Some beers are just fun, and Wells Banana Bread Beer is one of them. It is an English ale brewed with real fair-trade bananas, and it tastes remarkably like a slice of banana bread. It sounds like a gimmick, but it is a properly made beer underneath, smooth and easy. I picked up a batch for this guide because it is such a talking point.
Wells Banana Bread Beer at a glance
| Style | Fruit/brown ale |
| ABV | 5.2% |
| Calories | Around 170 per 12 fl oz |
| Brewery | Wells, Bedford, England |
| Character | Ripe banana, caramel malt, smooth |
| Best served | Cold, in a glass |
How it tastes, by the numbers
This is a smooth, banana-infused amber ale, novel and gently sweet rather than sharp or bitter.
The full review
It pours a clear amber-brown with a soft off-white head. The aroma is exactly what you would expect, ripe banana over a caramel-malt base. It genuinely smells like banana bread.
The flavour follows through. There is a real ripe-banana character, a caramel and lightly toasted malt base and a smooth, gently sweet body. The banana is natural rather than artificial, and it works with the malt rather than against it.
It sounds like a novelty, and it is, but it is a well-made one. Underneath the banana there is a proper smooth English ale, which stops it being a one-note gimmick. It is fun, easy and a great talking point, especially with dessert.
A genuinely unique beer that delivers exactly what it promises. Not one for every day, but a fun, well-made, moreish oddity.
It sounds like a gimmick, but it is a properly made beer underneath.
- Genuinely unique and fun
- Real, natural banana character
- Smooth, well-made ale underneath
- A great talking point and dessert beer
- A novelty, not an everyday beer
- The banana divides opinion
Who it is for
If you want something genuinely different, or a fun beer to share and talk about, Wells Banana Bread Beer is a treat. Great with dessert.
Wells Banana Bread Beer FAQs
Does Wells Banana Bread Beer contain real banana?
Yes. It is brewed with real fair-trade bananas, which is why the banana character tastes natural rather than artificial. It genuinely tastes like banana bread.
What does Wells Banana Bread Beer taste like?
Ripe, natural banana over a caramel and lightly toasted malt base, with a smooth, gently sweet body. It tastes remarkably like a slice of banana bread.
Is Wells Banana Bread Beer a gimmick?
It is a novelty, but a well-made one. Underneath the banana there is a proper smooth English ale, which stops it being a one-note gimmick and makes it genuinely enjoyable.
Where to buy Wells Banana Bread Beer
Wells Banana Bread Beer is available in bottles across much of the US. Buy it using the button above and try it with dessert.
The verdict
Wells Banana Bread Beer is a genuinely unique English ale that tastes like liquid banana bread, and it is a well-made, fun, moreish oddity rather than a hollow gimmick. A great beer to share.
FAQs
Who makes Wells Banana Bread Beer?
Wells Banana Bread Beer is brewed by Wells (independently, family-owned (Charles Wells)).
What kind of beer is Wells Banana Bread Beer?
Wells Banana Bread Beer is a Fruit/brown ale, at 5.2% ABV.
How much alcohol is in Wells Banana Bread Beer?
Wells Banana Bread Beer has an ABV of 5.2%.
How many calories are in Wells Banana Bread Beer?
Wells Banana Bread Beer has Around 170 per 12 fl oz, based on the brewery’s published nutrition information.
Is Wells Banana Bread Beer gluten free?
No. Like most traditional beers, Wells Banana Bread Beer is brewed from barley and/or wheat, both of which contain gluten.
How can I make Wells Banana Bread Beer taste better?
Serve it at the right temperature and in the right glass (see below), or use it as the base for a beer cocktail. Our beer cocktails guide has recipes worth trying.
Where is Wells Banana Bread Beer made?
Wells Banana Bread Beer is brewed by Wells in Bedford, England. For more from that country, see our best England beers guide.
How do I open Wells Banana Bread Beer without a bottle opener?
A lighter, a sturdy key, a spoon, or the edge of a table all work in a pinch. See our full guide on opening a beer without a bottle opener for 8 methods that actually work.
What glass should I use for Wells Banana Bread Beer?
Cold, in a glass. See our beer glassware guide if you want to match the glass to the style exactly.
