Hop Cream - Capital Brewery

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.26/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear brass and copper color mix. No bubbles. Quick head and a small ring of residual foam.

Interesting lactose, faintly toasted malts, and somewhat citric hop aroma. A little metallic too.

Dry lactic cream with light orange zest hop flavor and bitterness. Toasted crackers and soda water. Feels carbonated, dry, and bitter overall.

An interesting cream ale indeed, but not something I'll buy again. I will say it's worth a try though.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 21:52:39 | More by scruffwhor

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +13.3%

05-18-2013 12:57:57 | More by AmandaSchaefer

Crimsonfloods

Florida

3.41/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: golden orange, white head, little to no lacing in the pint glass

S: very light on the nose, hops and I smell feint vanilla notes.

T: creamy hoppy, subtle vanilla far in the background, not too much more.

D: very dry finish! I assumed this beer would stick to the inside of my mouth but once it was down it was down. Pretty neat.

O: I don't think I would jump through hoops to try this again, but if it fell in my lap, I'd give it another go! Solid flavor and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:03:11 | More by Crimsonfloods

Hoolie5

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

05-16-2013 16:53:07 | More by Hoolie5

StoughtonGuy

Wisconsin

1.5/5  rDev -57.5%

05-10-2013 21:08:09 | More by StoughtonGuy

Ginepiece

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

04-29-2013 02:45:23 | More by Ginepiece

RWACKO

New York

3/5  rDev -15%

04-26-2013 09:02:42 | More by RWACKO

Herky21

Iowa

3/5  rDev -15%

04-08-2013 12:59:19 | More by Herky21

ChimRichels

Wisconsin

3.79/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Brilliant orange body that is slightly hazy. Only a thin ring of head yet it still manages to leave a good bit of lacing near the top.

S - Big time hops up front. Very resinous and somewhat herbal. Little to no citrus/fruit to speak of. Maybe a little bit fresh bread in the background.

T - A little more fruity than the nose, but not as much of a hop wallop as the nose would have otherwise indicated. Still some pine flavors persist as well as some mild bread notes.

M - Really smooth and easy to drink. Carbonation mild.

O - A solid representative of an under appreciated style. Will purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 23:52:37 | More by ChimRichels

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

03-13-2013 04:58:57 | More by Zachtheporter

Klimm

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +13.3%

03-09-2013 03:19:49 | More by Klimm

Mdodge8837

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-22-2013 01:15:06 | More by Mdodge8837

Kyrojack

Indiana

1.5/5  rDev -57.5%

02-19-2013 14:49:25 | More by Kyrojack

Hopheadjeffery

Illinois

4/5  rDev +13.3%

02-17-2013 16:02:21 | More by Hopheadjeffery

BRD14

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-03-2013 22:59:59 | More by BRD14

cyrushire

Florida

2.25/5  rDev -36.3%

01-31-2013 07:34:10 | More by cyrushire

Hoploaf

4.48/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

If you love hops, but are tired of how hops have become so overused as to make many beers off balance, then I suggest trying Hop Cream. I first tried it when it was just an experimental creation that was on tap at Capitol's beer garden. I was hooked on the first sip by the mellow hop flavor and the creamy head. This is one easy drinking GOOD beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 21:13:35 | More by Hoploaf

Come_In_Ski

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

01-27-2013 00:09:43 | More by Come_In_Ski

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

01-17-2013 06:03:06 | More by BrownAleMale

pooogy

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

01-16-2013 22:51:22 | More by pooogy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.19/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

What folks usually don't know is that early examples of cream ale exhibited a wide range of flavor and feel. The fine folks at Capitol Brewery know this and exploits the crisper, cleaner, and hoppier end of the spectrum than that of the corn riddled lager-like examples.

With its mild haze (presumably from hops), the beer carries a strong straw hue that's brightly golden but not yet amber. The richer look makes me think maibock heading into my first whiff. A cottony white foam floats the beer and is very confident in its retention and lacy adherence.

Grass and grapefruit rise first as the hops dominate the grain in the beer's early aromas. Rustic in nature, the near-stemmy woodish tones over rule the blend of starchy malt, corn, and grain sweetness underneath.

Flavors are more balanced as the grain sweetness latch onto the front of the tongue and give a light coat of crisp bready malts before the hops settle in. But shortly after, the hop flavors of grapefruit rind, orange pith, and citrus oils gain slight command and morph into a grassy, herbal bitterness in finish. The grain taste of "Grapenuts" and cereal reside in support for the light starch and bold hops and add to the sense of crispness and refreshment in finish.

Light to medium-light in body, the grain sweetness is accompanied by rich proteins that hold onto the abundant carbonation deep into finish for a creamy texture. But as the malts and carbonation sharply fall off, what's left is a grassy astringency to accompany hop bitterness as the beer comes to closure. This is the lasting feel that trails quickly for a terse aftertaste and texture.

As the beer lovers will likely agree that the preferred crisper and cleaner versions of cream ale are best. But the flavors here are similar enough to American pale ales to draw these unfair comparisons. These comparisons will leave this hoppy cream ale in slighter celebration and demand.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 18:38:46 | More by BEERchitect

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The final offering in my surprise Christmas mixer pack.

A - Pours a slightly hazy pale golden colour, finger of head with little retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Some nice floral hop notes, sour citrus rind, hints of earthy pine and a touch of buttery caramel.

T - A tad more mild than implied by the nose, the earthy pine and floral hop notes come through alongside a bready caramel malt base. The citrus rind notes linger alongside some buttered bread.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and wet.

O - The tastiest of the mixer by far, though it could still use a bit of a flavour boost. I would suggest this as a good brew to suggest to someone who is just beginning to appreciate hops. The hop presence is a nice additive to what is otherwise a pretty mild flavoured brew style. Glad I had the opportunity to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 00:21:05 | More by andrenaline

kanno

4.5/5  rDev +27.5%

12-22-2012 05:08:50 | More by kanno

Espy30

4/5  rDev +13.3%

12-19-2012 19:48:11 | More by Espy30

TX-Badger

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

12-16-2012 05:45:16 | More by TX-Badger