Northern Hawk Owl | Right Brain Brewery
Brewed by:
Right Brain Brewery
Michigan, United States
rightbrainbrewery.com
Style: American Amber / Red Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by GRPunk on 01-21-2013
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 135 | Reviews: 22
3.74/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sometimes it is smart to try to not do too much with a beer. If a beer hits three notes (usually for me balance, refreshing and a bit of mind-opening buzz), then it is a successful beer.
Northern Hawk Owl is such an ale. While it Looks a bit dull, its aromas offer a nice simple beverage of mostly malt and some fruits developing in there... probably from an above average yeast, at least based on the Taste. Its malty, fruity base is balance by just barely enough bitter hops. They don't dry too much in the finish which, also, has a nice balance of bubbles and still is even smooth.
My first from a brewery now ten years old and closer to Canada than Chicago, I'm glad I came across this brewer in my recent weekend to southwest Michigan during which I uncovered an uncanny number of brewers (like almost a dozen) which surprised me since I go there twice a year. Brewers are plying their trade in unfathomable numbers... particularly around the Great Lakes.
962 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sometimes it is smart to try to not do too much with a beer. If a beer hits three notes (usually for me balance, refreshing and a bit of mind-opening buzz), then it is a successful beer.
Northern Hawk Owl is such an ale. While it Looks a bit dull, its aromas offer a nice simple beverage of mostly malt and some fruits developing in there... probably from an above average yeast, at least based on the Taste. Its malty, fruity base is balance by just barely enough bitter hops. They don't dry too much in the finish which, also, has a nice balance of bubbles and still is even smooth.
My first from a brewery now ten years old and closer to Canada than Chicago, I'm glad I came across this brewer in my recent weekend to southwest Michigan during which I uncovered an uncanny number of brewers (like almost a dozen) which surprised me since I go there twice a year. Brewers are plying their trade in unfathomable numbers... particularly around the Great Lakes.
962 characters
3.49/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.79/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from can to pilsner glass. Nice ruby color, clear, with a finger or so so off-white foam atop. Aromas of caramel, white bread, and apple. Flavors of toffee, caramel, and crisp fruit are finished by nice grassy hop notes.
227 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from can to pilsner glass. Nice ruby color, clear, with a finger or so so off-white foam atop. Aromas of caramel, white bread, and apple. Flavors of toffee, caramel, and crisp fruit are finished by nice grassy hop notes.
227 characters
3.61/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Canned date of 08/14/17
Appearance - Slight haze on the pour and orange amber in color with an off-white, quarter finger width head. Sub-par retention results in a barren surface. No lacing.
Smell - Moderate aroma of caramel, toffee and a bit of underlying earthy bitterness.
Taste - Follows the nose. Caramel malt, lesser toffee and some earthy bitterness make for a simple, but balanced flavor profile. Faint traces of apple-ish character can be found lingering behind the more-sweet-than-bitter finish.
Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with moderate caarbonation. Drinks easy enough with a slightly dry finish.
Overall - Decent drinking amber. Nothing to go out of your way to get.
683 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Canned date of 08/14/17
Appearance - Slight haze on the pour and orange amber in color with an off-white, quarter finger width head. Sub-par retention results in a barren surface. No lacing.
Smell - Moderate aroma of caramel, toffee and a bit of underlying earthy bitterness.
Taste - Follows the nose. Caramel malt, lesser toffee and some earthy bitterness make for a simple, but balanced flavor profile. Faint traces of apple-ish character can be found lingering behind the more-sweet-than-bitter finish.
Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with moderate caarbonation. Drinks easy enough with a slightly dry finish.
Overall - Decent drinking amber. Nothing to go out of your way to get.
683 characters
3.58/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.74/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from an undated 16 oz. can: deep amber with orange highlights and a foamy white head.
Very nice tangy and inviting aromas of malt.
This is certainly a malt-accented amber ale with hints of caramel and toffee, yet it never becomes cloying. According to the can label, this amber includes the malt, marris otter which is always a good sign. There is also a rich, fruity flavor that contributes to the mild hop profile.
The ale has a very clean but almost chewy mouthfeel with a lingering, faintly bitter aftertaste.
Overall, a very good amber ale; just below my favorite for the style.
597 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from an undated 16 oz. can: deep amber with orange highlights and a foamy white head.
Very nice tangy and inviting aromas of malt.
This is certainly a malt-accented amber ale with hints of caramel and toffee, yet it never becomes cloying. According to the can label, this amber includes the malt, marris otter which is always a good sign. There is also a rich, fruity flavor that contributes to the mild hop profile.
The ale has a very clean but almost chewy mouthfeel with a lingering, faintly bitter aftertaste.
Overall, a very good amber ale; just below my favorite for the style.
597 characters
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.43/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.36/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours light cloudy amber. Thin, foamy, short off white head fades quickly to a ring.
Smells caramel, light toasted malts and a hint earthiness.
Tastes Caramel malt, toasted, light nutty and earthy bitterness. Finish is semi dry with an earthy and bready linger. Lighter body and fizzy high carbonation.
304 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours light cloudy amber. Thin, foamy, short off white head fades quickly to a ring.
Smells caramel, light toasted malts and a hint earthiness.
Tastes Caramel malt, toasted, light nutty and earthy bitterness. Finish is semi dry with an earthy and bready linger. Lighter body and fizzy high carbonation.
304 characters
2.74/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
3.74/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I'm trying the Northern Hawk Owl at my bro-in-laws. It poured a clear amber with thin white head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had caramel malt. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. There was caramel like malt base. The Mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's a solid beer and worth a try.
338 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I'm trying the Northern Hawk Owl at my bro-in-laws. It poured a clear amber with thin white head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had caramel malt. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. There was caramel like malt base. The Mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's a solid beer and worth a try.
338 characters
3.71/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
1.95/5 rDev -45.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25
16oz can with no date. Took a chance as I am out of town and want to try beers not available to me in Ohio.
Brown/red color with little to no head. Smells of...nothing! Well as it warms I am getting Granny Smith caramel apple. I am worried. Taste is NOT good. Sweet malt and old rotten apple. Mouthfeel is I don't even care. The taste is repulsive. Jesus this is close to a drain pour. Yep-down the drain it goes. Avoid this at all costs!!! Nasty.
448 characters
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25
16oz can with no date. Took a chance as I am out of town and want to try beers not available to me in Ohio.
Brown/red color with little to no head. Smells of...nothing! Well as it warms I am getting Granny Smith caramel apple. I am worried. Taste is NOT good. Sweet malt and old rotten apple. Mouthfeel is I don't even care. The taste is repulsive. Jesus this is close to a drain pour. Yep-down the drain it goes. Avoid this at all costs!!! Nasty.
448 characters
3.5/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Great beer
10 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Great beer
10 characters
Northern Hawk Owl from Right Brain Brewery
Beer rating:
3.59 out of
5 with
135 ratings
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