Thomas Creek Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale - Thomas Creek Brewery

TheDinger

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle to pint glass. a pretty unassuming pour with mild golden tones and a quickly disappearing 1 finger head. Smell was a bit timid, but did include some nice vanilla notes and some root beer. Taste was up front vanilla with some background of biscuit malt and soda. Didn't pick up much on the hop end. Feel was lightly carbed and a bit on the weak/watery side. Overall- A little bit of a let down. It had potential with the vanilla, it just got lost in the shuffle. It's pretty refreshing and sessionable. I would consider it a bit above average. Was wanting something more distinguished and bold. I would try another if offered-

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:11:03 | More by TheDinger

chinchill

South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

12 oz bottle poured clear light golden in color with what looks like a high amount of carbonation. Large, sudsy white head is durable. The ho-hum aroma and flavor are weak and too much like a macro lager... albeit with vanilla
.
M: As indicated visually, this does have high carbonation but sit seems suitable; light body.

O: refreshing but timid.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 23:33:34 | More by chinchill

tdm168

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - gold with a thin lacing of white head

S - cereal grains, faint creaminess

T - vanilla, creamy, cereal grains, sweet graininess

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This idea had promise. I like the underlying cream ale. I would probably like this a lot more if the vanilla didn't come across as artificial. Ultimately, this is a nice, flavorful-for-the-style, refreshing, lighter offering that will help you through some of the warmer days ahead.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:03:05 | More by tdm168

elvislwyr

Alabama

2.36/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours clear yellow into a glass, two shades brighter than straw. Not much head. Not much to get excited about.

S: The bouquet is faint and floral. No vanilla detected to my nose.

T: Cloying citrus, not much complexity, a finish distinctly reminiscent of lesser American adjunct lagers in its graininess. If vanilla is present, it is very light, not even an undertone.

M: Nothing unexpected here. Average carbonation, slightly on the dry side of the spectrum.

O: Doesn't bear much resemblance to an ale, to me. Much closer to a typical American adjunct lager. Not much here I would want to revisit.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 23:55:10 | More by elvislwyr

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.43/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A-fizzy straw yellow beer with bright white one finger head, whats not to love?

S-almost nothing reminds me of a normal fizzy yellow beer

T- finally something not reminiscent of fizzy yellow beer. This has some vanilla coming through with a hint of honey sweetness

M-some good creaminess in this one

O-better than I expected when I first poured this one and I may even try it again

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 11:06:42 | More by tvv375ia

YellowHammer

1.93/5  rDev -41.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

-Smells almost like a Coors Light.
-White head with no lacing.
-Taste is disappointing, no vanilla cream that you'd expect. The vanilla is basically nonexistent. This beer honestly tastes and smells almost like a Coors Light.

Overall a misleading beer which is very drinkable but not something that you'd savor. Its almost a funnel beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 02:56:45 | More by YellowHammer

kylehay2004

Florida

3.6/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: very thin white head on a clear pale gold body. not very exciting. some lacing.

S: honey, vanilla, wheat, light biscuit notes. light on the nose.

T: where the appearance and nose lack, the flavor makes up for it. the vanilla really brings out the creaminess. wheat, honey and some sour lemon notes round this one out.

M: light body and high carbonation. crisp and refreshing.

Overall: this beer is incomplete. Ups and downs but I guess the flavor matters most and it is decent for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 23:31:53 | More by kylehay2004

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.55/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a snifter on 12/6/11

Thanks to PDXHops

Timid golden yellow that has a shine to it in the light. A one thumb head doesn't last long, surrendering to a patch of bubbles and some haphazard trails of lace.

The aroma is weird and kind of off putting. Notions off vanilla taffy, marshmallow and dust swim in a pool of syrupy corn. Something makes me think "burnt citrus," whatever that means. As it starts to warm the nose shifts in favor of the vanilla and marshmallow, so that's nice.

Flavor-wise, this is pretty uneventful. Grainy and resembling the use of adjuncts; some grassy hops are strewn about, too. Vanilla is very mild and artificial.

Easily on the light side of the feel spectrum with moderate carbonation biting here and there. The finish is dry and has a lingering dirty presence that I don't care for; it sticks to the palate.

Overall impression - not outright terrible, but this isn't all that impressive. Maybe a decent summer beer or something.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 06:08:36 | More by Ryan011235

Paincane

Georgia

2.53/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Golden colored brew poured into pint glass produces a short-lived white head that has good retention and leaves moderate amount of lace.
S: Not much nose. Hint of vanilla with grain.
T: Grain, no cream. A little vanilla but it is there if you really try. Bitter, slightly tart finish that lingers for a bit.
M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: Disappointing and a bit of a misnomer. Lacked in vanilla or cream. I would not seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 01:19:15 | More by Paincane

Pintofbrown

Iowa

2.58/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

I poured this beer into a glass stein.

Appearance- The body is a pale golden yellow with a decent amount of carbonation columns. The head was about a half-finger in width before settling in at a slight, white film for a cap.

Smell- There is a big note of burnt grain on the nose, not subtle, and not appealing. I wish there was more to this head than that, but there is nothing.

Taste- Some bittering hops at the start, maybe some earthy note to it. Any vanilla or other biscuit quality I would have expected to really punch through in the middle to the finish, but no such luck!

There is some grain and roasted grain in the finish of the beer, maybe just a little bit of biscuit malt, but vanilla? I really, really wish there had been.

Mouth feel- The feel is pretty good to be honest. The body of the beer is balanced, not too light or heavy, and the creaminess is pretty good. It is not filling up the mouth, but it goes down pretty easily.

It is really that burnt grain that is taking away from the finish, not what has been done with the carbonation in the beer.

Overall- For as interesting as this one sounded, it did not deliver in the slightest. The nose had little to offer but burnt grain.

The taste was also a huge let down. Vanilla is virtually non-existent, and what is left, well, does not make for a very good drinking experience. No matter how tempted you are, this one can be avoided.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 23:25:20 | More by Pintofbrown

Rhynes2

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this while vacationing in South Carolina. Pours a nice light color with little head and no lacing. The taste was of vanilla mostly but subtle honey flavor was also present. Very light malt character with a slight hop bitterness. Well rounded for the most part. The mouthfeel is the one thing i would change. I prefer this flavor to be less carbonated. The one I had was almost fizzy. Other than that it's a pretty good brew and something I would buy again given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 19:37:54 | More by Rhynes2

avalon07

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a bright yellow color and a clear consistency. There was a thin, foamy head that quickly dissipated. Below average lacing.

S: A sweet aroma, with vanilla, malt, and a little hops coming through.

T: Tasted of some malt, vanilla, cream, and light hops in the finish. This is a surprisingly tasty beer. Very light, refreshing, and vibrant.

M: A high amount of carbonation with a tingly, smooth finish. Light-bodied.

O: While this beer does have some flaws, it's still pretty enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 12:10:30 | More by avalon07

mdaschaf

Washington

3.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Review from notes.

A: Pours a light golden color with a small foamy head on top. Decent retention, but not much lacing at all.

S: Rather light, with a but of bready malt and a definite vanilla presence.

T: Similar to the nose, except that the vanilla is more pronounced. It reminds me of cream soda actually. Some bready malt, a bit of spice, and maybe a touch of honey.

M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Drinks smooth.

O: Not a bad beer. The vanilla gives it a nice flavor profile, even though I am not a huge cream soda fan. Probably wouldn't have it again though.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 18:17:29 | More by mdaschaf

THECPJ

Delaware

3.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: golden yellow with a 1 finger white head

smell: vanilla, biscuit, malts

taste: vanilla, malts, bread

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, thin to medium body,

overall: not a bad brew if you like vanilla. glad I got to try it.

cheers,
The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 03:34:18 | More by THECPJ

iadler

Minnesota

3.23/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Bruery tulip

A- Clear light gold with a two finger head that leaves a small amount of lacing.

S- Vanilla cream and bready malt. Not overly complex but smells like cream soda.

T- Similar to the smell with vanilla being less noticeable, sweet bready malt and some faint citrus hop notes such as lemon zest.

M- Medium carbonation and light body. Mouthfeel is a little too watered down and was wishing it had a little creamier mouthfeel.

O- While the vanilla is noticeable, there really isn't anything else going on with this beer. The mouthfeel is too watered down which hurt this brew. Not bad, but nothing memorable.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 03:30:47 | More by iadler

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.28/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours golden with a relatively thin white head. Smells like frosted breakfast ceral with milk and a splash of vanilla. Tastes like diet vanilla cream soda. I think the light hops here emulate the bitterness of the artificial sweetner. As bad as that sounds, it's not terrible. Extremely creamy and the vanilla is restrained. Crackery malt makes this lighter and dryer than it could easily be. Interesting enough and several of my house guests liked it, but I probably won't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 22:47:02 | More by Georgiabeer

kagent777

Utah

3.73/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for this one from Another6Pack! Poured into a curvey pint glass.

Appearance: An almost crystal clear dark yellow/ light gold beer with nice fluffy white head that has some staying power and great lacing.

Smell: The vanilla is in the nose but subtle. Maybe a faint earthy hop note with a very light malt smell.

Taste: The vanilla is also in the taste. This is a light summer refreshing beer. There is a very slight hops bitterness that goes along with the sweetness of the vanilla. The finish is short and not overpowering.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation is prickly and works with the overall refreshing them of this beer. The body is medium for a low ABV beer as this one.

Overall: The addition of vanilla is a nice touch. I am not sure that this one would stand out without the vanilla. I would love to try this on nitrogen. A decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 04:16:28 | More by kagent777

aasher

Indiana

2.85/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I grabbed this one soley because it sounds delicious and sounds refreshing. I haven't had a really light beer in forever. So here goes nothing...it poured a very light and extremely clear golden yellow with a two finger frothy bright white head. It smells of a light lager with the slightest hint of vanilla. The lack of vanilla is actually surprising, despite being an extremely light style in the first place. As it warms it starts to open up a little bit. The vanilla is a little more apparent. The flavor too is disappointing. There is maybe one drop of vanilla per bottle. As it warms, the vanilla is actually apparent in the taste and aftertaste but it is very subtle. This is a cream ale, yes. Is it average? Maybe, maybe. It drinks light but is there really a reason to go back for another sip? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 23:40:24 | More by aasher

JayS2629

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had high hopes on this because I am one of vanilla's biggest fans. I was disappointed.

A- Hazy yellow gold wwith a creamy white head. Little lacing.

S- Sweet malts, Grassy. Slight skunk. Musty. Of course there is a hint of vanilla but not as strong as I wanted. Weak smell. Very faint.

T- Sweet, bready. Pilsner. Weak hops. Cream soda. Real vanilla, but barely taste it. Stronger smell than taste. Skunk on the end.

D- Goes down fairly easy. I keep looking for vanilla and coming up short. Skunk taste makes the drinkability suffer for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 14:33:43 | More by JayS2629

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Light sunflower golden color. Average sized, foamy, creamy, smooth, pearl white head. So-so retention leaving just a little ring of lace.

S - A little faint, but sweet corn and malt are strong along with a definite hit of vanilla. A faint spiciness with pretty much no hops present.

T - Similar to the nose but a little stronger. Sweet corn and malt provide the backbone and there is a strong kick of vanilla. The vanilla doesn't taste artificial either (not the best vanilla flavor I've had, but not bad/artificial). Again a very faint hint of spice as well as a touch of breadiness. Somewhat reminiscent of a cream soda.

M - Light body with average carbonation. Thin but slightly smooth.

D - Goes down very easy and not too sweet, in a cloying way at least. Would be able and willing to put down a couple in a sitting.

Notes: Not a bad beer and what you would expect in a vanilla cream ale. Definitely sweet and reminds me of cream soda. Not a lot else going for it though. I enjoyed it, but I don't really know when I would want to drink it.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 00:36:28 | More by FreshHawk

biggred1

Indiana

3.2/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pale yellow with a fluffy snow white head. Vanilla and pale malts in the nose. This beer tastes like cream soda with noble hop bittering. Light bodied and fizzy. This is my least favorite of the TCB beers I've tried so far and I'm not sure what beer drinker would enjoy this brew. Forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 01:32:19 | More by biggred1

feelmefoam

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of the few Thomas Creek bottles at my store I haven't tried yet. Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale pours a light wheat color with plenty of carbonation running up from the etching in my glass into a finger of white head that hangs around for a minute before falling away. Moderate lacing left around the glass, not too thick, but nice and lacy.

The smell is probably the least impressive part of the beer, simply because it doesn't provide much in the way of strength. I can smell pale malts with a little bit of vanilla in the background, and that's about it. Even though it's not bad, I need a little more complexity and intensity.

The flavor and mouthfeel are both pretty respectable. On the tongue, the beer starts out light and creamy with some mild buttery pale malts and a little bit of light hoppiness, followed by a nearly perfect amount of vanilla flavoring. All this sits atop a medium-light body with a good amount of carbonation that helps the creamy feeling of the beer.

Overall, this is a pretty tasty beer, even if it is a little far-flung from the typical barley-hops-water traditional beers being brewed out there. It's like the cream soda version of a beer. While I like it, some people definitely won't. Still, it's definitely worth a try as it is a neat little field trip away from some more typical beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 22:01:10 | More by feelmefoam

Bung

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz. Electric yellow pour with just a small layer of white head.

Herbal grassy aroma with just a faint hint of malt and vanilla. Not sure what this should smell like, but it is kind of macro-esque.

Taste is also kind of macro-esque. Very grassy, itty bitty bread and ittier bittier vanilla. I feel like I've got a little Bud breath after this.

Mouthfeel is light, but a lively almost creamy body.

Extreamely drinkable, just not all that enjoyable flavor wise.

The flavor does come out better as this warms.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 01:57:55 | More by Bung

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a Samuel Smith imperial pint. Pours a nice golden pale yellow with a one-finger white head that quickly subsides to a minimal amount. There was no apparent lacing evident. The aroma was comprised of a slight hop hint and vanilla. The flavor of this beer actually came in three stages in the same succession: First you would get a very light hop flavor that was followed by a note of vanilla, that was then followed by a note of cream upon swallowing. It was light on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a very interesting brew with multiple flavors coming in as the sip goes along. This is a nice seasonal from Thomas Creek and is very smooth to drink and enjoyable. Worth a try for any cream ale lover.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 12:21:37 | More by thagr81us

branimal9

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass & consumed with Ronzonie. Light straw gold in color, with a fluffy white head. Lightly malty-sweet on the nose; smells pilsner-y. No real vanilla aroma to speak of. Taste is light & crisp, with a bit of vanilla flavor mid-palate. Slightly dry and refreshing. A good, easy drinking ale for the summer season.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 20:03:45 | More by branimal9