Style 6: Light Hybrid Beer
6A. Cream Ale
Examples: Genesee Cram Ale, New Glarus Spotted Cow, Little Kings Cream Ale
Serving Temp: 40°- 45°
Glassware: Pint Glass, Mug
Aroma: Faint corn-like aroma, sweet with little or no hop aroma.
Appearance: Pours a pale yellow to gold with brilliant clarity and a white head that recedes quickly.
Flavor: Neither hops nor malt stand out but it is balanced towards sweet instead of bitter. There will likely be a noticeable corn flavor present because corn (an adjunct used to lighten the body) was used in the brewing process.
Mouthfeel: Generally a light and crisp, medium bodied beer with high carbonation but a smooth mouthfeel.
Food Pairings: Cheese: soft (Burratta, Havarti, Monterey Jack) Meat: poultry or fish
HopHeadSaid: Sensory speaking, I am corn sensitive. I have a low tolerance for corn flavors and/or DMS (a chemical compound reminiscent of cooked corn, usually an off-flavor) and when they are present in my beer that is generally all I can focus on making it hard to enjoy any other flavors in these beers. So because these beers use corn as an ingredient it is hard for me to enjoy any of these beers. That said … Spotted Cow by New Glarus is definitely my favorite of the cream ales. It has been several years since I have enjoyed one but I don’t recall any corn flavors at all and as a matter of fact there was so little corn flavor I thought it was a wheat beer until I cross referenced it in the BJCP style guidelines. However, if you look you might be able to find flavored or spiced cream ales. I found one that was Chai spiced and the corn sweetness paired well with the spice. The spice also covered up any corny flavors and so I enjoyed the beer very much.
6A. Cream Ale
Examples: Genesee Cram Ale, New Glarus Spotted Cow, Little Kings Cream Ale
Serving Temp: 40°- 45°
Glassware: Pint Glass, Mug
Aroma: Faint corn-like aroma, sweet with little or no hop aroma.
Appearance: Pours a pale yellow to gold with brilliant clarity and a white head that recedes quickly.
Flavor: Neither hops nor malt stand out but it is balanced towards sweet instead of bitter. There will likely be a noticeable corn flavor present because corn (an adjunct used to lighten the body) was used in the brewing process.
Mouthfeel: Generally a light and crisp, medium bodied beer with high carbonation but a smooth mouthfeel.
Food Pairings: Cheese: soft (Burratta, Havarti, Monterey Jack) Meat: poultry or fish
HopHeadSaid: Sensory speaking, I am corn sensitive. I have a low tolerance for corn flavors and/or DMS (a chemical compound reminiscent of cooked corn, usually an off-flavor) and when they are present in my beer that is generally all I can focus on making it hard to enjoy any other flavors in these beers. So because these beers use corn as an ingredient it is hard for me to enjoy any of these beers. That said … Spotted Cow by New Glarus is definitely my favorite of the cream ales. It has been several years since I have enjoyed one but I don’t recall any corn flavors at all and as a matter of fact there was so little corn flavor I thought it was a wheat beer until I cross referenced it in the BJCP style guidelines. However, if you look you might be able to find flavored or spiced cream ales. I found one that was Chai spiced and the corn sweetness paired well with the spice. The spice also covered up any corny flavors and so I enjoyed the beer very much.
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