Banks Beer - Banks (Barbados) Breweries Limited

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

For a pale lager, this is passable. However the style, a yellow fizzy beer with elements of corn sweetner, is not. The good points: A decent white foamy head, and lace in the glass. Almost neutral aromas. About an average mouthfeel. A tad of bready taste. However, it was not too drinkable.LCBO.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 00:54:09 | More by northyorksammy

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

"BBE JUL 2013"

Appearance: Pours a clear, light pale yellow body with an ample cap of white suds.

Smell: A sweaty scent of basic malted barley with some sweetish cereal notes, a slight graininess, and small kiss of hops.

Taste: Modestly grainy pale, pale malts with a touch of corn syrup sweetness. Again, though it's modest, the graininess is sustained well into the aftertaste. Slight spice hint from the hops, low bitterness. Dry, grainy, lightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Overall: Banks for nothin'! Not nearly as good as some lagers, but, it's also not nearly as rancid as some lagers.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 21:18:42 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Bottle: Poured a clear deep golden color lager with a large foamy white head with good retention and no lacing. Aroma of adjunct with lightly sweet malt. Taste is also dominated by some sweet adjunct with a pretty bland taste overall. Another world lager that is probably better if chugged on a beach in Barbados.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 03:13:40 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pretty ordinary and forgettable. (could be a good thing.) Typically Lager-like in its pale straw color, fizzy head retention, with a grainy aroma and flavor. Lower than normal body allows for a lightly citrus (grapefruit) and fruity (granny smith apples) to contribute pleasant flavors. Hopped to provide bitterness and a light earthy flavor. Slight astringency hides within the hop flavor and becomes less intense. Lightly dry and alcoholic in the finish equals refreshing and crispness, despite grain characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2006 16:42:11 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Budweiser pokal.

Pours a clear pale straw with a quickly dissipating white foamy head that leaves almost no lacing behind. The smell, like most adjunct lagers, is corn, rice, and a hint of musk. The taste is comprised of corn syrup, a mild bitterness, and a tinny aftertaste, which literally puts a bad taste in my mouth. The body is pretty light, with a healthy amount of carbonation and a very dry finish. Overall, an excessively ho-hum brew, but not one that I would necessarily warn against or actively avoid.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 10:17:12 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

2.98/5  rDev +8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a very slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that died down and left large wispy patterns of bubbles on the surface.
S: There are aromas of corn and rice in the nose along with some hints of sweetness.
T: Like the smell, the initial taste Is a bit sweet and has flavors of corn. A light amount of bitterness becomes noticeable towards the finish and masks the initial sweetness.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink. Even though there is some sweetness, there’s enough bitterness in the finish to help balance things out.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 12:16:34 | More by metter98

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a crystal clear, very pale yellow hue, with a few fingers of soapy white head, that disappear in a blink of an eye, and leave no lace. It smells of crackery, bready malt, some sickly sweet rice/corn adjuctiveness(?), and grassy hops. The taste is spicy, bready malt, just a bit of corn sweetness, and tangy, grassy, weedy (sic) hops. The carbonation is, uh, robust, the body decently weighted, a bit slick and oily, and it finishes dry and full of mildly skunky, earthy hops.

One of the better Caribbean lagers that I've had, which is only moderate praise.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2009 23:08:49 | More by biboergosum

Gavage

New Jersey

1.98/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: pours a golden yellow color with a short 1/4" white head that breaks apart immediately.

Smell: some grass and a hint of malt sweetness is barely detectable.

Taste: light malt base with some grass, hint of lemon zest, and a very mild bitterness. A hint of metallic flavor arrives late.

Mouthfeel: light in body. Lightly crisp from start to finish with a clean aftertaste.

Drinkability: another beer from the Caribbean to copy the Corona style. Tough finishing the pint, and surely I will not be looking for another anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 23:20:21 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

2.05/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Best before July 2010:

Pours straw yellow with a thin fizzy white head that soon disappears. No lacing, though, oddly enough, some "legs".

The smell is of cereal, mild grain, husk, hint of grass and a dash of soap.

The taste is of sweet cereal (buttered corn?) some soap, husk. Very little to balance sweetness. It has an abrupt, watery finish.

Light-bodied, it has typical macro fizz.

Sweet, bland, touch of soap doesn't help. If I were in Barbados, I would drink something else...

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 14:44:32 | More by jwc215

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle from the LCBO.

Pours a very clear light straw yellow, very pale in colour, decently thick and rocky white head forms, quickly fizzes down to a thin ring around the glass until basically disappearing, no lace on the glass. Smell is alright, on the malty side, some adjuncts and honey sweetness, light toast/biscuit, hay, some grassiness, light bit of mango/apricot fruitiness, pretty clean, not too bad. Taste is similar, touch of malty sweetness up front, honey and sugar, some adjuncty corn/rice, bread, nice biscuity middle, straw, touch of fruit in the finish, oats near the end too, very clean. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation, very crisp and drinkable. For what it is, this is pretty good. Very clean profile, not very complex but would go down pretty well in the hot weather.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2009 22:21:25 | More by Viggo

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.38/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brown 275ml bottle (4.5% ABV) claims to be brewed in Guyana, but this site will not let me add the brewery, so I am reviewing this beer that my wife found for me on here (in London).

Poured into my favourite glass of the moment, a La Chouffe Tulip.

Lively looking thing, plenty of bubbles rising to the good firm white head. The body was a pale gold, straw blonde colour. Not quiet as clear as a European lager/pilsner, a slight haze more than a cloud prevented it from looking clean and clear, there appeared to be a few 'floaters' in there too.

Normal 3 score for a lager non-aroma. As the beer warmed a slight hop and yeast smell did appear, but the score stays at 3.

I have already reviewed pilsners from Barcelona and Munich before this one tonight and it holds up very well against those two (Damm Estrella and Augustiner). It has both body and flavour, nothing great, but it doesn't conform to the normal lager/pils blandness. An unusual depth and richness that isn't seen in this style very often.

Can't put my finger on it, but this isn't a bad beer at all. Different and a pleasant surprise to be honest. Glad I was given it as a Christmas present, beats socks and pants hands down!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2009 21:45:38 | More by BlackHaddock

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

1.1/5  rDev -60.1%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

First had: bottle at Blue Monkey Bar, St. James, Barbados

A pale yellow beer with a light, quickly dissipating white head. General grains and skunkiness in the aroma; light sweetness and corn. Typical pale lager, with a taste similar to any run-of-the-mill macro; taste follows the aroma more or less. Thin and watery mouthfeel. Easily drinkable I suppose, but no decent flavor. Just stick with rum when you're in Barbados.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 20:46:04 | More by Rifugium

beerthulhu

New Jersey

2.42/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: Brilliant buttery-gold with a feverishly rise of misty micro-bubble showers. The head is sea-shell white, creamy and slight, and weak on the hold. Lacing is kept to a minimal.

S: Some diacetyl, buttermilk, and buttery grains.

T: For flavor there is dry buttered grains, again some diacetyl notes. Sweet corn, lemon and honey combine to deliver a strange punch of flavor midway that is quite hard to describe and put your tongue on.

M: tingly from the active carbonation, tight and crisp with an oily buttery texture.

O: Overall not impressed, low level of drinkability even by style, and a very strange taste that is hard to describe, let alone swallow. A tough pill to swallow, but easy to drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 23:55:27 | More by beerthulhu

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

More yellow-ish than golden, the beer's tone is pale and plain. There is some shininess but it is largely without much luster. Despite the drowsy streams of bubbles there is virtually no head. To its credit, the beer is immaculately clear and undoubtedly qualifies as one of the cleanest looking beers I've seen. Let's hope it turns out a clean drinking beer too...

The beer smells like warm sweet corn; I'm thinking microwaved cream corn. There is a dash of industrial corn syrup in there as well but it curiously veers clear of ever becoming off-putting, much less offensive. That corny stench comes pretty much standard with macro lagers and as far as this beer goes it's tolerable, if nothing else.

It's difficult to describe a taste when there isn't really much of one there. I'm trying, believe me, but I cannot seem to make anything out of the beer's flavour other than (maybe) a dab of straw and a hint of corn syrup. At least the (lack of) flavour doesn't detract from drinkability. I bet this lack of flavour is likely by design.

Why wouldn't it be? I'm sure the people of Barbados don't drink Banks because it tastes amazing; they likely drink it because it's refreshing. And, admittedly, I'm finding it to be just that. It is, especially in relation to other lagers, quite clean and quenching (anything bearing this much resemblance to water will be.) In that regard this is a very good lager.

Banks claims to be brewed "under sunshine and blue skies" so I figured it was only appropriate that I save it for a day that could match those conditions. And while the nice weather helped, it could only do so much. Actually, baring a trip to Barbados it would be hard to come up with another excuse to drink this beer again. If I'm in the mood for something refreshing, maybe; if I'm in the mood for a beer, no.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 17:14:49 | More by biegaman

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on the Norwegian Spirit. Pours pale clear gold with a thin white head that lasts pretty well. Lightly hoppy aroma. Light clean and carbonated mouthfeel with mild hops and subtle malt flavors. The finish is mildly bitter and short. Not really memorable, comparable to other Lagers from the region.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2006 14:00:03 | More by Dogbrick

beertunes

Washington

3.26/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Rampaige for grabbing this for me on her recent visit to Barbados. Best by date of 5/13. Poured into 9oz pilsener glass. Poured a clean, clear, bright golden yellow color. An accidentally over aggressive pour got me just under 2 inches of bright white head that had very good retention and light-moderate lacing.

The aroma was about what was expected, grainy, a bit sweet and just some gentle hops. The flavors were basically the same as the scent, mildy sweet,decent base grains, and the hops were a bit crisper.

The body was the typical light and clean that you'd expect in a beach beer. Drinkability was good for what it is. I suspect if I were sitting on a beach in Barbados, I'd be pouring these down my neck at an alarming rate. Overall, nothing special, but worth a shot if the opportunity presents itself.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 00:16:10 | More by beertunes

bark

Sweden

2.95/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The bottle is labled ”Banks Caribbean Lager”, although at 4.7 %, and presented at the same page on their web site, I suppose they are the same beer.

The colour is pale yellow (6 EBC), the liquid clear. The low white head sinks quickly, leaving very little lacing on the glass.

The smell got chemical hints. Quite strong artificial bitter notes and sweet notes of French loaf and cheap candy.

The taste is a bit bitterer than I expected. Bit it is a kind of chemical and sharp kind of bitterness. The sweetness is sharp and sticky, too. The aftertaste is extremely short with some passing bitterness and a sweet hint in the finish.

The carbonation is quite strong, the medium sized bubbles sharp. The liquid is light.

A decent exotic adjunct lager, but nothing more than that.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 18:17:51 | More by bark

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

355ml bottle poured into pint glass dec4 2009

A very light crystal clear straw yellow with no head or lace

S corn, floral hops and some lemon

T as it smells but a little more grassy

M very light but decent carbonation helps its cause

D I swear I reviewed this before and liked it much more then this because this time around I'm being nice saying its average

better then some other Caribbean beers I've tried, that being said I'm sure this would go better with palm trees and sun then with the blizzard outside my window

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 04:08:23 | More by wordemupg

tone77

Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, some malts and grains. Taste is crisp, an unusual flavor, a suppose a bit mettalic or plastic like flavor comes through mildly. There is a touch of hops present. Feels light in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a mediocre effort.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 14:33:12 | More by tone77

dbrauneis

New Jersey

2.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a crystal clear pale golden yellow in color. The beer has a quarter finger tall white head that quickly reduces to a minimal amount of very thin film spread over the surface of the beer. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate sweet aromas of adjunct malts, specifically corn and rice.

T: This beer is quite sweet with flavors of corn/rice adjunct malts. There is also a light presence of grassy hops that contribute some bitterness as well as a lingering sweetness.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: I could see this beer really appealing to the flavor palate for Barbados but was a little too sweet for my tastes - probably too sweet to be sessionable from my perspective.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:54:13 | More by dbrauneis

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

355ml bottle poured into a pint glass

Appearance - pours golden yellow with a decent size foamy/fizzy white head. Lots of carbonation can be seen accompanied by a tiny bit of lacing. The head dissipates quickly

Smell - pilsner skunk, hops, breads/grains.

Taste & Mouth - lots of carbonation on the tongue, and a slightly metallic taste. Barley, malts, and hops, and then a sweet finish, perhaps caramel.

Drink - not a bad beer.. not a good beer. Not something I would ever buy again.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 03:00:10 | More by spinrsx

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a 355ml brown bottle, label silkscreened on. Pours out a transparent light golden hue, two fingers of shock white head at first, but dissipates quickly.

Bready malt, a bit of corn, and a hint of wet grassy hops on the nose.

Mild bready malt shines through in the flavour, carbonation and very mild wet grassy hops on the finish.

Decent mouthfeel for a Caribbean lager, surprisingly fuller than many lagers, with a brash carbonated finish.

Far better than my initial expectations, a malty refreshing lager with good body as well, worth checking out, and definitely recommended for hot weather spent outdoors. Dig it!

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2009 02:01:36 | More by IronDjinn

cjgator3

Florida

3/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle

A- Pours a golden yellow color with a pretty solid white head that leaves a good amount of lacing around the glass.

S- The aroma is sweet bready malt with very little hops.

T- The taste is pretty disappointing, resembling a watered down macro lager with not much taste.

M- The mouthfeel is light bodied with a high amount of carbonation.

D- This is not a horrible lager, just nothing that sticks out enough to purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 03:19:24 | More by cjgator3

rarbring

Sweden

2.13/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

The brew is clear pale straw colored, has a white head that settles unevenly, leaving some lacing.

The smell is sweet, corn flakes, boiled maize. A faint Alka-Seltzer whiff.

Starting somewhat sweet, wheat crackers, then a fruity flavor, faintly raspberries (or raspberry ester). A weak bitterness.

Medium low carbonation, a weak body, rather refreshing feeling.

A standard adjunct lager - 'nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 15:30:52 | More by rarbring

ktrillionaire

Florida

3.28/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A -Pours a totally clear straw-gold hue and is capped with a thin fizzy white head.

S - It smells, strangely, slightly of white wine in a buttery, sweetly tart way. Not much else there.

T - The taste shows the white wine nuance again. I am a bit perplexed by it, but it is nice. There is not much else to speak of, except a hint of grainy beeriness on the finish.

M - Too flaccid and yet prickly. Not enhancing.

O - This is a strange beer, better than the average macro lager, very light, but unusually flavored.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 18:20:30 | More by ktrillionaire