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Looping Owl

Michigan
United States
Looping Owl by Right Brain Brewery
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
79
Aroma:
21 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Appearance:
4 / 6
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20
Description 

Our Northern Hawk Owl Amber Ale, with its caramel and toffee notes, laid down in Grand Traverse Distillery whiskey barrels. Expect notes of oak, vanilla, and whiskey, of course.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.8%
IBUs: 
22
Served at: 
45 - 50º
Hops: 
Nugget
Malts: 
Two-Row Pale, Maris Otter, Crystal 120, Oat Flakes
Judges Review 
Joseph Formanek's picture
Judges Rating:
79
Aroma:
21 / 24
Appearance:
4 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
7 / 10
Overall Impression:
14 / 20

Looping Owl by Right Brain Brewery is labeled as being an Amber ale aged in Bourbon Barrel. Unfortunately, it comes through more as whiskey-diluted with a somewhat mild amber colored beer. This is being evaluated as a Category 33B Specialty Wood Aged beer as per the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines.

Bourbon and wood notes are very evident in the aroma, followed by a touch of sourness coming through as sour cherry.  There is very little malt or hop character present.  The color is an amber-brown with crystal clarity and a fair white colored smaller bubble head that is quite fleeting.

Bourbon dominates the flavor, pure and simple. There is a subtle sweet malt flavor well behind this. Bourbon and sweetness linger through the drink from start through finish with no hop bitterness or other fermentation characters to balance this out besides the slight tartness and a touch of wood. There is a definite alcohol warming in the finish along with the somewhat cloying sweetness, which is rather surprising for a mid-6% ABV beer. The body is comes off as medium-thin, and the carbonation is at a moderate level. 

Overall, Looping Owl simply needs to be drier and exhibit more of the base beer character in order to fit the category as well as to be a more enjoyable drink, unless you are a fan of Bourbon diluted with water and a little sweet beer.

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