Domestic Friday: Beau's Smokin' Banana Peels

Smokin' Banana Peels was the beer I dreaded most from the Beau's Oktoberfest Mix Pack. It's a smoked Hefeweizen. I imagined it tasting like some sort of unholy charcoal briquette/banana smoothie, like something served up from Satan's Booster Juice.

Hefeweizens do not contain mashed-up bananas, thank Christ. Instead you'll find wheat, barley, and strains of yeast that give a banana-like or clove flavour to the beer as it ferments. Though distinct, it is also subtle, which is exactly what most smoked beers I've had in the past have lacked. Every time I tried one, I felt like I was drinking LiquidSmokeTM with an ABV. 

So I was pleasantly surprised to find that the two flavours, fruit and smoke, were well balanced in this beer. The smoky notes kept the banana from being cloying. The distinctive banana aroma kept the smoke from being choking. Lesson learned: never judge a beer by beers past.