Sleeman Cream Ale (64*) - Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

Olek4374

Alberta (Canada)

3.11/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

This is obviously Sleeman's attempt at a craftier beer, but this is not their forte. They are a macro brewery that makes refeshing and easy drinking beers, so I doubt this will end well.

It pours a slightly lighter yellow than the O Draught with 3 fingers of cloudy head that dissipates rapidly. The smell of the beer is a little sweet and a little malty, but also a lot skunky courtesy of the clear bottle. Surprisingly enough, I never get the skunk with the O Draught and the Honey Brown, despite the fact that they are all served in clear bottles. Odd.

The taste is basically the O Draught if there were a more pronounced hoppy character to it. This is what the O Draught should have been in the first place. Apart from the extra hoppiness, it is virtually identical to O Draught in every regard.

Aftertaste is, not surprisingly, a little more bitter but still very refreshing like all the Sleeman beers are. This ranks a little higher than the Original Sleeman, but It's a bit of a downgrade because this is a pretty poor cream ale - but a good pale lager. They should just market it as that.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 05:59:37 | More by Olek4374

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

2.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Clear golden colour, finger of head, little retention and no real lacing.

S - Grainy bready malts, leafy greens, sweet corn and buttery bread.

T - Sweet corn dominates, classic macro lager notes, bready malts, burnt butter, toasted grains and a sweet leafy note lingers.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and wet.

O - Pass go, collect and move on... Nothing worthy here from a flavour profile, but it's an easy drinking macro brew that's disguised as a craft ale. Don't be fooled.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:28:14 | More by andrenaline

atr2605

New York

2.99/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-pours a golden color with a white head that fades pretty quick
S-malty with no hop presence
T-creamy malt dominates with hops providing nice balance without contributing flavor
M-medium bodied and creamy
O-what I kind of expected. Not a great cream ale but hit the main aspects.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 01:26:02 | More by atr2605

tonton

Hong Kong

3.03/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Beautiful clear bottle, embossed glass with the Canadian maple leaf, the name of the brewery and the name of the beer. Red printed label with more info on the neck.

Wow. Opened the bottle and was blasted with lager funk. Maybe I got a bad bottle. Even my wife could smell it across the room. Not happy.

The taste was surprisingly decent, like an English Pale Ale. No sign of that nasty nose on the tongue. I've never had a beer that smelled as bad and tasted fine.

Good mouth feel.

Just don't burp, you'll get than nasty funk again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 12:50:04 | More by tonton

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +30.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine June 2007.

In the late 1800s, George Sleeman brought this beer to life--it's not your typical ale. Cream Ales are sometimes seen as a hybrid: fermented like an ale but matured like a lager.

Crystal-clear pale golden color shows some active carbonation, with decent head retention as some white lace sticks to the glass. Smells a touch husky with a light biscuit aroma, very clean nose. Big on smoothness. A refreshing crispness rolls off the tongue. Dry malt flavor to start; mild cooked corn as well. A minimal hop bitterness is enough to balance things, and there is a refined grassy hop flavor in the middle to end. Clean, grainy flavor throughout. Finishes very dry, with hints of barley husk and corn.

It is what it is: pedestrian for the beer geek, perhaps, but comparable to the slew of retro Lagers that are available now. Within the American Cream Ale style, this one ranks high. We envision a heaping plate of chili cheese nachos with fried jalapeño rings--or just a few cold ones on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 18:55:00 | More by BeerAdvocate

fizzy

Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

WOW! Cream Ale (64) I thought I was going to get something that would totally amaze me. Hahahahahaha, was I mistaken. Honest guys, this is no rare beer by any means. It excels in nothing except 5% alcohol. I just got back from Panama and drank every Panamanian beer I could and would rate any of them better than this Canadian brew. Sorry if the truth hurts, but that's the way it is!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 21:59:42 | More by fizzy

Ragingbull

California

2.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Gold color with a wispy head and light prickle. The nose is like malted snow. My wife described it as a scent that reminded her of the VFW on bingo night. Creamy attack and a bold flavor of cream. It is a very macrobrew-esque offering except that perhaps it is a little bit more "bold" than many macrobrews.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2009 14:28:53 | More by Ragingbull

PirateUlf73

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a mug.

A: Very clear golden-yellow color with a fizzy white head that dissipated rather within a minute.

S: Aromas of light, pale malt and a touch of hops. Not a very strong nose.

T: Somewhat assertive graininess and a subtle fruity character. Hop character is noticed as a slightly grassy bitterness. Crisp and quite refreshing.

M: Lighter body and plenty of carbonation. The finish was pretty clean and a little dry.

D: This would make a pretty good warm-weather beer.

A pretty refreshing beer that would do much better on a hot day than any other time. Nothing spectacular, but a decent session beer that I certainly would not turn away.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 06:19:56 | More by PirateUlf73

RievyRW

Wisconsin

2.65/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Source: 12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Golden hue with a 1 finger head that dissipates quickly and leave little lacing.

Smell: A faint malt smell

Taste: Some malt flavors, but not much. No real hops flavor either.

Drinkability: Better than the standard mass produced beer, but not something that needs to be drank whenever possible.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2009 17:23:17 | More by RievyRW

gonzo46and2

Florida

2.35/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tried this a part of a mix twelve pack that sleeman put out. It was a good deal and I liked the porter. This was one of my gateway brands into craft beer so they do have a place in my heart.

This beer really didn't have much greatness about it. I liked it the least of all in the mix pack. Mostly bland dark malt tones. Nothing all that pretty or tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2009 01:25:04 | More by gonzo46and2

yesyouam

New York

2.25/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Sleeman Cream Ale is a very sparkling, clear, light golden ale with a fuzzy white head that fades quickly and leaves some nice lacing. The aroma is faint and of light grain, possibly some noble hops and a touch of paper. There is something a little corny and farty about it. It is light bodied, reasonably soft, and the finish is a bit gritty. There isn't really much flavor here. A little bit of bitterness picks up at the end. It's kind of like drinking water out of a glass that had a Pilsner in it earlier. There may be something a bit lemony in here, but I'm really groping for something here. It would be good for shotgunning or beer pong.
(rated Jan 4, 2008)

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 04:43:47 | More by yesyouam

kinger

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Simple is good with this one. Pours a medium light golden yellow with a thin white head and good carbonation. Aroma is subtle, creamy, and light with a slight malt nose. Mouthfeel is good and filling with a crisp finish. Flavor is very appealing. Easy simple and delicious, nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2008 20:21:38 | More by kinger

ajmoody76

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

bought this at the local beer store. came in a twelve pack with three other sleeman offerings. 12 ounce bottle poured into an imperial pint. light gold color. clear with a one finger white head. nice lace.

malt nose. some hop aroma. maybe some adjuncts in there. no off odors.

sweet malt taste. a little hop presence. balanced for style. dry aftertaste.

light to mid body. good carbonation. seems to fit style description. not a lot of depth. i am new with cream ales. would not go out of my way to buy this. may buy another sampler 12er in the future though.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2008 01:35:12 | More by ajmoody76

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a clear, bright golden-orange with a slight, dull white capping that quickly succumbed to a sparse layering. Visible carbonation was very soft.

S: The nose was simple and sweet, fresh sweet oranges and citrus.

T: The initial flavor was sweet and creamy oranges, bright citrus and a sweet malting backing things up. The flavor was sweet, crisp, fresh and citrusy with some dry oranges on the fade and finish.

M: The mouthful was light with a subtle creaminess, and was decent enough.

D: Nice drinkability, sweet, and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2008 15:52:09 | More by beerthulhu

babaracas

Florida

1.85/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours a clear light amber with fast fading white head. Smell: alcohol and grains. Taste: grains, alcohol, slight tannin-ness. Mouthfeel: watery thin and harshly crisp with a slimy finish. Basically it tastes like a poor attempt at a cream ale, watery and too much alcohol upfront for 5%. Not even on the Genny Cream level.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2008 01:22:27 | More by babaracas

jsprain1

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- A macro looking golden color with a fairly thin head that leaves a bit of lacing.
S- I couldn't pull much of a scent on this one. It kind of just smells like alcohol. Some distant grain scent.
T- I get a bit of vanilla taste in there. Mostly it is a continuation of the alcohol scent. Not really what I was expecting. Though I'm aware cream ales aren't known for hop character, I got no hop taste at all.
M- It feels light. It was a little excessive on carbation for me. It left my pallette a little dry as well.
D- I mean... it was very average. I suppose it's light enough that one could drink a couple. Not my favorite, not horrible. It wasn't what I was expecting. I would recommend it if offered by a friend or something, but not of high enough quality that I plan on purchasing again.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 06:14:18 | More by jsprain1

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint. First selection from a twelve pack sampler.

Medium straw color with a light, bubbly head that settled to no cap with a little lacing ring.

Smell is malty, with a hop tinge. Hops smell citrus. Hints of cheese on the nose.

Taste is sour hops, like turned milk sour. Small malt flavor on the back with a hop bite and small diacetyl flavor that is more like broken butter or burned butter than straight butter.

Mouthfeel is average, not a "creamy" as I would have thought. Active carbonation with a light to medium body.

Drinkability is good of you dig the flavor.

Overall, tastes more like a bad farmhouse ale to me with the sour notes I get. Not terrible but not great either.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2008 22:36:45 | More by wheatyweiss

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a five finger white head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Crystal clear amber color. Light carbonation and light-medium bodied. Grassy nose. Flavor is almost sweet, grass, hay some hops. Boring. $1.45 for a 340ml bottle from John's Marketplace Portland, OR.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2008 00:23:21 | More by jdhilt

tapman

Illinois

1.18/5  rDev -58.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Crystal clear in appearance, perhaps from filtering and pasteurizing. Seriously, Indistinguishable from MGD except that its a little more orange, but head retention is the same, non-existent. The lacing is decent enough, but still white and foamy, not great for the style. Very unimpressed.

Smells like a weak glass of white wine, perhaps a white zinfandel. I'm not trying to be mean to this brew, but that's really all I get. No hops, though I suppose the very light fruitiness is from them, but you wouldn't know them from white wine so...Also I may, it's really hard to tell, get a hint of some European hops, though they would have to be a lot lighter than Saaz. Also not impressed, hardly recognizable as beer.

A little sweet, like apple juice. Not even cider for this one, the taste is non-existent. Once again, I feel bad saying all this, but I'm just telling it like it is.

Mouthfeel is dry and mildly bitter and mildly sweet. I really want to stress mild here. Seriously, like a weak white wine, almost exactly. At least it feels like something.

I find no redeeming qualities in this beer. It's a light beer, a light beer that costs $10 a six pack. I know I'm sounding like a broken record with this one, but I would rather have an MGD, which I consider having superior carbonation and at least tastes and smells like a weak pilsner, not a glass of white wine. I won't spill it out, oh no, since I could use it to wash dishes, water the plants, or at the very least its like 5% abv water, which almost sounds like fun...almost.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2008 04:22:32 | More by tapman

ElGrecoVerde

Michigan

2.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A light golden yellow brew. The looks of this beer are easy to forget.

Smell was light and grainy. So far I'm not seeing much difference between this and the big name breweries.

Taste was similar, grainy and... wait a minute... creamy? I thought it was just the name. It was interesting though. Something to make you think a bit at least.

The feel didn't seem to match the taste well, though I have no complaints.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2008 23:35:32 | More by ElGrecoVerde

ibashmuck

Wisconsin

2.28/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Purchased as part of "build-your-own-six-pack" at local grocer. Poured a very light yellow, with a thick head. Smell was light, but had a distinct "dustiness" to it, rather unflattering. Taste was completely unremarkable. Nothing there, really. Left a slight coat in my mouth. I felt there really wasn't anything exciting about it at all. Not terrible, just boring.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2008 22:26:22 | More by ibashmuck

Phocion

Minnesota

1.8/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Second beer from a Sleeman sample pack. 330ml bottle poured into a pint glass. Pale clear straw color with a fizzy and puny white head that holds in exactly the way the Miami Dolphins defense doesn't. A little bit of fairly sticky lacing, but that's the sole redeeming quality of the appearance of this beer.

Aroma is adjunct-laden and just a hint of musky hoppiness.

The flavor is sweet rice and just a tiny hint of pale roasted malts. A bit of skunkiness. All in all, bad.

The mouthfeel finishes in sort of the same way as a cream soda, which is sort of expected. But it's thin, watery, and bubbly. I think this is the beer Stone had in mind for its "Fizzy yellow beer is for wussies" slogan. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2008 02:41:11 | More by Phocion

rodenbach99

Quebec (Canada)

2.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

341ml. clear bottle

A: wheat blond colour dark for a blond ale, chimical white head
S: skunky nose probably due to the clear bottle, no malt
T: thin mouth with a little malt.
D: this product is a deception 'cause it's the flag bearer of Sleeman Brewery

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 21:12:24 | More by rodenbach99

hwwty4

Missouri

2.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a 12oz bottle into a Chimay Chalice. This is a really interesting beer. Not that WOW interesting but that where is everything, interesting. There is barley an aroma...just a bit of sweetness. Taste is almost nonexistent. Honestly the most memorable thing is the carbonation. Quite a bit of it. It kind of tasted like a toned down version of beer mixed with alka seltzer.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2007 04:29:39 | More by hwwty4

DackAchan

Michigan

2.88/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Wasn't impressed with this beer. Not too good of smell to it. Nothing strong, just a regular beer. The taste wasn't stong to it and was slightly bitter. I think it was a couple months past it's prime. I wasn't impressed and the people I drank with weren't impressed either. Average to subaverage beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2007 18:38:32 | More by DackAchan