Beer – #877 – Wells – Banana Bread
Wells Banana Bread beer. It’s an awful long time ago that I had this, and on checking it came up as beer #13 in the list, back when it was more ad-hoc and I hadn’t got carried away
A silky, crisp, and rich amber-colored ale with a fluffy head and strong banana note on the nose.
This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 5.5% aBV and 158 calories a serve size. This is about 2.1 standard drinks worth of beer in NZ.
Brewed by Charles Wells in the style that is an English Strong Ale and that happens in Bedford, England
I like beer, I like banana, what could go wrong?
This dark golden coloured ale hugs the palate with great intensity.
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.
So, What could possibly go wrong?
Banana is strong in this, but it’s more candy banana than anything natural, like those banana lollies you get, or banana nequik powder just add milk make a milkshake mix.
Put is a lovely brown rich hazelnut colour but with a very little head of no substance but persistence. Definite banana aroma in the glass.
An there is a lot of banana taste in this, all over it like a cheap suit. Makes a beer that is quite sweet really. The bitterness is nice and supports well, with just about the right amount of carbonation.
I like it more than I remember liking it all those beers ago.
But I can’t go past that although this is banana as advertised it’s a beer that’s hard to take seriously, despite it being quite popular apparently. I like a sweet beer, but this is even a bit too much for me and if you close your eyes it’s hard to actual pick that you’re drinking a beer and not a weird fizzy milkshake concoction
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. And despite all the weirdness and oddity and one sided thing that this beer has it’s still not a bad beer, to have the once, I can’t imagine rocking up with a half dozen of these or setting up for a few with a mate. But hey you mike like banana that much, there’s probably a web site for it.
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? The BeerJerkNZ beer club beer of the week, but it’s around.
- Am I enjoying it? Yes, with reservations.
- Would I have another? I don’t think that I need to, I’ve been there done that.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It might set up as a starter beer before you got into the other stuff, but it’s not really a beer that has a lot to talk about except it tastes of banana and not a lot like beer or anything else.
Music for this: ” Lady Gaga ” has a new album ” Joanne ” which I have on spotify
Joanne is the fifth studio album recorded by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released on October 21, 2016
ENGLISH STRONG ALE
Malty, with complex fruity esters. Some oxidative notes are acceptable, akin to those found in port or sherry. Hop aromas not usually present, due to extended age. Medium amber to very dark red-amber color. Malty and usually sweet. Alcoholic strength should be evident, though not overwhelming. Medium to full body alcohol should contribute some warmth. An ale of significant alcoholic strength, though usually not as strong or rich as barleywine. Usually tilted toward a sweeter, more malty balance. Often regarded as winter warmers, and often released as seasonal beers.
A life just as ordinary 