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BJCP 2021 / 1C

Cream Ale

A smooth, easy-drinking pale beer that sits between a lager and an ale.

  • Drink fresh
  • standard strength
  • pale color
  • any fermentation
  • north america

Serve: 38 to 44F, Pint

OG1.120
1.042 to 1.055
FG1.030
1.006 to 1.012
IBU120
8 to 20
SRM40
2 to 5
ABV14%
4.2 to 5.6%

Taste it in order

Aroma

12 pts
  • Sweet corn and light grain
  • Low hop, floral or spicy at most
  • A little fruit from the yeast is fine but stays faint
Vague
Sweet
Better
Corn and light grain aroma
Best
Low sweet corn and cracker aroma, faint floral hop, very low fruity ester, clean otherwise

Appearance

3 pts
  • Pale straw to light gold
  • Bright to brilliant
  • White head that fades
Vague
Gold
Better
Pale gold and clear
Best
Pale gold, bright, white head that fades to a thin collar

Flavor

20 pts
  • Light malt sweetness with corn or grain character
  • Low hop flavor and bitterness
  • Dry, smooth finish
Vague
Smooth
Better
Light malt sweetness, low hop, smooth finish
Best
Low corn and cracker sweetness, faint floral hop, low bitterness, smooth and slightly sweet finish

Mouthfeel

5 pts
  • Light to medium-light body
  • Medium to high carbonation
  • Smooth
Vague
Light
Better
Light body and smooth
Best
Light body with medium-high carbonation, smooth and soft

Overall Impression

10 pts

Lifts it

  • Smoothness
  • Gentle sweetness
  • Clean finish

Drops it

  • Pronounced hops
  • Strong DMS
  • Harsh bitterness

Writing tip

Reward smoothness. Example: 'Soft grain sweetness and a clean finish. A touch of corn, which suits the style.'

Pour these

  • Genesee Cream AleGenesee BrewingThe reference for gentle sweetness and corn
  • Sleeman Cream AleSleeman BreweriesSlightly crisper with light fruit
  • Spotted CowNew Glarus BrewingCloudy, soft and sold only in Wisconsin

Often confused with

Fine here

  • DMS: A low sweet corn note is part of the style
  • Estery: A faint fruity note from ale yeast is fine

Ruinous here

  • Diacetyl: Butter cuts the clean drinkability
  • Oxidized: Cardboard in a delicate beer
  • Acetaldehyde: Green apple from a rushed fermentation

Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.