Spiced Banana Wheat
Shock Top Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got a single bottle of this in one of Safeway's mix and match sixers. Glad I didn't get more of this.

Look: Cloudy golden ale, no head, no tracing

Smell: Light notes of banana, cinnamon, vanilla

Taste: Nearly nothing. Some note of banana, very light wheat, no hops. Juice a banana, mix that with a Budweiser, and essentially this is what you get.

Feel: So thin as to be insubstantial. Watery and bland.

Overall: Do not waste your palate or your money.

Very opaque amber, with small amount of some sort of chunks clinging to one side of glass. Large, but quickly dissipating lemon-white (banana-white?) head. In bottle, smells not like rotting banana, but like fake banana and just general rot. That said, I'm not even complaining, just describing. In glass, something familiar and strange, but I'm not sure if I'd call it unpleasant. Can't quite figure it out, unfortunately. Some specific big name candy perhaps? I still don't think that's right. Could be influenced by the spices in it as well, but still I hesitate. Oh well. Vaguely reminiscent of bananas and candy is what I'll put down for aroma. And the taste is more of the same. Except now I amy be onto something. Reminds me more of a number of pumpkin (spice) ales I've had than anything much to do with bananas, only far less intense, and perhaps more tart. And yet, the banana, whether real or fake, can not be denied, and at least there's not really a rot component. Over-ripe maybe, but not outright rot. Medium feel, sudsy, and smooth. Flavor oddity aside, I'm actually not inclined to call this just another try-hard beer. Definitely not my favorite, and yet it has grown on me.

 

 

Being a porter and stout fan, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like this. Took a swig out of the bottle, then had to run and get a glass so I could more fully enjoy the sweet, round, slightly spicy scent. Not outright banana, just enough softly sweet notes to nicely juxtapose the beery tang. A pretty autumn orange, too.

If taken for what it really is and not considering the brand, this isn't that bad of a fruit beer. Pretty close to what you get from Well's Banana Bread Beer.

 

 

It smells pretty good. Not super sweet or anything, but a nice tame banana bread smell.

Spiced Banana Wheat Shock Top tastes like a cheap beer trying to be a interesting. It's not bad, but it isn't great. It still tastes like beer, but the banana is definitely not subtle.

I wouldn't buy it again, but I don't regret trying it. I'll probably just let my girlfriend have the rest.