The Bruery’s Bakery: Banana Nut Muffin arrived at Peaks & Pints this week. So, let’s go bananas with a banana to-go beer flight today! Yes, of course, there’s a hefeweizen in this beer flight as the top-fermenting Bavarian yeast Torulaspora delbrueckii, which German brewers refers to as the “proper” hefeweizen yeast, produces phenols and esters that impart banana flavors. WLP300 yeast is also used in the production of traditional, authentic hefeweizen. It produces a high level of isoamyl acetate, giving the resulting beer notes of banana. We also threw in said stout and, duh, Banana Bread Beer, plus other beers brewed with banana. Let the peelings slip where they may and enjoy Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Banana Beer On The Fly.

Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: Banana Beer On The Fly

Occidental Hefeweizen

4.7% ABV, 4 IBU

The German Beer Purity Law — Reinheitsgebot — is two years past its quincentennial: 500 years of absolutely nothing but barley (or wheat), hops, water and yeast. Not so much as a spruce tip or cacao nib may defile anything called “beer.” Occidental Brewing’s brewmaster Dan Engler mostly brews beers in the spirit (if not the letter) of the Reinheitsgebot. Opening in 2011 in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood, Occidental makes some of the best German-style beers in the Northwest, including their authentic Bavarian Hefeweizen. It’s hefeweizen makes one want to throw on a pair of lederhosen over your flannel. If you like wheat beer — heck, even if you hate it — you must try this sweet, banana- and clove-scented hefeweizen.

450 North SLUSHY XXL Dexter’s Daboratory

5% ABV

The Simmons family owns 450 North Brewing Company in Columbus, Indiana. The brewery is widely credited with starting the smoothie beer craze after pictures of their beers went viral a few years ago.  Since then, they’ve been pumping out the most insane, delicious, and sought-after adjunct laden beers you could imagine, including a new round of marijuana-themed titled smoothie sours. Their SLUSHY XXL Dexter’s Daboratory smoothie sour is conditioned on strawberry, pink guava, passionfruit, and banana.

Eagle Banana Bread Beer

5.2% ABV, 18 IBU

First things first: Wells & Young’s Brewery (Wells & Young’s Brewing Company) was formed in October 2006 from the merger of the brewing operations of Charles Wells Ltd and Young’s Brewery. In 2011, Charles Wells took full control when it bought Youngs 40 percent stake. Charles Wells built and brewed his Banana Bread Beer at the Eagle brewery. Marston’s recently bought the Eagle brewery from Wells and most of the beer brands in the Wells portfolio. Marston’s has rebranded the beers under the existing name of the brewery they now own — Eagle. So, Wells Banana Bread Beer is now Eagle Banana Bread Beer. Whatever brewery is brewing this beer it still smells like bananas. Seriously. In fact, Banana Bread Beer not only smells like bananas, but tastes like bananas, too, and not the artificial banana of bubble gum. The flavor is nicely balanced with the hops, the banana component more a whisper than a shout. The whole thing was a little sweet, but not in a disagreeable way.

The Bruery Bakery: Banana Nut Muffin

8.1% ABV

Founded in 2008 by Patrick Rue, The Bruery began when Rue, a recent law school graduate and homebrewer, figured out that he loved his hobby so much, he’d start a brewery instead of studying for the Bar. Sound bananas? Well, bite into this bold imperial stout and experience a fresh-outta-the-oven banana nut muffin in your glass. Inspired by the morning treat, this imperial stout is brewed with banana, walnut, and vanilla for a full body with rich banana character balanced with nutty flavor from the addition of walnuts, finishing with just a touch of sweetness.

Modern Times Soft Swerve Banana Coconut Sundae

14% ABV

San Diego craft brewer Modern Times Beer is shutting down four of its eight locations on the West Coast as it retrenches following the pandemic to focus more on its Southern California home turf. One of San Diego’s best-known craft brands, Modern Times said Monday it is closing outlets in Portland, Oakland, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles and refocus its distribution solely on California and the Southwest. The move comes about a month after Jennifer Briggs, formerly of New Belgium Brewing, took over as chief executive. Modern Times’ Soft Swerve Banana Coconut Sundae is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout conditioned on wild Thai banana, Dominican cocoa nibs, toasted coconut, untoasted coconut, Ugandan vanilla, and toasted, sliced almonds. Drink it up while you can.

LINK: Peaks & Pints cooler inventory