Fruit Helmet - Strawberry And Banana
Bellwoods Brewery

500 ml bottle served cold in a pint glass. Thanks to Josh and Sarah for this one.

Appearance - Super hazy pinkish gold in color if that makes any sense. A small finger of frothy white head is poured and doesn't stay too long although a marginal amount of lacing clings to the glass.

Smell - Strawberry for sure with some powdery milk, lactose grain and I suppose banana in the background.

Taste - Like the nose in that the strawberry is ever present, but never pressing the lactose is obvious and does have a milkshake type taste and the banana supercharges the flavor in the last 25% of each sip which grows as the beer warms. Within half the bottle the banana is the most obvious flavor but it's all done in this elegant subdued manner which makes it all the better.

Mouthfeel - Smooth, creamy enjoyable, full mouthfeel with rich flavor throughout. Well executed.

Overall - Comparing this to the other milkshake beer I've enjoyed from Bellwoods (guava among other flavors) this has a more satisfying milkshake feel to the beer with flavors that match that texture in a easier to palate manner, I mean who wouldn't like a banana and strawberry milkshake the textures and flavors that would entail? This actualizes that concept in a glorious manner and in beer form, adding a little bitterness, detracting from the thickness, but remaining convincing as a milkshake of sorts in a more alcoholic form. Yum.

 

Decently made beer. Comes across like red grapefruit juice, not a ton of strawberry or banana happening. You can tell that there's a good IPA underneath it all. Hazy orange-pink, moderate head to a ring, no lace. Slightly boozy nose. Good, not great, not in the same league as some of their other offerings.

 

Really hazy, murky peach color with pinkish hues. Aroma has some tart fruit notes, dank hops and parsley. Taste follows with the herbal parsley notes, dank fruits, light banana and strawberry milky juice notes. Full bodied, medium carbonation. Really juicy and easy drinking.

Pours a beautiful tropical orange/pink in color with minimal head. No lacing to speak of.

Smell brings the strawberry and banana to the front and there is also another fruit in there too...tropical, perhaps mango?

Taste is led by the strawberry, with a mild banana coming in second. Some bitterness from what I will assume is lactose.

Feel is medium weight with medium carbonation. Finish is dry and lingers.

Okay, I am a little lost on lactose beers, as for some reason I don't notice it. That being said, this was a nice beer and I would recommend it as I enjoyed it.

This probably came a bit early in the year, given the weather. Between the strawberry, banana and lactose, it really comes across as a strawberry-banana milkshake. It was a bit much for me, but I expect I would have liked it more if it had been hot out. When the snow is blowing, less so.