Triumph: Strawberry Banana
Rising Storm Brewing Co

Muddy opalescent amber. A two-inch, fine, dense almond head slowly falls to one-quarter inch and holds. There is no pulp, however, medium-sized carbonation columns form within. A coating of fine lace develops on the Pretentious Beer Glass Company "Sparkles" dimpled mug.

The promised strawberry and banana start off prominently, then quickly fade to the background. Soapiness creeps in after a couple of minutes, brushing aside a fruit Starburst aroma and the fresh fruit aromas.

Banana is up front and subtle, while the strawberry flavor is well behind. The flavors tend to be much more like fresh fruit than the aroma had suggested. Tartness is similar to that of fresh strawberries. There is a light jalapeno pepper flavor and spice which is interesting and totally unexpected. The finish is pleasantly long and mild, with light pepper and celery flavors. Sweetness is unmistakable, though clearly a secondary characteristic.

A pillowy-soft texture plays off modest, scrubbing carbonation. The alcohol is as expected, though without any harshness or heat. This is not a smoothy variant of this style, though it certainly has a full body.

Truimph Strawberry Banana is well done and tasty. It is easily consumed, especially given its alcohol strength and tartness. It is also far more earthy than others of this style tend to be. Another good trade with Dave.