Mbege Ale
Sprecher Brewing Company

Mbege AleMbege Ale
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From:
Sprecher Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
7%
Score:
64
Avg:
2.42 | pDev: 26.86%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
42
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 17, 2014
Added:
Dec 30, 2006
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  0
Popular in Eastern Africa, especially the Northern regions of Tanzania, Mbege-style beers are brewed from bananas. Mbege Ale is unfiltered.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Slynger:
Photo of Slynger
Reviewed by Slynger from Illinois

2.58/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
I don't know why I have all of these experimental fruit beers lying around, but I sure hope this one is good, that it is the last because I am getting quite sick of them.

Appearance is a cloudy bright orange with a light banana colored hue. A lacking white head of foam leaves little lacing.

The aroma is quite tropical and un-beer-like. Scratch and sniff banana's and pineapples with a hint of vanill (I may be imagining) and some peeking alcohol.

Taste is lightly bitter sweet at first, but mostly an overwhelming tartness which includes banana and sour peaches. That's really about it. Medium bodied with a mouthfeel that is somewhat slick, but undercarbonated.

This was interesting, but not good. I am glad it is retired.
Feb 14, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 1.8 by instinct2 from Indiana

Aug 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by dalepryor from Kentucky

May 08, 2013
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Reviewed by kaufmaal from Alabama

2.44/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Bottle from 2011, picked up a bottle on the discount table for a buck. Lots of carbonation, deep amber color. The taste is a weird one. Sorghum, honey, sour grapes, apricots, and cherries. Cheap rum smell and slight taste. A bit too sweet. A good looking beer, but looks only go so far.
Oct 06, 2012
 
Rated: 2 by Exiled from Texas

Nov 25, 2011
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Reviewed by Mora2000 from Texas

2.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Big thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a yelllow color with a white head. The aroma is heavy on the bananas with some bread and apples mixed in. The flavor is worse than the aroma. I get some banana as well as some vinegar notes/ Not real appetizing. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Not a good beer.
May 07, 2011
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Reviewed by aasher from Indiana

2.12/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
I had to pick one of these up because I thought some of the reviews for this were pretty entertaining. I also love bananas so wanted to try this unique style. Let's see how this goes. It pours a muddied copper in color with a one finger off white head that dissipated very quickly. It smells of a banana snow cone and dust. Aside from the assault of banana flavoring (almost cotton candy esque), it has this odd musty aroma which is pretty strange. Dunkelweizen banana is one thing, fake banana aromas are another. It's like they didn't try. The flavors are that of banana syrup and sugary malt. It reminds me of an IPA that's about two years past it's prime, with artificial flavoring added. It's strange but reminds me of the Strawberry wheat that Sprecher made about three years ago. It tastes ok, but is just ok. It's that soda syrup. It's cloyingly sweet and hard to drink. I ended up pouring out the last half of my glass. I highly doubt African Mbege style beers are this "fake". I'd really want to try an authentic representation.
Feb 25, 2011
Photo of boudreaux
Reviewed by boudreaux from Alabama

3.08/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Light copper, with a half finger head of rapidly dissipating fizz

S: Alcohol, sweet bananas, citrusy crisp; a tinge of overripe/sourness in the the flavors

T: Mostly citrus, melon, some banana; kinda overly-sweet pungent fruitiness; alcohol present; Belgian sour with a citrus, melon, fruity, sweet flavor profile, lightness on the palate and nice acid balance

M: to oily to be good; a touch of creamy warmness from alcohol, but the rest of the drink is just trying to get it over with

D: Sour and not too much fun to drink more than once
Jan 29, 2011
Photo of dacubz
Reviewed by dacubz from Illinois

1.84/5  rDev -24%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
This beer was made to coincide with Milwaukee's African World Festival along with the Shakparo brew. I've never really had a bad beer from Sprecher's but this one is a candidate for that. Very strange brew in my opinion. Both the smell and taste are to be forgotten. Sprecher's is a quality brewer, but this beer is not quality at all.
May 16, 2010
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Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

2.69/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine April 2007.

American craft brewer goes African. Very original to say the least. Mbege is an African alcoholic beverage that's brewed using finger millet and ripe bananas. Sprecher's version uses real bananas.

Orange hazed brew is nearly cloudy. Fizzy at pour and fizzy from the head, which drops down to a minimal ring around the glass. Smells of banana taffy, cooked cereal grain and bubble gum. Crisp and slick all over, with a medium body. Banana bubble gum flavor throughout becomes tiring after a while. Cinnamon and nutmeg? Coarse grain and a mild astringency in the middle. Mineral, raw sugar cane and kosher salt come to mind, present but very faint. Spark of clove flavor towards the finish. Finishes semi-dry with a banana taffy and bubble gum flavor.

Interesting is probably the best way to describe this beer; others will love it or hate it. Share it with a few friends--16 ounces are a chore to finish, but at least it's a good conversation piece. Regardless, you have to hand it to Sprecher for their creativity and passion.
Apr 07, 2010
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Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

2.02/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
16 oz bottle poured into a Sprecher nonic. Nutrition facts, ingredients, 7.0%, 10064 (Julian date Mar. 4th 2010).

I was surprised to see cases of this at Sprecher's gift shop. I had it once years ago and remembered it being pretty terrible. Lets give the long-lost Sprecher a try...

A - Totally clear with a few bubbles floating up to a thin, off-white head. Low retention and bits of lace are some-what made-up for by the beautiful golden hued light amber.

S - Oy. Yeah, this might be just as gross as I remember it being. The aroma has this disgusting rotting mulch pile/vegetal thing. A hint of banana lingers behind. A swirl momentarily got rid of the grossness but it quickly returned. Just a bad funk I'm hard-pressed to describe and a faint alcohol hint to the finish.

T - This light tart thing is almost mouth-puckering and helps off-set the rank mulch-like vegetal flavor. The banana juice also helps with this but it doesn't redeem the beer at all. Lingering sweetness to the finish.

M - Smooth and round but pretty syrupy with all the sweetness. Medium-bodied with a tart finish and an unpleasant aftertaste.

D - The nose is an indescribable gross thing I can't fully put my finger on. It's also definitely as gross as I remember. Not a fan and not surprising it wasn't brewed for years. I'm sure it can't sell well at all. Not fully undrinkable but it's close.
Mar 18, 2010
Photo of backfat
Reviewed by backfat from Indiana

1.34/5  rDev -44.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
yikes! this was weird. i love weird beer, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. the smell is very unpleasant. like cleaning out your grandparents house and getting a face full of 1950's dust and debris. you also get very strong cloves and spices and a sort of soda-syrup banana flavour. the taste is a very strong and spicy flavour where banana's dominate throughout. hint's of band-aids. haha, that sentence made me laugh out loud. couldn't get past the first drink with this one. only a couple beers in my life have done that. don't stop being creative sprecher! i love your root beer, but leave the bananas on the tree.
Feb 01, 2010
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Reviewed by callmescraps from Massachusetts

1.63/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
A throw-in with a store-made mix pack. I would have never even considered this beer on its' own. Now I'm curious. And a little scared.

Appearance- A deep, cloudy copper color. A white half inch of head that dissipates completely in moments. No lacing.

Smell- Weird. Banana bread. Lots of banana, some clove, spice, and a little boozy? Banana daiquiri. Odd. Not in a good way.

Taste- Not so pleasant. Plenty of banana, and a bit more hard apple cider than expected. It has that cider wang, but also a little sour and boozy. More cider than expected. A little sour on the end. It's like old apples with some banana. It's at least interesting...

Mouthfeel- Quite carbonated. Too much so.

Drinkability- This will be a challenge to finish, honestly.

I might, and I repeat might, put this in a punch or something. Otherwise it's not really fit for human consumption. I ended up having to drain pour the rest, something I almost never do.
Jan 15, 2010
Photo of lester619
Reviewed by lester619 from Wisconsin

1.17/5  rDev -51.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
I don't know the last time they brewed this, it might not be a fresh example. A better question would be why was it ever brewed at any time. Pours a bright golden yellow orange with not much carbonation. The smell is absolutlely putrid. Harsh overripe rotten banana with some yeasty spice. I don't want to taste it but I guess I should. Yeah, it's awful. Rotten black mushy bananas with fruitflies buzzing around comes to mind. Some sour yeasty notes come out. There is some spice, cloves and anise I think. I don't care anymore, I just want this overwith. Why someone felt it was necessary to brew something like this is beyond me. A good rule of thumb is nothing should taste like bananas except bananas. Oh wow, not good.
Dec 30, 2009
Photo of orbitalr0x
Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois

1.24/5  rDev -48.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
Drank this after tasting the Shakparo. This one is like it's evil step brother. Pours a clear golden color with again not much head to speak of. Aroma is simply vile to me. Old, mushy moldy bananas and rankness. Smells like a dirty washroom. Wow, just really revolting to me.

First sip is nearly unbearable. Medicinal, plastic and just downright vile. There's a touch of banana there but it's not pleasant either. I'm sorry but I just can't find any redeeming qualities about this.

Mouthfeel is again thin and doesn't really matter as this is basically undrinkable. Down the drain ya go! Not gonna was my money on that again. Give me a Black Bavarian any day.
Nov 25, 2009
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Reviewed by BoitSansSoif from France

2.53/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
A-Pours a hazy amber w/lots of carbonation within, supporting excellent retention of off-white, creamy head.

S-Like banana bread w/sweet undertones.

T-Unpleasant shock w/rough medicinal and plastic phenols, bitter attack, banana emerging midway and carrying through offering a moment of salvation, and finishing w/slightly bitter and astringent finish.

M-Good carbonation but slightly astringent and light-bodied w/lack of balance.

D-Interesting, and I was able to finish it pleasantly w/chocolate chip cookies out of the oven, but I really don't care for it, and find the phenols overpowering.
Jun 25, 2009
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Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

2.13/5  rDev -12%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
No idea why I punished myself with this beer. I knew what I was getting going in.

A: Pours a nice golden hue with no head or lace.

S: Horrid aroama. This one is a mixture of fresh banana, paint thinner, and card board. To be honest it is worse than that, but I can't describe it.

T: Similar horrible flavor. Thin banana macro brew infused with a hodge podge of industrial chemicals. Yum!

M: Sort of on the thinner side, fizzy.

D: Don't even think about it.

Not the worst beer in the world but not far from it.
May 29, 2009
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Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

2.45/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Thanks to hopdog for the trade...

Appears a glowing, golden orange with a burnt copper hue when held to the light. The transparent color shows a plentiful abundance of co2 bubbles quickly rising to the top of the small white cap. Tiny speckles of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of leathery, cracked grains, wild berries, apple juice, and banana chips.bi
Taste is...hmmm. A bit hard to explain this one but I'd say if you've ever had those apple & banana fruit juice blends, it's similar to those, only it would turn some away like it would be past it's prime.
Mouthfeel is sugary, syrupy, and sweet. Wow...if this one isn't cloyingly sweet like apple pie with extra sugar, I'm not sure what to call it.
Well, I wouldn't call this one a complete loss but it would be a dessert beer for me, and little more. Try pairing this one with apple struedel and vanilla ice cream. I would also serve this one in either a champagne flute, or a cordial glass. It's a sipper, much like a champagne, or riesling. No big gulps allowed due to the high sugar content.
Apr 29, 2009
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Reviewed by Floydster from California

2.82/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Sampled at Beachwood BBQ a few days ago, had to try this beer after hearing the guys talk about it for weeks now, like nothing I have had before, certainly the first African banana gluten-free beer I have heard of, color is

taste reminds me more of a thick cider, too hard to describe at times, Gabe mentioned that people had been blending this and a chocolate porter and that would actually make this more enjoyable, by itself it is unique to say the least but it comes up short on being a good beer,
Feb 06, 2009
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Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev +41.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
First off, I would like to thank Jon (Halcyondays) for encouraging me to try this beer. Had this at Beachwood BBQ. Well, on to the beer:

It looks like a darker hefeweizen...sandy blonde yet cloudy and unfiltered. the head doesn't last long on top of this one. The aroma is spicy and minty (akin to the oddball spice found in Icy Hoy), and taste...well it is completely different kind of beer that I have ever had. It kind of hints bananas, and it has that phenolic plasticy feel to it, but it reminds me of a first-aid kit in an odd, yet pleasing way. Band aids and first-aid cream, sort of spicy, and moderately peppery. Good medium mouthfeel, with a peppery feel. Drinks fairly well.

This is the most interesting beer I have had since....well, since I had DaDo's yerba mate beer when I was in Brazil last week. Get it fresh on-tap, open up your palate to a new adventure, and enjoy the ride.
Jan 29, 2009
Mbege Ale from Sprecher Brewing Company
Beer rating: 64 out of 100 with 42 ratings