McAuslan Cream Ale

Firm maltiness, some chewy flavours; bitter finish; but overall the nitrogen kills what momentum this beer ever builds with its wateriness.

Dark and clear golden hue, nitro-off-white head, full and foamy. Extremely restrained aroma, low intensity hay or is it corn?, empty. Metallic almost corny palate, awfully bland, one of those beers that is oriented toward a mouthfeel and nothing else. Airy texture, rather thin, but of course nitro smooth. Much worse than I had hoped.

On tap at Dieu du Ciel! Creamy, all right, nice head, very smooth, but basically a corn-flavored very mild brew without a lot going on. I bet this is McAuslan's only mediocre beer; I hope so.

Original Rating (4-5-7-4-14 = 3.4 - 3/28/04): Slight sweet malt aroma. Copper colour with dense white (nitro?) head. Malt dominates flavour with plenty of biscuit. Hop character is subdued. Creamy mouthfeel and medium body. On tap at Le Va et Vient.
Re-rate (6-5-8-5-14 = 3.8 Jan. 2005): Fresh, floral, orange-citrus hop nose with mild resinous pine notes. Clear copper-amber with dense off-white head (nitro) that lasts forever and recedes with excellent lacing. Grapefruit, orange hops balanced by biscuity malt flavour with mild finishing bitterness. Creamy smooth texture with fine-bubbled carbonation that caresses the tongue. On tap at McKibbins Irish Pub (as the ’house’ cream ale).
Average rating posted.

Tap @ Black Tomato. Pale amber beer with a thick creamy white head. Earthy malt aroma, honey and light woody hops. Nitro head, but some nice earthy aromas still make it out. Flavour is quite earthy and woody, light caramel. Bordering on being a bitter. Quite good.