Banana Bread Beer - Charles tries it

I really thought this was going to be a very bad idea...banana...bread...beer.  What other horrible mixes could they come up with?!  Well, I finally tried it and wow!  It was not what I thought it was going to be.  Definitely read Dave's post for more information about Banana Bread Beer; another great review.  Here is my review:

• Brew Details: Banana Bread Beer, Wells and Youngs Brewing Co. (since 1875), Product of England, 5.2%
• Bottle Inspiration:  "Long ago, ale was known as liquid brea.  We've used our long history of creating the finest malt blends and added Fairtrade bananas to awaken the senses with a seriously fruity, rich, yet surprising, versatile banana bread beer.  The inspired brew made with our own natural mineral water and Fairtrade bananas.  Tempting Banoffee aromas and flavours are balanced by the silky richness of a masterful malt blend and the peppery spice of the freshest ripest hops."
• Serving Conditions: Tried from the bottle in the picture above and from the bottle.  The bottle had a better taste for the beer than the 'skinny' glass, because the bottle is better designed to drink this beer.  Temperature was probably 45 to 50 degree (from the fridge).

• Appearance: Amber clear transparency, medium head with medium retention providing a satisfying luster.
• Scent: Sweet and a distinct banana effervescent.
• Taste - Initial:  Banana dominant, pleasantly balanced malt and subtle pilsner flavors.
• Taste - After: Slightly bitter with a banana aftertaste
• Mouthfeel: Light with medium balanced carbonation.
• Drinkability:  I could definitely drink more than 1, a very pleasant surprise.
• Additional comments/questions:  None
• THE FINAL SCORE:  7 (out of ten - see the Cosmo Beer blog review)

Definitely give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised.

-charles

Banana Bread Beer. Who woulda thought? Or better yet, who wouldn't have thought? I was never one for flavored beers (fruity, flowery, spice-laden or such), but this one has caught my attention and palate. I know it's not new to the market, but its my pick and flavor of the month (after my initial skepticism).


The Brit Brewing Business of over 100 years, Well's & Young, got this one spot on (as with many of their ales). Come to find out this beer has won a number of accolades including "Beer of the Festival" at Britain's Great CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Festival in 2002.

Well, I finally decided to try this beer after seeing it on the menu at a local hot spot pub in the Rice Village area: http://houston.gingermanpub.com/. I had heard of it before, and seen it in the beer section of my local supermarket, but could never bring myself to buy the entire 4-pack. Yes, you heard right, does not come in a 6-pack, only available in a 4-pack.

For the time being, I will use the Beer Advocate's Rating Guide:

• Taste: Subtle banana flavor. Not overpowering. (What I liked the most about it). Crisp & refreshing. Slight and well-balanced lingering taste with a dry finish. Not very hoppy. Subtle hints of spice. Not too sugary.


• Smell: Definitely banana with a bit of nut.


• Look: Amber, very clear with light to moderate head.


• Drinkability: I definitely could have had more than 1. (The litmus test for a truly drinkable and refreshing specialty beer).

Because of its subtle banana flavor, it makes for an excellent drinkable beer. I enjoyed this beer poured from the bottle, served not too cold in a pint glass. I reminisced of the taste a few days later, provoking me to go out to the store and pick up a refreshing 4-pack. That's one way to tell you like a beer! Available at Spec's Liquor . If you are lucky you may even be able to find this beer on draught at your local English pub around the Fall season.

Cheers!

Welcome to the coolest beer club in Houston!

I used to hate beer. Growing up I would try the typical 'light' beer in the usual high school and college functions and was left disappointed. I just didn't understand why everyone liked it so much. Was it truly just 'an acquired taste' as so many told me? Yes and no. Seems like a dumb answer, but I'll explain.

To me light beer is an acquired taste as it took quite a long time for me to actually enjoy one, but soon I discovered dark beer. All of a sudden the world of beerdom didn't seem so unexplainable, it was beginning to have a new appeal. Dark beer was not an acquired taste to me, I liked it immediately. So after this discovery I decided it was time to learn more.

I have stepped out of the casual Guiness dark beer corner and am venturing off to try new flavors. My palate was small with only Guiness Extra Stout, Samuel Adams: Boston Lager, and Michelob's AmberBoch (the only Michelob beer on my list) being the beers I would look for at an establishment. It is time to discover the rest of beerdom; wheat beers, rice beers, Lambics, Lagers, Stouts, Ambers, and much, much more.

Here is a list of a few of my new favorite beers so far in this short venture. This list will soon be molded into a much more usable list, but this is all you will get for now:

1. Belhaven: Scottish Stout
2. Franziskaner hefe-weisse
3. Maredsous Dubbel
4. Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout

Continue to check back and see how the list grows (with an official ranking system) with the contributors of this website as the adventure begins. Feel free to leave comments about your favorite beers so far!

-charles