Cream ale is a light American beer style that combines ale and lager brewing techniques. It is typically made from American ingredients including barley malt, corn, glucose, and hops, with an alcohol by volume ranging from 4.2% to 5.6%.
History
Cream ale was developed by American ale brewers as competition for lager breweries in the northeastern and central Atlantic regions of the United States. Originally known as 'sparkling ale' or 'ale for the day', some brewers used lager yeast but historically did not mix it with ale strains.
How it is made
Cream ale is produced from American ingredients: a combination of six-row and North American two-row barley malt, corn, glucose and other sugars, soft water, and American hop varieties. It varies in color from light straw to moderately golden, with a crystal clear, bright appearance and medium to high carbonation.
Types and styles
Cream ale is characterized by its light, clean flavor profile with dominant malty and sweet notes, often with a subtle corn aroma. It has low to medium hop bitterness. Notable examples in this style include Genesee Cream Ale, Little Kings Cream Ale, and Sleeman Cream Ale.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Сливочный эль, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Well-known brands
- Genesee Cream Ale (United States)