While in Asheville last month, we picked up a handful of Thomas Creek Brewing's beers after finding them at several local craft beer sellers. It's been a toasty Indian summer type fall day here in Ohio, so I went to the fridge seeking something light and refreshing and came back with this brew, Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale. I'm back and forth on this, as I'm not always big on the cream ale scene, something I attribute to a scarring experience with Genny Cream Ale back in college. Shudder. But we'll give this a go and see if it pairs well with '60's documentaries on the History Channel and takeout Chinese food. Oh yes, the Cav is a class act today folks!
Brewery: Thomas Creek Brewery
Style: Cream AleABV: 4.5%
Glass: Tulip
Appearance: Clear and brilliant straw color with a loose but well-retaining bright white head that is very bubbly and doesn't leave much in the way of lacing on the glass. Slight chill haze.
Aroma: Carries a definite sweetness with a hint of vanilla that becomes stronger as I get into the belly of the tulip.
Body & Texture: Very light bodied with a sharp and very prickly carbonation that leaves a lasting tickle in the mouth.
Taste: Flavors are quite light, notes of corn and light malt. Some sulfur is detectable, along with the unique yeasty sweetness of a cream ale. Not much if any discernible vanilla flavor.
Overall: This fits the style bill of a cream ale quite well, and it is definitely your classic everyday American beer. One could sit with this and watch the football game, grill some burgers, mow the lawn, or float in the pool. I am, however, a little disappointed in the lack of vanilla tones in the flavor. There is a sweet vanilla detectable in the aroma, but the flavor is purely cream ale - very upfront with corn and some sweet light malts, thin and refreshing. I was hoping for perhaps a sweet tang of vanilla to come through with the cream sweetness, or even a more bitter note that you might see from vanilla beans in the secondary.
The Dobie and I have debated several times whether or not more commercialized American styles have any place in the craft beer world, but at is takes a certain finesse to pull off any craft beer I believe that they do. This beer certainly pulls off the style of the cream ale well without harboring the general, well, grossness of various commercial American cream ales that shall remain nameless. Hats off to Thomas Creek for achieving this, but you guys still haven't fully changed my mind on the cream ale scheme.
Stay tuned for more Thomas Creek beers soon!
If you'd like to read more about Thomas Creek and their beers, check out their website at - http://www.thomascreekbeer.com/
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