North Peak Siren Amber - North Peak Brewing Company

Brenden

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

More of a copper color on the edge of red, this beer forms a head about one finger high that holds itself up for a while before fading to a strong foam that leaves very little lacing behind. There are a few small spots here and there, but it's odd considering that the head was good.
The aroma consists of grains, a light malt with a caramel tone to it, and maybe a yeast component up front. It's too soft and a bit underscored, and a funky caramel/yeast mix is what composes it. The character is there, but it doesn't rise above average.
This isn't exactly what I'm expecting. It has the feel of an amber, with caramel and biscuit from a malt backbone and a balance of hops. The hops really get taken over by the malts, though, and don't do enough. Also underneath what's an otherwise pleasant enough flavor is a slight metallic note and a vegetal funk that picks up as it warms.
The mouthfeel isn't as light as some say, getting a bit of heft from the malt backing, and it's an appropriate light-medium. Carbonation is light and this beer is crisp up front with a smoothness that comes through as well. Mouthfeel isn't a problem here.
I want to like this beer more than I do, but the vegetal thing going on here is too much. It's not bad, but I don't recommend it. I'm still trying more from this brewery in the hopes that others are more like Vicious and less like this.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 17:25:49 | More by Brenden

BradDurbin89

Michigan

4.8/5  rDev +50.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had on Jolly Pumpkin in Traverse City. Bartender poured into a pint.

Beautiful Amber color, with a a 2 finger creamy head.

Malty aroma with nice hop on the nose as well.

Taste was very well balanced, malt and hops. Nice subtle hop finish. This is not an unusual style, but it is a very well balanced amber with a significant hop.

Mouthfeel was nice and not too heavy. It is an easy beer to drink, and good for more than one!

This is not a challenging beer, but a really good and balanced beer that I will have again!

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2011 02:11:00 | More by BradDurbin89

Lillenk

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Grill One Eleven.

Appearance was ok. Light brown in color with a creamy head but a little foggy.

Smell didn't have much of anything going on. No bad smells so that's why I stuck with the average on this one.

Taste was pretty typical of the style. Nothing to crazy or above and beyond, but a well put together amber.

Mouthfeel was nice and because of its lightness, it was fairly easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2011 01:47:38 | More by Lillenk

Bierguy5

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

11.5 oz stubby bottle. Crystal clear amber color. Head disappears immediately. No lace. Rather disappointing here.

Grainy malt, with a toasty, earthy background. Not much else going on.

Maybe a slight biscuity malt, however the grainy flavor comes through rather quickly. A bit astringent. Some sweetness. Earthy hops kick in to balance, however there is a strange sort of artificial feel.

Thin body, with a bit too much carbonation. This one seems rather disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 22:57:03 | More by Bierguy5

Ryan011235

Ohio

1.93/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured into an E&J Cask & Cream glass on 2/2/11

Jan 0411

Clear, tobacco brown color. The head didn't quite make a finger's worth & it was short-lived. Swirling helps some but retention is wispy at best (none by the end). Practically no lacing.

This doesn't smell very good. There's an all-too-prominent medicinal-clad fruit aroma that weighs heavy upon notions of faux-caramel & watery bread dough. Faint suggestions of grain & husks that was, thankfully, stronger while still in the bottle.

The taste is comparably bad but in a different way. Still a bit medicinal but not as much. Not quite as much caramel as I would hope for, nor is there a vibrant hop profile that can really make this style shine. Instead it's more of a mild, earthy hop bent strewn in with some yeasty bread notes. There is also a granular notion; similar to wheat perhaps?

Medium-thin, watery feel. Carbonation is appropriately low but it causes the medicinal flavors to leave with a coating finish. Meh.

Siren is pretty dismal across the board; I simply don't find it enjoyable. It gets worse as it warms. I drainpoured the last few ounces.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 06:00:14 | More by Ryan011235

Spica66

Indiana

2.3/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Big thank you to Matt for bringing this one to our family reunion in Manistee!

A: Love the stubby bottles! Amber color, but just barely. Decent carbonation, but not very good head formation or retention.

S: Very weak smelling. Hard to pick up much of anything.

T: Taste is extremely light malt and almost no hops. The only thing amber about this ale is the color.

M: Medium carbonation and a watery feel.

D: It is so light tasting, that someone who wants just a hint of amber ale (and more power to them!) would enjoy this beer and have no problem drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 16:59:19 | More by Spica66

GordonQuid

Michigan

3/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at North Peak in TC.

Clear amber with a half inch wispy head and watery lace.

Smell is not impressing; limited in characteristics. There is a slight malty caramel water wiff.

Taste is equally non-impressive. A macro quality amber ale; light caramel notes and slight biscuit dryness.

It is however drinkable and light. A good beer to have with a salad or light meal.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2010 15:48:21 | More by GordonQuid

jrallen34

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had this on tap at Jolly Pumpkin, this was bar tender rec and not a great one...a very light feeling amber ale, very watery. The look is light copper, not much of a white head...The aroma is light rye and not much else. The taste is light rye, but just too light in general, nothing worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 01:28:46 | More by jrallen34

hosehead83

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.5 oz. "stubby" bottle into an English dimpled "pot" pint glass
Deep amber in color, with a nice , frothy head of foam
Aroma-Faint malt and citrus notes
Taste-Subtle fruitiness, sweet malt, faint citrus with a subtle hop bite in the finish
Overall, a decent session brew, if a bit lacking in depth and character.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2010 13:51:18 | More by hosehead83

dfillius

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. Excited to try this Jolly Pumpkin spin-off.

A: Aggressive pour yields 2.5 fingers of rocky off-white head with great retention. Crystal clear reddish-brown liquid. Pretty!

S: Herbal hops are brightly citrusy. Faint metallic whiff is a negative. Grainy malt. Pleasant.

T: Malt forward with an aspirin-y medicinal twinge. After setting aside to warm and cleansing my palate from the raw dill gouda, the beer is far better. Very bready, sweet and caramelly. Hop ending is still aspiriny.

M: Strongly negative aspirin at first, but smooths out and is generally positive later. Aspirin does not leave the scene though.

D: I might order another. This would be the best Amber I've had if it weren't for the aspirin (amber is my least fave style and I haven't found one I like yet.) Probably won't buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 17:12:26 | More by dfillius

david131

Michigan

2.2/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A- A clear amber/ copper color with a quick to fall white head. Looks like a soda pop.

S- Faint apple juice. That is all.

T- Very bitter with a hint of fruitiness. More bitter than actual flavor.

M- Bitter, but with a good amount of carbonation. Very dry on the finish.

D- Not appealing and forgettable. Bland and bitter.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 03:30:58 | More by david131

Shumista

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

The stubby little North Peak bottles have been catching my eye at the store for a while now, glad I am getting to try one. No surprises in the appearance of the beer, amber color with white head. Very subtle nose, some grainy malt but not a whole lot else going on. Taste is bready malt, light bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin, and highly carbonated. Every single thing about this beer is average, hence the three's across the board. Bumped to a 3.5 on drinkability because like many unmemorable beers it would be relatively easy to drink a lot of this...I'm just not sure I would want to.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 06:12:07 | More by Shumista

FiddleTilDeath

Massachusetts

1.05/5  rDev -67.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

On tap at a Traverse City bar. Towards the end of the night when a crappy beer shouldn't have mattered. However, this was totally undrinkable - smelled and tasted like tomatoes. I was unable to finish this beer. Awful. I gave the rest to my friend who also could not finish it. Avoid at all costs. You can do much better for local beer in Northern Michigan.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2010 00:48:22 | More by FiddleTilDeath

adamette

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes taken 10 15 09. Poured from tap at Jolly Pumpkin Ann Arbor into a clean, clear glass.

A Basic amber look. 3.0

S Not much smell really. Maybe some medium malt. 3.0

T Basic amber taste. Kind of thin and boring. 3.0

M Medium feel, appropriate to guidelines but again, not much going on here. 3.0

D Good but I will not likely seek this out again. 3.5

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 21:02:56 | More by adamette