Sunlight Cream Ale - Sun King Brewing Company

madvermin

California

3.16/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured light yellow, with frothy white head. Left ample lacing. Beer seemed thin looking, which might be normal for the style, but even so it looked kind of weak.

Smells very light, which I'm positive is normal for the style. Malts followed by hops, but just barely. Bit of citrus at the end.

Taste is nicely balanced between malt at start and clean citrus end. Citrus is barely differentiated from general hop bitterness. There isn't anything to write home about but the beer isn't unpleasant to drink.

Mouthfeel is crisp and clean, and probably the strength of the beer. It doesn't feel too fizzy or thin. Drinkability is aided by these traits, and the beer goes down very fast, especially when drinking straight from the can (the other ones were gone before I knew it).

Not a particularly memorable beer, but easy to drink. Add it all up and it comes out to be an average brew.

Serving type: can

02-14-2013 03:21:52 | More by madvermin

AmitC

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from one pint can.

Pale straw in color. Very clear. About three finger thick white colored fluffy head, that disappears slowly into a thin layer. Some side lacing left by the head. Medium to slightly high on bubbles and carbonation.

Aroma: Some malts and some corn like adjuncts. Low on hops. A few esters. Not a very strong aroma.

Taste: A lot of adjunct corn. Very little hops with only slight bitterness. Some malts. Somewhat sweet and dry finish. Otherwise a bland taste, typical of American adjunct lagers.

Mouth feel: Very light and crisp. High on carbonation. Smooth but not easy drinking if you do not like such water like stuff.

Overall: Tried it just for trying this style. Fits the style really well. Based on personal preference, this is no better than a lot of American adjunct out there. One of the worst beers i have had in recent times.

Style Rate: 4.5
Personal Rate: 2.75

Serving type: can

12-15-2012 22:21:35 | More by AmitC

secondtooth

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a semi-cloudy golden from the pint can, with thick carbonation, but no lace.

Nose is pleasantly light, grainy, and malty, with a hint of buttered sweet corn. That's not to say it's bad, though. Actually it's pretty refreshing.

Taste is, expectedly, light and creamy. This one is sooo smooth and malty, but very drinkable and, as the can imparts, approachable. Sunlight Cream Ale wouldn't turn away lifetime macro drinkers, but has plenty of easy-going flavor for craft nerds, too. A solid and totally session-worthy brew here, not too complex, but smooth and well-crafted to style.

Serving type: can

11-10-2012 19:27:37 | More by secondtooth

Treebs

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tall boy can served in a Weizen glass.

A: Pours a clear yellow color with a one finger height of white head forming on the pour. It recedes quickly to a thin ring.

S: Light pale malts, some green grass hops with a touch of sweet corn.

T: The lagery flavor profiles are much more assertive in the taste. Some sweet corn adjuncts with pale malts and some light bittering grass. Lagery yeast comes at you in the finish.

M: Light bodied with a high carbonation level. Prickly mouthfeel with a sweet malt finish.

O: Very solid cream ale. Spotted Cow is a touch better as the lager flavor profiles come out a little more in this beer giving a sweetness that is just ok.

Serving type: can

10-23-2012 01:51:18 | More by Treebs

rlee1390

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear yellow, not much carbonation and no head.

S-Bread, floral and grassy notes but some skunkiness as well.

T-Very sweet, bread and floral notes. No bitterness. Grass and lemon as well.

M-Light, not much carbonation nice and crisp though.

O-A nice light session beer however there are much better options out there. A tad too light to my tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 23:33:28 | More by rlee1390

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16 oz tall boy can, 5.3% abv. Clear gold color, with some active carbonation showing. White frothy head stays for a minute, then disappears leaving no trace.

Cereal grains, and a bit of cooked corn in the nose. Slight earthy hop notes. A bit of a sour, lactic note. Perhaps a bit musty at the back end.

Fairly clean cereal malts. A very slight lactic sharpness. Not a whole lot going on here. Slight earthy hops at the end, that do not linger long at all.

Light to medium body, no traces of alcohol. This is made for quaffing, which is no problem. A very simple beer. Take it for what it is.

Serving type: can

07-08-2012 02:32:30 | More by Bierguy5

LiquidBread219

Indiana

3/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A=Light straw yellow,very clear. Lots of carbonation in here,Not much lacing at all.

S= Lots of yeast and earthy malts pretty much sums it up.A slight sweetness.

T= I didn't get the hops in the nose But they are In there.Hops pull through and meld with the bready malts but overall that's really all that's going on in this one.

M=Thin feel and very light. Tons of stinging carbonation. Clean aftertaste.

O= Overall, decent summer beer but I won't get this one for the price overall I just think it is to much for such a basic beer.

Serving type: can

04-23-2012 02:27:52 | More by LiquidBread219

CitizenRay

Indiana

1.68/5  rDev -52.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

A: straw yellow with a fizzy white head

S: faint aroma, a bit adjunct with rice/corn and mostly reminiscent of light lagers.

T: American light lager.

MF: light bodied, medium carbonation

O: This beer lacks creativity and really has no place in the craft market.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2012 06:05:59 | More by CitizenRay

vw73182

Indiana

1/5  rDev -71.8%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I don’t understand why anyone would drink this. If there was a 0 for the 5 categories this would receive 0’s from me. The smell uh if smell is were the majority of taste comes from that’s diffidently not a plus here. Appearance not what I think any beer should look like. Taste none the only taste is a cringing metallic taste. Palate there is none you would think something that has cream in the title would have some body? However this is pure water constancy.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 16:13:33 | More by vw73182

BrewerB

California

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

MarkFy unexpectedly sent this beer my way in a recent trade. Delighted to try more beers from Sun King as I'd been impressed with Osiris and their GABF samples. Cheers and thanks again, Mark!

Poured into a 3 floyds pint glass this is a slightly hazy, medium gold color. Fizzy white foam piled up about 2 fingers high but slowly settled down. Retention is fair to poor.

Mostly clean, grain-focused aroma. Subtle buttered popcorn as well as a sweeter corn on the cob. Touch of floral hops but certainly not hop-forward.

Flavor again focuses on the grain. Mostly clean with a nod toward vegetal/corn. Bitterness is moderately-low. Finishes clean and dry.

Medium-light in body with a moderate-high to high sparkly carbonation. Crisp.

The BJCP defines a Cream Ale as clean, well-attenuated, American lawnmower beer and I'd say Sun King hit the nail on the head. Smooth, crisp, easy-drinking with enough subtle malt/hop flavor to keep the session interesting. Missing out on brilliant clarity but otherwise not much these guys can do to improve.

Serving type: can

01-10-2012 02:16:40 | More by BrewerB

GPHarris

Alabama

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

received from robwestcott in beer and football fantasy football league.

a - poured a two-fingers thick fluffy white head into an english pub glass that left a thin ring and sheet throughout. the body was bubbly, a bright and clear golden color.
s - sweet floral hops with a hint of graininess.
t - bready, slightly floral.
m - slick feel yet crisp as well.
o - terrific session beer for warmer days. hope to get this one again.

Serving type: can

01-09-2012 16:28:56 | More by GPHarris

sweethome

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at brewery.

Light hazy yellow color. Straw nose, some c hop backing. Pleasant.

Entry is crisp, soft, satisfying. A nice warm weather quencher.

Bready flavors with some honey malts, and crisp hoppy finish. Dough, clover honey.

Decent beer for style - goes for a Northwest style golden ale.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2011 00:15:56 | More by sweethome

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz. can poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass. Straw yellow in color with complete clarity. White fizzy colored head that lasts about as long as expected. By no means bad looking, looks like a lighter end beer.

Smells what I would think the macro beers are aiming for, unless the skunkiness is something they are trying to get at. It's kind of grainy smell that's pretty much it, but at least it's not skunky. Maybe a slight creamy smell, but not much.

Taste is pretty good slightly bready, grainy, and yeasty. A little more of a creamy type flavor to it. Tastes a little sweet citrusy tang towards the end as it warms up.

Mouthfeel is the biggest step up. It has all of the light characteristics of a standard lighter body ale or lager, but it actually has a creamy feel to it. EXTREMELY drinkable though, has a good thing going here. I like this and glad to try something from Sun King. Not the best best beer I've ever had, but glad to have the opportunity to try it. Thanks huadog for the sweet extra!

Serving type: can

12-29-2011 04:06:00 | More by AndyAvalanche

mkabull

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16oz can
A- Very light straw yellow color (to style) had a large bubbly head that faded very quickly leaving only a faint ring in the glass
S- Aroma is very faint but whispers of a corn backed beer are present.
T- Sweet malty corn with a bit of a bite at the finish almost metallic but not quite. Finish is quick and not much lingers.
M- Mouthfeel is slightly above a light lager but this is what it should be.
O- This is an easy drinking beer definetly what I would classify as a BBQ beer. Nothing great but I wouldn't mind kicking back with several of these.

Serving type: can

12-24-2011 03:35:33 | More by mkabull

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

2.38/5  rDev -33%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Draft poured into a pint glass

Cream ales are essentially a bridge from American style lagers into a top fermented style ale, while essentially retaining most of the characteristics of the former. Don’t let the name fool you, this doesn’t include “cream” or any variation thereof. The term is more of a description of the smoothness derived from the lagering period, or period of storage intended to let the flavors balance and mellow out. I think there are better words that could be used there.

A: Sunlight Cream Ale pours a straw yellow with a fizzy white head, pretty much what you’d expect.

S: The aroma is faint and, in my case, was overpowered by the butter and cheese smells lingering in the restaurant around me, but what I got was a bit adjunct with rice/corn and mostly reminiscent of light lagers.

T/M: It has a medium amount of carbonation, a mild bitterness, very pale dry maltiness, a little bit of sweetness on the back end like an amber, but overall a very basic, American lager tasting beer.

Unremarkable, to say the least, but I’m sure it has a place somewhere.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2011 00:23:42 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

MorningRitual

Indiana

3.1/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pint Can bought from Sun King at their brewery in Indy poured into a frosted glass.

Appearance is a golden yellow with a quickly dissipating head that leaves no lacing in the glass. Carbonation is a little on the low side. Looks like a ver refreshing "anytime" beer.

Smell has very light aroma of malt and a hint of strawberry, can't quite put my finger on it. No real smell of hops, little if any.

Taste is mostly malt, slight sweetness, very creamy malt profile that is nicely done. Not rich flavors, but has a slight sweet crisp taste, very enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: light body, slight carbonation, with a malt flavor that lingers for a bit then dissipates leaving no aftertaste.

Serving type: can

11-03-2011 10:13:57 | More by MorningRitual

abrand

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap in Indy. 16 ounce pour served in pint glass.

Pours a yellow color with very good clarity. 1 finger head that quickly fades and leaves nothing behind. Nose has some hops and grains present but nothing more. Taste is pretty smooth and enjoyable. Has some sourness to it and malts. Mouthfeel is fairly thin with decent carbonation from the tap. Overall a decent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 05:42:35 | More by abrand

GOLDENDOMER

Indiana

4.9/5  rDev +38%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

exceptionaly easy drinking beer. Low hops make it a great everyday beer. Crisp light flavor with out a strong after taste. Good beer to keep on hand for guests ,watching a baseball game or just to quench your thirst on those hot days around a barbecue.

Serving type: on-tap

10-25-2011 02:11:38 | More by GOLDENDOMER

morimech

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Yellow color with a slight haze. Not quite two fingers of head forms and hangs around for awhile. The head settles to a thick cap. Moderate amount of spotty lacing forms down the glass.

Aroma of cereal grain with a slight lemon/wheat twang.

Sweet, light malt flavor. Bready and cereal qualities. Bitterness seems low with very little, if any hop flavor.

Seems a little undercarbonated for what is going on with the flavor. This is a beer that would benefit from fizzy carbonation.

It is a step above adjunct lagers, but some hops could of made this a much more interesting beer.

Serving type: can

10-19-2011 21:51:49 | More by morimech

brew3crew

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Indy tasting room.

A-straw yellow with white head that sticks around for awhile

S-hard to really get anything off of the nose.

T-light, smooth crispy and very refreshing

M-light and smooth. Crisp...

O-very good example of the style. Would try again

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2011 19:35:19 | More by brew3crew

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.58/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this beer from Auslander. Thanks Chris!

16oz can served in a glass beer mug.

L - clear, bright yellow color with a white head that thinned out leaving a few trails of lacing.

S - grainy sourness.

T - the sweeter malts start things out with the sour bitterness holding off until the finish.

F - medium bodied with a smooth and creamy feel.

O - a good example of the style.

Serving type: can

09-23-2011 23:13:16 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

brentk56

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a very light golden color and a modest head that doesn't produce much lacing

Smell: A bit grainy with a biscuity character

Taste: Biscuity malt flavors, up front, with a growing toffee character; by mid-palate, a fruity, lemony aspect hits the profile, though the finish reverts to the sweeter malt elements

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A decent little beer designed for mass appeal, but a little sweet for my palate

Thanks to JAYBLACK, for the chance to re-visit in the can

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 03:03:04 | More by brentk56

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

2.53/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Sun King really surprised me with their Osiris Pale Ale: hoppy, refreshing, delicious. However, I tried their Wee Mac Brown and could hardly finish it. How can a brewery have two beers of such different qualities? Not sure, but I’m sure hoping this one is more like Osiris. And, since I’ve never had a cream ale, it’s new territory indeed. Cheers!

On-tap at Chumley’s in Lafayette, IN; poured into a (non-frosted) pint glass.

A: If there’s one thing that Sun King has down, it’s look. This one has a gorgeous, shining gold body, with a creamy white head. The foam looks a bit oily at times, as it does tend to dissipate quickly; lacing is there, but minimal. Could have been the pour, too – these pints are poured more for amount of liquid than head plumage. Still, there’s a pretty good showing. Love that color, though!

S: All I can think of is Budweiser when I smell this beer. Weak, slightly skunky grains, and a persistent corn smell behind. Not good. With a few swirls of the glass, some other aromas start to show up and, thankfully, cover up the less impressive tones. I can make out some actual cream scents, even, which mix with a mild strawberry scent to form some sort of fruit-yogurt feeling. Decent, but with quite a low intensity.

T: Grain, mostly, with that funny BMC taste front and center. It’s not as intensely unpleasant as a Coors Light, but it’s not a flavor I’d willfully choose to have in my beer. That tinge lasts throughout, but there’s some good cream flavors that come forward to augment the palate. Vanilla and oatmeal tastes are there to have a go, accompanied by some fruits on the end. They all sort of fizzle into the aftertaste, which is an acidic, lemon creaminess. Not my favorite style, for sure.

M: Pretty fizzy, but not without its proprietary cream. The flavor profile isn’t huge, so the body doesn’t have that much to accommodate. Average, I’d say.

O: To me, this is the essence of mediocrity in craft beer: unimpressive flavor wrapped in the shell of a unique style. Sorry guys, but this is one of the weaker beers I’ve tasted from Indianapolis’ own. Not undrinkable, but not worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2011 18:43:37 | More by BarryMFBurton

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: clear yellow gold with a diminishing white head and decent lacing.
S: not a lot going on here, some nice grainy sweetness, almost corn-like despite corn not being listed on the can (barley, wheat, and oats mentioned). Appropriate nose for style.
T: nice lightly sweet corny malt base manages to finish almost dry and crisp despite the lack of hop presence. this description doesn't do justice to how well this is done, especially in regards to style. Easy. Tasty. Likey.
M: smooth, a bit creamy, and just over light-bodied.
O: super drinkable. I was hesitant to crack this thinking I wouldn't like it, but if it was available it'd be a go to summer beer. Best cream ale I've ever had.

Serving type: can

08-30-2011 04:54:03 | More by MrMcGibblets

Preismj

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a: yellow copper with a quickly retreating head that tapers to nothing. plenty of little bubbles keep streaming in the class. This looks tremendously refreshing.

s: very light aroma of malt and lemon zest. not a whole lot going on here on then nose.

t: subtle lemon citrus creeps in at the end of a mostly malt taste. slight sweetness, very creamy malt profile that is nicely done. Not rich flavors, but what is there is a mild sweetness and a crisp taste.

m: light body, good pop from the carb. very slick in the mouth, but doesn't stick around long.

o: a nice transition beer, though I'm at a point where I look for more. It was plenty refreshing and I could see myself revisiting on a very warm day out by the pool as this isn't overbearing but has a nice abv to it. Would have like more of the creamy sweetness, though the velvety feel in the mouth made me happy i tried this.

Serving type: can

08-10-2011 00:02:15 | More by Preismj