Tag Archives: cream ale

CARTON PUMPKIN CREAM ALE – 2013

On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, approachable copper-based autumnal hybrid retains buttery vanilla creamed crystal malting to abut vegetal pumpkin meat roast. Advertised orange-oiled pink peppercorn seasoning stays below candied ginger herbage, lemon saffron oiling and sugary gin-rummy ethers (produced by hefty 9% alcohol volume). Vodka-wafted rubbing alcohol waft increases ethanol burn, but supple cream ale never succumbs to acrid liquor-based phenolics.

    

NARRAGANSETT CREAM ALE

Serviceable pre-prohibition style cream ale (in a can) claims to be staple in Rhode Island during the Sixties. A bit thin, its spritzy citric-spiced grassy hops creep alongside smooth pale-lagered Vienna and caramel malts. Mild lemony orange twist and light vanilla creaming veiled by phenol complacency. White-breaded spine nearly goes limp. But it’s summertime sessionable when chilled.

 Narragansett Cream Ale Now

EMPIRE CREAM ALE

On tap at Birdsall House, smooth nitro-creamed eggshell-headed pleasantry retains cleaner grain-hop profile and gentler reedy hop bittering than less definitive cream ales. Mild tea-like flow mellows into baked breaded bottom while grouty piquancy speckles silken minerality. Arguably the best cream ale marketed in the states. Get onboard!