McAuslan Cream Ale

Just finished 3 days of the "Le Mondial de la bière 2005 Beer Fest", montreal’s beer tasting festival. 3 long days of 4 oz glasses and WAY TO MUCH note taking. Cource some pages are just unreadable. For years now, being a huge fan of McAuslan St. Ambois, I have wanted to tase the cream ale, but very few pubs carry this one around montreal, it’s much more comon in toronto, wich is strange cuz it’s brewed here. 3 days ago I finaly got my wish. Verdict? ........ Best in show. I dont think I’ve ever enjoyed a cream this much, and probably never will again. On to the review. Pours a glass of of white nitro-foam, perfectly circular cascade that rises perfectly to a golden, almost flat, sunshine ale with A THICK white head. I MEEN THICK! more of a foam than any sight of bubbles. And there’s alot of it. I was shocked to see almost 3 inches of head after the rise. Aroma is of bitter hops, hint of lemmon zest, vinilla. Mouth feel is smooth and silky, solid head stays all the way to the end, with heavy beautiful white laceing. { Now, you gota understand, I’m unlucky with bitters. I want so much bitter hop in a ale that it makes you’re teeth hurt. Normaly when I’ve been pointed to a "AMASING BITTER" it normaly looks and smells great, but it all falls apart with a mild, somtimes even floral, hop taste and I get sad. This one wasn’t even labeled a bitter, but......} Taste if of bitter hop. Ibu around 35-40, mabby higher, I’m not shure, I’d had alot of beer by then. Smoth vinilla undernotes, touches of sweet bready malt, slight acit touch, and just a hint of yeast, an unfourtunite taste that seems to be in all cream ales. aftertaste is milky, air of some very dry hops, and a final wash of sweet. Final thought. It’s good. Realy good, but not for every one. Lovers of sweet style beers will normaly chose a cream ale in a "irish pub" and this one would not satisfy. More of a bitter on nitro than you’re normal sweet cream. One more day of the fest left. I’m gona go have more of this today. Cheers

On tap the froth is thick and creamy. The taste reminds me the St-Ambroise Stout, but the cream ale is more sweet and light. It’s a good discovery !

Creamy white head that lasted, smooth and creamy flavor. Not too light and not too thick, very drinkable, great brew!

Large white creamy head with a clear amber body. Taste is nutty malt with very pleasing hoppy flowers. Moderate bitterness in the finish.

Mondial de la Bière de Montréal; This is a Boddingtons #2, but better than Boddingtons. Nice creamy head, delicious, normal ale aroma, sweet bitter flavor. This is simple, its a good refreshing beer just right for the summer.