Banana OG
Commonwealth Brewing Company

 

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear thick viscous jet black in color with light to moderate amounts of fine carbonation rising along the edges of the glass and faint dark chestnut brown + dark amber + dark cola brown colored highlights. The beer has a half finger tall fizzy sudsy foamy tan head that quickly reduces to a small to medium sized patch of thin film covering a little more than 20% of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of rich slightly sweet dark chocolate along with moderate aromas of peanut butter + vanilla + banana and a hint of brininess. Slightly stronger than moderate aromas of dark + chocolate + roasted + toasted + caramel malts with a moderate amount of caramel + lactose sweetness. Hints of earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of dark + chocolate + roasted + toasted + caramel malts with a moderate amount of caramel + lactose sweetness. That is followed by moderate to a moderate to strong flavor of slightly sweet dark chocolate along with moderate flavors of peanut butter + vanilla + banana and a hint of brininess. Finally there is a light flavor of earthy hops. There is a light amount of roasty bitterness which is quickly overtaken by the lactose sweetness. Moderate lingering chocolate + banana + peanut butter + vanilla flavors.

M: Full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Thick and syrupy upfront with a smooth finish with slight alcohol warming.

O: Drinks fairly easily considering the rather considerable ABV and a nice thick + smooth + syrupy mouthfeel. Enjoyable with lots of chocolate + peanut butter + banana + vanilla flavors/aromas as well though not overly cloyingly sweet. Definitely a dessert beer and a slow sipper for me.

The beer pours a light and bubbly brown head that dissipates quickly while the beer itself is a dark chocolate dark brown. Interestingly enough, it doesn't really look dark enough to be black but retains enough of its brownness to be seen as a shade of brown.

The smell is pretty good. It has a strong banana note upfront followed by a soft mix of vanilla and cocoa. The peanut butter is pretty light but still manages to come out even though the cocoa nibs consume it eventually. There is a slight alcohol note to it.

The feel is good. It has a heavy body but is very smooth and a bit like chocolate milk mixed with alcohol. Tingling carbonation.

Overall, an indulgent and delicious beer worth getting. It's a great dessert beer or one to end the long week with.

The taste is pretty good. The banana note comes out upfront alongside the vanilla note and followed by a light cocoa note that gives way to a decent and moderate peanut butter. The peanut butter note lingers for a bit in the aftertaste.