McAuslan Cream Ale - McAuslan Brewing

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good. This brewery rocks. Bow & Arrow's replacement for Creemore and I think it competes well. Good cream. And surprisingly bitter aftertaste, almost a requirement of the Arrow franchise lineup. Medium mouthfeel. Malty sweet balance with genuine fruity highlights including apricot and peach.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2004 05:52:35 | More by northyorksammy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tap: Clear amber ale with a huge creamy-like head with excellent retention. Aroma is solely comprised of some very nice floral malts. Taste is quite refreshing with again the floral malt bringing some added sweetness, which makes this even more enjoyable. Taste is also very creamy-like and way better then some other cream ale (Sleeman). I very much enjoyed this as a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2006 17:33:54 | More by Phyl21ca

MasterSki

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Stumbled upon this at C'est What while looking for some roti. Served in a pint glass.

A - Lovely nitro-style reverse cascading waterfall pour. One finger of pristine off-white foam that just sat there forever without dissipating. After a few minutes I gave up and just starting drinking the brew, which was a transparent orange-amber color.

S - Fruity - apple, berries, peach, apricot, as well as some light spicy noble hops and caramel malts. Not super pungent or super adventurous, but well balanced.

T - Similar to the smell, but a little less complex - mostly the caramel malt and fruit flavors without the floral hoppiness.

M - Super creamy, soft as velvet, mild carbonation, and a light-to-medium body that still boasts some viscosity. Exactly what I'd from a cream ale.

D - Not super different in flavor from other McAuslan brews (like the Apricot Wheat or Pale Ale) but with a significantly improved feel and texture to it. Low ABV and carbonation make it very easy to drink, although the creaminess might slow me down a little bit.

Glad I got to try this one.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-16-2009 22:00:19 | More by MasterSki

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This beer appears clear medium orange amber hue, with a few fingers of very creamy white head - it looks at lot like melted ice cream, and leaves lace that seems painted on. It smells of spicy biscuit grain, and very mild earthy hops. The taste is cereal malt, and edgy, herbal hops. The carbonation is nice and soft, the body super-smooth and creamy, and it finishes dry with some fruity graininess.

This goes down so smoothly, it was hard to enjoy the scenery on its way past!

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-17-2009 04:33:43 | More by biboergosum

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On nitro at C'est What?.

Pours a slightly hazy amber, thick and creamy white head forms, very dense, settles to a thick layer that never goes away, lots of lace chunks stick to the glass. Smell is nice, lots of citrus and floral, grapefruit, honey malt, really quite hoppy, caramel, nice citrus character, a bit herbal as well. Taste is nice too, very citrusy, caramel and honey, grapefruit, oranges, floral, nice malty middle, solid herbal/citrus bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied with low carbonation, very creamy. Pretty nice beer, solid hoppiness.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-06-2009 15:02:13 | More by Viggo

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at Dominion on Queen, in Toronto.

Nitro-taps invariably produce a permanent, ultra-creamy head which, despite looking impressive, is totally fake. What I mean to say is that it's produced with no thanks to the beer itself and thus it's the gas that really deserves the credit, no? (Although its lacing, it must be noted, is so thick and hardened that the glass became opaque).

And let's not take everything away from the beer; its body, an icy dark orange shade, is quite impressive in its own right. Certainly it's much more colorful than the bouquet, which is utterly toneless and seemingly omitted entirely from the brewer's blueprint for the beer. It is hollow, devoid of everything less a faint maltiness, and, essentially, absent.

I've heard that McAuslan Cream Ale is nothing more than the brewery's St. Ambroise Pale Ale served on nitro-tap. While I can't officially confirm nor disconfirm this, I can attest that it tastes remarkably similar, albeit with a more muted hoppiness. It has a sharp, floral flavour with a strongly malty underbelly that boasts a crisp, biscuity taste.

Draft beer is pressurized with carbon dioxide; the addition of nitrogen to the mixture helps create a thicker, longer-lasting head but it can also deaden the flavour. This seems to me it'd be considerably tastier on a regular tap. And while the nitrogen paves the beer an ultra-creamy texture, it diminishes surprisingly little of its (sizable) bitterness.

For a beer style that is typically undistinguished and ordinary, this particular offering has an inordinate amount of character; unfortunately, that doesn't entirely work in its favor. The extra bitterness hits the palate slightly obnoxiously (and contrasts oddly with the creaminess of the nitrogen) and its flavour becomes clammy and dank.

McAuslan Cream Ale certainly has more colour, bitterness and flavour than most others in its style but those pluses don't add up to a better beer. I can think of a few other less flavourful cream ales that are still more enjoyable. This is a fantastic brewery with an outstanding lineup of beers - this offering, simply put, is just not one of their best.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-04-2010 18:01:02 | More by biegaman

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: It looks peachy, with a touch of creamy white head. I expected more retention & lace (with the nitro-tap).

S: Fruity appricot. Quite fruity.

T: Pale, biscuity malt flavour with plenty of fruity appricot; smooth bitter aftertaste. It's quite fruity... I wonder if it's the same yeast they use for their appricot wheat?

M: Creamy body with moderate mouthfeel; light carbonation.

D: Bring it on!

This is only slightly darker than a typical North American creme ale, but with the creaminess of the best that Ireland has to offer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-12-2005 02:06:58 | More by Derek

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nitro-Tap

Appearance – Clear light copper colour with an average size frothy off white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation visible and there is a really good amount of lacing. The head lasted for around 7 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, hops, caramel, tea

Taste & Mouth - The beer has a low amount of carbonation and the beer has a nice velvety feel. I can taste malts, caramel, and some notes of tea. There was also a bit of a metallic flavour. Th beer ends with a nice light malty aftertaste.

Overall – A very drinkable beer with a fantastic appearance. They should really start selling this beer in cans. It's not as good as some of the cream ales from the UK, but it's close. I'd buy it again.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-31-2011 16:15:27 | More by spinrsx

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great beer... the pale ale on nitro? I can see that. Classy nitro appearance - HUGE smooth white head sat atop a radiant gold body. Lacing in sheets and retention out the wazoo. he nitro numbs the aroma somewhat, but some fruity malts peak through along with some spicy hops, and this becomes more apparent as it warms. Big rounded fruit flavour - apricots and peaches with cream, and a biscuit malt background, before tailing into a nice bitter finish. Surprisingly large apricot presence - almost fruit beer-esque! Obviously creamy body with low carbonation. Great drinkability on this classic Canadian cream ale.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-05-2009 03:05:35 | More by bobsy

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at fall ale fest.

Taps a hazed dark honey color, with a billowing creamy head.

Aromas are subtle but you get whiffs of floral hops, apricot, some sweet grainy notes.

Nice hop "bite" up front with a wonderful creamy smooth mouth feel, some citrus-peach notes in the middle with a clean, drying , delicate malty finish.

I think we got something here.Most cream ales are kind of a bland two dimensional thing because the brewers don't source proper yeasts... but this is both layered and subtle as well as smooth and creamy....don't know how much the nitrogen delivery has to do with it but this is one of the better commercial cream ales you'll find anywhere.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2010 01:17:57 | More by pootz

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale orange with a finger of white head that doesn't dissipate (though it was on nitro-tap). Lots of lacing down the glass. Smells fairly hoppy for a cream ale, with lots of sweet caramel as well. Taste is mildly bitter with nice sweetness. Very well balanced. Quite smooth mouthfeel from the nitro. I used to drink this frequently before I got into craft beer so I wasn't sure how it would hold up now that I've tried so many other beers, but this still is quite a nice beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-16-2010 22:17:40 | More by kwjd

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is probably the best Cream Ale Ive ever had. Its a dark bronze color with a whipped cream nitro head that lasts the whole glass. About 95% of the glass remains covered in sheets of lace. The aroma is light and bready with a touch of caramel. The taste is honeysuckle sweet with plenty of doughyness. Hops are very retrained and the finish is minimally bitter. Typically smooth nitro mouthfeel.

Quite a nice Cream Ale, plenty of malt, sweet but not cloying. I recommend it if you like light flavored beers like Cream Ales.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-22-2008 14:18:33 | More by CAMRAhardliner

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light orange body with a giant white cap that laces like freaking crazy. Obviously it's the nitro at work, but is this ever a fantastic looking beer. A surprising aroma for a cream ale, very hoppy, but not much else. I think the intro head is blocking the yummy malt from coming through. A good body with a slight caramel malt. The body though is a bit thin, as the carbonation is non-existent. Needs a little bit in the body for a bite. The head is nice, but the body thin. This beer went down way too easy though, and is eminently drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-10-2010 12:47:22 | More by kjyost

TheDeuce

New York

2.75/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

McAuslin Cream Ale…..in a bottle

Appearance-orange yellow color with a decent sized white head that rises with loads of bubbles and loads of carbonation. It sits and stares back at me for a minute before starting to leave as it settles. Not bad.

Smell-a little bit of fruit, hops appear, malt backbone and of course that pungent mixture aroma that comes with the style

Taste/Mouthfeel-right creaminess up front with a bit of hops, malt falls away creating a more sludgy texture without much smoothness, flavors are there upfront but don’t mix that well. Fruit at the end seems misplaced. Finishes fairly clean, unpleasant aftertaste. Mix of good and bad going on here, but while the taste is strong it doesn’t seem to work.

Overall-this beer started out great but doesn’t end as a good version of the style, maybe I had a bad bottle but the flavors didn’t work together and I didn’t find it very enjoyable. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 19:41:10 | More by TheDeuce

eat

Quebec (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

If McAuslan didn't exist in Ontario I'm not sure that I could live here. Ontario made beers, generally, are so sad that one of the only things saving my beer life in Toronto is being able to find St. Ambroise products relatively easily. The Cream Ale, however, is a pretty rare find. The Tranzac seems to always have St. Amroise Pale Ale on tap and the Oatmeal Stout and Cream Ale on nitro-tap. Even if the music isn't always great, the beer is bound to be good. Thanks Tranzac!

I've only ever had stout on nitro-tap but cream ale would obviously benefit just as much. Pours with a huge three-finger, creamy-white head. It looks like a McDonald's milkshake. The beer is transparent and a dark honey colour. Retention is amazing and there is a wall of lace left down the glass as you work your way to the bottom.

Not a whole lot of smell here. Minerals (mostly iron), faint hops, light cream.

The taste is very well-balanced and incredibly smooth. Nice and simple flavour: medium roasted malt, European hops of some kind.

Creamy medium body and light carbonation. Nice feel.

I think the only other cream ale I've tried might be Sleeman's. McAuslan's take on the style puts Sleeman's to shame. This is very drinkable and would make a great session beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-26-2010 03:41:14 | More by eat

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Say what you want about nitro-beer, but they always look beautiful. Pours a light copper with a thick creamy head. Lacings coat the glass entirely.

As has been noted, the aroma takes a hit, but you can still discern the light fruity note that typifies the McCauslan range of ales. Biscuity malt with a little bit of light fruit sweetness followed quickly by bittering classic hops.

Unsurprisingly smooth and creamy. It's pretty good, but I ordered a Tankhouse to follow it up.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-25-2009 14:33:39 | More by CanuckRover

gskitt

New York

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap in Montreal. Poured a dark amber, orange, bright white head. Lots of stick and lacing on the glass. Smelled of grass, grain and herbs. Not sure if this was good or bad. Taste was more subdued, herbal and creamy. I guess cream ales should be creamy. This was. Overall, an enjoyable brew but not my style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2011 00:28:41 | More by gskitt

jbsteiny

Hawaii

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So, this was the third beer in the six-beer sampler at the brewery, and it made me feel like the journey was worth it. Frankly, I thought it kicked the tar out of the (respectable) Griffon Ales.

It was a very pretty pour, even in the small sample glass -- a dark gold, like roasted corn, topped by a thick head with great retention. It smelled like a Key lime pie, and tasted not far off -- creamy with citrus notes and a big hop finish. Great body, noticable carbonation, but not too fizzy. I could drink it all day. The only thing keeping the mouthfeel & drinkability from being 5's was this bitter finish -- it made me want to keep drinking, whereas I think a perfect beer should leave the drinker completely satisfied. But again, an excellent beer that I would happily drink until unconscio. On deck... St. Ambroise Blonde.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2007 23:00:44 | More by jbsteiny

nighthawk

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On Nitro-tap at Hart & Thistle. Served in a pint glass. Notes from 9 Dec /09.

Golden amber hued body with a generous creamy white head that leaves tons of sheeting and retains until the end.

Aroma is muted, but fruity malts and a bit of biscuit can be discerned.

Taste has lots of fruity malt, some citrus and pine hops, and a mildly sweet biscuit backbone.

Creamy, smooth body that's still light in the mouth.

Very nice quaffer, flavourful and very drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-11-2009 00:09:39 | More by nighthawk

shamus

Ontario (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've only ever seen this on tap. I used to drink this at my local taverne in Montreal but recently I have found it in Ottawa.

It comes with an exceptional creamy head and is a dark red colour. It smells heavenly and tastes even better. It really is smooth and creamy. I really have to think of this as one of my favourite beers to have as draft. It's almost what I wish every beer tasted like. In fact if this were the only beer left in the world it wouldn't be a problem in my mind. Creamy flavourful goodness.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-13-2006 20:25:46 | More by shamus

Otterburn

Quebec (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is similar to the st-ambroise pale ale, a little bit clearer. theres a nice white foam head that stay until the end.

smell: malty hoppy

Taste is great, malty and a little bit hoppy theres something very floral like the pale ale, its very well balance, nice evolution in the taste during the sip. clear and smooth taste and some bitterness here and there.

mouthfeel is great. creAM ale all the way. this is very smooth, very low fine carbonation

drinkability is very good,

on-tap restaurant Le Trait-d'union
dans le vieux-Beloeil sur la terrasse..

overall an very good cream ale

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2010 23:18:58 | More by Otterburn

Matt1516

Quebec (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on nitro tap at L'Escalier.

Thanks to the the nitrogen, it was a gorgeous pour: Super creamy, frothy head and cascading down the glass and thick lacing. Dark copper body. Hoppy malt smell.

A superbly creamy mouthfeel and nice bitter ale with some hop (similar to their "blonde" pale ale). Some toasted maltiness and caramel but also a wee thin and watery.

An almost perfect session ale for a night out with friends.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-03-2011 01:36:40 | More by Matt1516

PiratePete

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer came out of the tap with a huge head. When it began to settle it was a beautiful amber red. Man, this is without a doubt the creamiest cream ale I've ever had. On of the very best, too. Nice presence of both malt and hop. Well balanced and flavourful. Very good mouthfeel - strong and alive - tingly and refreshing. (Yeah, I know, I say that about most cream ales.) Maybe this is what cream ale is suppose to be.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2003 19:56:04 | More by PiratePete

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

3.71/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A:
Thick and creamy looking with nice cascading effects and good head retention; some light lacing.

S:
Dry hay and some slight maltiness. Nothing too in-your-face.

T:
Tastes mildly hoppy but not bitter or anything. A touch of sweetness citrus, grass, mustiness.

M:
Nice and creamy. Smooth and dry with a quick finish.

O:
This is a good beer. I read (don't know for sure) that this is just their Pale Ale with nitro and that they thought it tasted so different they decided to call it cream ale (I don't think it actually is one). I don't know if that is true but if it is, then it is quite amazing how different the taste is. I wouldn't spend tons to get my hands on it, but if it is on tap I'll definitely get it over some other stuff. Really enjoyable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-02-2013 21:53:23 | More by TheDoctor

cfrancis

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Le Moulin de Wakefield. Aroma is hop, malt and fruity. Nice thick froth on top. Taste is smooth and complex. Full mouthfeel that tickles the palate. Light malt flavour with a slight hop bitterness in the aftertaste. This is a very nice beer. I'd have it anytime.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2009 15:25:15 | More by cfrancis