Pelican Kiwanda Cream Ale

Brewed by Pelican Pub & Brewery
Style: Cream Ale
Pacific City, Oregon USA

Serve in Footed Pilsner, Lager glass, Shaker

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Hazy yellow. Smells of a few hops, quite sweet. Flavor has some citric bite, but has that overpowering cream ale character to it, sweet and flowery, just not that great.

(Stockholm Beer Festival 2005) Yellow, small white head. Weak hoppy aroma. Hoppy flavor, with some malt to bring balance.

(Bottled@Stockholm Beer Festival 2005) Hazy yellow-golden color with almost no head. Creamy, flowery-hoppy aroma with some maltiness. Smoothly malty and hoppy with fruit and some flowers and sourness. Light to medium-bodied, sourish and slightly bitter palate. Mediocre in every way, not very interesting.

Bottled. Pale golden, brief head. Sweet and neutral, lightly grainy and nutty. Dryish grassy finish. Refreshing, but near thin.

Tap. Medium golden colored. Long-lived white head. Excellent lacing. Aroma is musty and earthy. Light bodied. Fairly well-hopped with and earthy bitterness. Fair cream ale.

(22 oz bottle: $3.70 at Liquid Solutions in Tigard, OR) After rating several cream ales, I’ve saved this one for last, and I’m hopeful that Pelican can deliver a cream ale that’s actually palatable, as most of the others have been pretty awful. Hmm, a good start here. The nose is actually fairly inviting, showing a fair amount of orange citrus tea aroma, plus a bit of malt in the background. The first sip is also encouraging. Yes, it’s a bit grainy, but this is not a strong corn flavor like in some of the others. Gentle, light malt is joined by a mildly sweet orange citrus and peach fruitiness, and balanced by a modest hop bitterness. There’s even a slight bit of smokiness in the finish. Wow, this is not only palatable, but something I can actually drink and not bitch about. Light to medium body, nicely carbonated. Pale yellow in color with a slight haze. The head is pretty much white in color, not all that big on the pour, and fades to a bubbly rim, leaving a few small patches of lace on the glass. While all the other cream ales I’ve rated ended up being drain pours (not enjoyable, and with the rating completed, no need to finish the glass), I plan on drinking this entire bomber. That speaks volumes. Best cream ale I’ve ever had, and by a wide margin I think.

Mild caramel flavor up front balanced by a smooth hoppiness leaving a nice light citrus and grassy hop finish flavor behind. Pours a very clear gold with a smooth white head. Very smooth brew well balance and very light weight on the palate.

This was a great beer. Had a great flavor and was light for the heat of the moment. I really liked this beer. The flavor was full with such a light feel.

Sometimes a beer can be perfect in the moment. This is one of those times. We finally had some nice weather today, I worked like 13 hours today. But this beer is just right. Pours a cloudy golden in color with a quickly lasting fluffy white head. Fruity, floral hop aroma is very appealing. Though light in body, the taste leaps with peachy fruitiness, grassy hops, tiny pine, and a dry finish. A+ for the tingly mouthfeel. This is a fantastic brewery and this is a great session-type brew.

Pale yellow with a light head and lace. Pils malts and grassy hops. Some bitterness and lemons. Again the flavors contain that musky malt with some lemons and grass. Bitter notes. Tangy palate and finish.