Banks Ave Mild
Catawba Brewing Co.

Getting back to basics, the Catawba brewers hark upon a day before American ale was piney, citrusy, hop-dominant, dry or strong. Before those days, early American brewers relied upon traditional European styles with a somber, reasonable, balanced and elegant taste; and these brewers take us back to those good 'ole days with an English-inspired mild ale.

Banks Ave Mild pours a light brown, slightly bronzed and browned gentlemanly hue. Bright clarity highlights the beer's steadily streaming bubbles. A scent of biscuit, chocolate, toast and toffee swirl about the nose with an even-keel herbal, tea and woodsy scent. Its taste leads with malt, showing a sweet caramel, toffee and mild chocolate flavor.

Toasty and nutty, the sweetness slowly gives way to a slight robustness of coffee and cocoa, pecan and medium crusted biscotti. Light fruitiness of nectarine and apricot offer a slight marmalade taste before the herbal tea-like nature of noble British hops cast their bitter woodsiness. Sassafras, light pine and a mild rootish character ensures a crisp and mineral-like late palate.

Medium-bodied, the beer trends dry, crisp and clean but never reaching the snappy and hoppier taste of ESB. Prefering a slightly more robust taste and a firmer bread texture, the beer shares more savory culinary art than bitters but not as bold as brown ale. An ideally suited beer for sausages and burgers.