single bottle the first chance I could.

After a standard vigorous pour, there remained but one finger of soapy white head, and the beer was a hazy pale gold in colour, pretty normal looking for a craft lager, and the head disappeared quite rapidly, leaving a bit of lacing on the glass.

The nose was practically non-existent, but the beer was still cold from the fridge. As it warmed, however, aromas of dark berries, black pepper, and bready pale malt made themselves known. The taste was dominated by grainy pale malt, which isn't to say that it was intense, just most prevalent. Also present were white pepper, and a less exotic emu-friendly berry fruitiness than the nose had promised. I don't know what an Australian mountain pepper berry tastes like, so I'm going to say that the berry smell and taste mostly resembled tart huckleberries.

The carbonation is quite low-key and understated, but it's hardly flat, the body is a decent medium weight for the style, and more or less smooth, that peppery character kind of getting in the way. It finishes off-dry, the malt persisting amongst the equally hardy fruity pepper spiciness.

As far as its brewing origins go, learning that this is actually made by Alley Kat, tripped in my mind what it reminded me of: Charlie Flint's Lager, before the guest stars here are introduced. Not a bad tipple, but one or two would be my limit with this offering.
Nov 04, 2007
Photo of ablaze
Reviewed by ablaze from Canada (AB)

3.2/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I've seen this for a few months but was always apprehensive to pick up a whole six. So today I spotted a bottle in the singles cooler and figured why not.

On pour it forms a thin white head that quickly settles to a thin ring around the glass. The beer is cloudy and copper-gold.

Thin malt scent, reminiscent of a vegetable broth. Slight pepper and maybe ginger snaps, but nothing that stands out. Disappointing, to be honest. Was hoping for something more adventurous and boisterous (but maybe that would be a bad thing).

Tastes like your average pale ale at first, with a very faint pepper that entertains the well-balanced malt and hops, and generally a juicy brew. Light berries with a dry pepper finish and faint alcohol. Slight chew.

This beer reminds me of the local ravine park after a light rainfall, both in the presentation and actual experience. It's a lively beer, but ultimately isn't anything more than a balanced pale ale with a twist. I would tire after a couple, but I wouldn't mind giving it a go once in awhile to suit a rainy day.

Give it a try if you like this sort.
Aug 26, 2007
Photo of pootz
Reviewed by pootz from Canada (ON)

3.35/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle:

A sharp pour puts a delicious looking hazed translucent gold beer in the thistle...decent sticky-rocky cap with good retention and lacing properties.

Interesting nose on this one; pungent malts over a distinct berry tone and a ground pepper tone...pretty unique.

sufficient malt spine, light fruity body, frutiy-light character

Up front a good dose on those sweet malts you got in the nose then a distinct berry pulp infusion joined with some tastefully done hopping...finished clean crisp lightly drying ( some wheat?) with a mild berry tartness and a light bittering aftertaste from the hops.

A very pleasant and unique brew...certainly one of the most interesting tastes I have had from a fruit beer..
Nov 17, 2006
Australian Mountain Pepper Berry from Amber's Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 23 ratings