Monkey Juice
Written: Nov 08 '09 (Updated Nov 08 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: tastes of bananas
Cons: tastes of bananas
The Bottom Line: Bananas have no place in beer
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| proxam's Full Review: Wells Banana Bread Beer |
I'd read quite a few reviews of Wells Banana Bread Beer and I have to admit, I was suitably intrigued. I'm always on the look-out for new and different beers to sample so when I came across this beer on the supermarket shelf, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
I'd actually bought this some time ago and it was languishing at the back of my beer cellar stuck between some bottles of Orval and Westmalle. Let's hope that nestling beside these excellent brews imparted some of their quality.
• The Brewery •
Charles Wells brewery was founded in 1876 and is now the largest independently owned, family run brewery in the country and the UK's fifth largest brewery. Over five generations the Wells family have been involved with the brewery, and present members are still involved. All Charles Wells beer is still made with water drawn from the well sunk some 90 years ago, these include some nice ales in the form of Bombardier, Eagle, and the cleverly named Fargo, among others.
On the downside, they are also one of the biggest brewers of 'imported' beers which are brewed under licence. These include such homages to the adjunct world as: Kirin, Red Stripe and Corona Extra.
--------------------------INTERLUDE-------------------------
A penguin was driving through the desert when his car broke down. He waddled to the nearest phone to call the breakdown service. His car was quickly towed to the nearest garage where the mechanic told him he would need a couple of hours to check out the car. The penguin, being a good natured bird, didn't complain but wandered off to find the closest supermarket. He proceeded to the frozen foods section and hung out near the fish sticks. After an hour he got in the freezer next to the vanilla ice cream and ate several gallons. Then he saw the time and went back to the garage covered in ice cream. The mechanic walked over to him wiping his hands and shaking his head saying, "It looks like you blew a seal." Blushing, the penguin said, "Oh no, not at all! It's just ice cream."
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Back to the beer........
THEY SAY:
"Its malty aroma is complemented by the gentle nose of Banana. Its flavour unfolds with a sensual sparkle and a smart crispness, which balances its aroma perfectly. Tropically fruity; its ripe banana flavour, emphasised by a hint of bitterness, comes from the addition of real fair trade bananas and finishes with an emphatic, steely dryness.”
• The Pour •
This beer pours a medium-brown to dark amber in colour with not a great deal of carbonation and therefore a thinnish, almost non-existent head. The immediate aroma is of bananas (surprise, surprise) but there's also a good nutty quality from the crystal malt. There's also a strong yeasty and bready aroma with some leafy hops in the background. I don't know what banana bread smells like - but I imagine it's something like this.
• The Taste •
Full-bodied, it has a rich and smooth mouthfeel and quite a surprising initial taste. I was expecting a sweet, banana flavour but that tends to develop as you progress. The first thing I notice is a bitter tang which turns a bit more fruity and infinitely sweeter. It's not a pleasant sweetness though, more of a cloying, almost sickly, artificial sweetness as the banana flavour starts to dominate. There is quite a noticeable nutty tone which compliments the banana well but I would have liked a stronger malt presence - some nice toffee and caramel flavours would improve this beer no end. There is a bit of a hop bite in the slightly bitter finish but the aftertaste is all about bananas.
• The Verdict •
At 5.5% ABV (4.5% on draught), I can't say I was overly impressed. I like bananas. I like bread. I like beer. But banana bread beer? I'm not so sure. I felt the banana flavour was far too dominant for my liking and the beer was also too sweet. It has potential, but in my opinion the malt character was far too subtle in this beer.
I wouldn't think this beer would compliment very many foods...perhaps a peanut butter sandwich?
Would I drink it again? - I think I'll stick to having my bananas in a sandwich.
©proxam2009
Recommended:
Yes
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proxam
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Alcohol & calculus don't mix. Don't drink & derive
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