Haven
Braxton Brewing Company - Braxton Covington

Not banana enough but good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a hazy pale gold from a 12 ounce can. One finger of white foamy head that dissipates quickly. Smells of banana with sweetish overtones which I find mildly unpleasant. Sweet yeasty taste that is followed quickly by an unusual old bubblegum flavor. Immediately off-putting to my palate. Maybe it just isn't my style but the bubblegum aftertaste keep me from finishing the last eight ounces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turning spring beer on their heads, that's no typo on the can- the beer's name is written that way to promote upside down storage to encourage suspended yeast to give the beer a bright and sunny haze- just in time for warmer weather.

Braxton's Haven pours exactly that way- golden and hazy, but also crowned with a sturdy pillow of foam. Complex aroatics swirl about the nose with pastry and candy, tropical fruit, pronounced soft spice and a delicate herbal and floral medley. But its the sweetness that takes hold on the early palate as a taste of angel food cake, pulled candy and cookie dough set a bready sweet tone.

As the ale washes the middle palate, its sweetness slowly relaxes, its the yeast influence that resonates soundly over the tastebuds. A bold fruit display of banana, apple, lemon and papaya and then patiently awaits a follow up of balance from clove, vanilla, white pepper and vanilla. Slightly caramelized, the finishing sweetness is countered by an herbal hop smoothness of lemongrass and grandma's sweet tea.

Medium bodied, the beer's bready taste translates to an equally bready mouthfeel. Expressively carbonated, the bubbles of the beer are deeply woven in the wheat malt for a pillowy texture that's redolent of those angel food cake resemblances. Minty late, an evaporative cooling occurs on the throat and refreshes the palate while the ale's afterglow is medium in length and pleasantly sessionable.