Craft Beer Styles # 25 - American Style Cream Ale




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Summary: American-Style Cream Ale <br><br>(Description c/o Beer Advocate)<br><br>Cream Ales, spawned from the American light lager style, are brewed as an ale though are sometimes finished with a lager yeast or with lager beer mixed into the final product. Adjuncts such as corn or rice are frequently used to lighten the body but it is not uncommon for smaller craft brewers to make all malt Cream Ales. Pale straw to pale gold in color, they were known to have a low degree of hop bittering yet some hop aroma. More recently, a number of breweries have put their stamp on the style by giving it more of a hoppy character, nudging it toward Imperial. Well carbonated and well attenuated.<br><br>Attenuation and Flocculation<br><br>Attenuation is the percentage of sugars yeast consume during fermentation. Yeast eats through sugar and creates CO2 (which comes out/vented) and alcohol (stays in beer)<br><br>Flocculation - The magical art of yeast coming together, dropping to the bottom of a fermentor, is called flocculation. When yeast is done they clump together and fall to bottom then beer gets clarified.<br><br><br>-Color – Straw to Gold<br><br>-Clarity: Chill haze should be very low or not be present<br><br>-Perceived Malt Aroma &amp; Flavor: Medium-low to medium pale malt aroma may be present. Caramel malt aroma and flavor should be absent. The dominant flavor is of pale malt sweetness at medium low to medium levels. Corn or other adjuncts may be perceived at low levels.<br><br>-Hop Aroma and Flavor and Bitterness Hop aroma and flavor is very low to low or may be absent<br><br>-Body: Low<br><br>-ABV: 4.3%-5.7%<br><br><br>-Glassware: Pint Glass<br><br>Examples (courtesy of Beer Advocate)<br>(<a href="https://www.beeradvocate.com" rel="noopener">https://www.beeradvocate.com</a>)<br><br>Spotted Cow | New Glarus Brewing Company<br><br>Brewed by: <br>New Glarus Brewing Company <br>Wisconsin, United States<br>newglarusbrewing.com <br><br>Style: American Cream Ale <br><br>Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.80% <br><br>Notes / Commercial Description: <br><br>Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice among brews since long before prohibition. We continue this pioneer spirit with our Wisconsin farmhouse ale. Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts. We even give a nod to our farmers. <br><br>Naturally cloudy we allow the yeast to remain in the bottle to enhance fullness of flavors, which cannot be duplicated otherwise. Expect this ale to be fun, fruity and satisfying. You know you're in Wisconsin when you see the Spotted Cow. <br><br> Genesee Cream Ale | Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.<br><br>Brewed by: <br>Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co. <br>New York, United States<br>geneseebeer.com <br><br>Style: American Cream Ale <br><br>Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.10% <br><br>Notes / Commercial Description: <br><br>Smooth like a lager. Crisp like an ale. Cream ale was one of the first beer styles created in america and ours has been the style standard since 1960. Our cream ale has won numerous awards throughout the years and remains just as smooth and flavorful as it's always been. Cream ale, a true American original.<br><br>Subscribe to Craft Beer Storm Podcast iTunes: <br><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2" rel="noopener">https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/craft-beer-storm/id1438117278?mt=2</a><br><br>Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH<br><br>Michael Potorti<br>Founder/Brewer<br>Host of "Craft Beer Storm" Podcast<br><a href="mailto:michael@craftbeerstorm.com">michael@craftbeerstorm.com</a><br><a href="mailto:michael@bearairishbrew.com">michael@bearairishbrew.com</a><br><br>*** Come visit our brewery for some delicious local craft brew! ***<br><br>Beara Brewing...