Little Kings Cream Ale - Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Co.

WalterHeisenberg

New Mexico

2.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3

Scored an 8 pack in Cortez Colorado while in town for a job. Used to drink these like a madman back in the day. Even if they come in the tiny 10-8 oz bottle.
A: golden straw quickly disappearing head no lacing
S: staw malty smells like a macro
T: pretty bland typical macro
O: Gee I guess my tastes have changed I remember this being so flavorful and good. I swear I could taste the cream that makes it a cream ale. This was only slightly better than a BMC. on the upside my wife loved it. She went crazy for it. Wants me to get more ASAP ! Haha

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 04:43:47 | More by WalterHeisenberg

beergoot

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Found a seven ounce bottle at Cheers Liquor in Colorado Springs while building my own six-pack. I haven't had one of these since my younger days back in Ohio...

Good golden color with a big, fizzy white head that quickly receded to wispy, light top on the beer. The smell is typical light grain and/or corn aromas; grass-like. Light grains and cereal flavors with a touch of bitterness in the background. The feel is medium-light and fairly effervescent; clean, crisp, dry.

Little Kings weren't one of my "go to" beers back in the 70s and 80s (although Robin Hood Cream Ale was always a "treat"!), and not because I didn't like 'em, but probably because the bottles were too small for my beer guzzling tastes. Well, if the current edition is similar to those old days, than I can say this is a decent enough ale. Nothing spectacular per se, flavorful and refreshing enough to go back and have some more.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:02:59 | More by beergoot

Alextricity

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

*Review #100*

I can say straight away that this is a beer that I think anybody could drink and not spit out in disgust. It doesn't even taste like a beer, in my opinion, and that's the reason why. Early on, I got a lot of a vanilla/vodka flavor. After a few sips, I pretty much tasted nothing ... and there was no bitterness. I rate it as highly as I do because it's super sessionable, drinkable, inoffensive, and just really good for any occasion. Not just that, but the bottle's attractive ... especially, I'd think, for the female drinkers. The bottle's a measly 7oz.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 17:17:52 | More by Alextricity

tdm168

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - dark copper with a short-lived, bubbly, white head; there are a ton of carbonation bubbles rising to the top

S - cereal grains

T - cereal grains, a bit sweet, a little grassy

M - light bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a light, very sessionable beer that can replace and American lager. There's just enough flavor to keep you interested and a light body that allows you to put away several of these little bottles.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 01:47:46 | More by tdm168

rangerred

Tennessee

2.8/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Two 7oz bottles poured into a pint glass.

Pours a clear medium gold with a one finger white head. Pretty decent head retention and lacing; I was quite surprised.

Aroma is corn and some cooked vegetables. Some fairy faint hay and grassy hops are detectable. Really nice aroma for the style.

The flavor has lots of cooked vegetables up front along with some vanilla and corn. I can pick out some breadyness along with a little bit of hay and grass. Bitterness is nearly non-existent and the finish is on the sweet side.

Overall, a fairly non-offensive, although below average, cream ale. The sweetness limits drinkability somewhat but I could see having a few every once in awhile.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 02:58:36 | More by rangerred

smcolw

Massachusetts

1.45/5  rDev -51.8%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Served in a green (ugh!) 7 ounce bottle. Even with a vigorous pour, there is no head. Hazy with a dirty gold color.

First impression on the smell is plastic. Don't know why. Light fruitiness. No typical smells of malt or hop.

This is a sweet beer that seems like a macro with three teaspoons of sugar added. Not creamy but I would say it is full bodied with a low level of carbonation. The aftertaste is similar to the aftertaste of Coca-Cola.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 16:42:36 | More by smcolw

TownDunkel

Texas

3.7/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Little Kings - saw this on sale at HEB and decided to grab one

Appearance - A beautiful orange/carmel color that looks thing almost like hard liquor

Smell - A mild but delicious cream scent that hits you after the inital hops

Taste - A very clear but light cream flavor. Almost not beer like except for the good hops that came aftertaste. I just wish it was a bit more to it

Mouthfeel - Enough carbonation but I really wish it had some more to it, the head is almost nonexistant

Overall - Autumn or Spring beer that is almost a daily drinker

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 01:35:30 | More by TownDunkel

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a lager glass. Pours a light copper color, With a very small head that disappears within seconds leaving very feint lacing. Smell is STRONGLY of butterscotch, Which is perfect for me seeing as it is one of my favorite flavorings. The taste somewhat follows the smell, Butterscotch with a small amount of Adjunct coming through, Though the butterscotch stay's dominant. The mouthfeel was really the only thing that disappointed me about this beer. Very slight notes of butterscotch in the mouthfeel, Followed by a strong cooked corn Adjunct flavor and a strong almost unfathomable metallic taste on the tongue and in the throat. Though the butterscotch somewhat save's the mouthfeel from getting a very low rating and it prevails in the end

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 05:02:43 | More by SometimesIfart

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

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

Bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Pours a straw yellow with a fizzy head, pretty typical for a cream style ale/lager.

S: Smells slightly bitter and dry with malt and little else.

T/M: Taste is surprisingly good, in a German way, like a nice pilsner. Medium carbonation, light body, just a touch bitter, smooth, almost creamy.

With the tiny bottle, these could go down real fast.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 02:23:03 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Reaper16

Alabama

3.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Part of a new series titled "Reaper Does Blind Tastings of Assorted Pale Lagers." This isn't a lager, of course. A sneaky blind tasting choice!
7oz. (!) bottle served into a pint glass

Pours a brown-mustard sort of darker yellow color. Not great looking. There really isn't much head action going on at all. A faint wisp of head, not enough to even accurately gauge what color it is.

Smells immediately of ale yeast: apple apple apple. Some caramel popcorn going on too, but apple ale yeast aroma is the strongest element. This isn't good, mind you. It smells like something that will not be good.

The initial sips are very smooth and malty. A pleasant caramel malt flavor is the dominant flavor. There's apple too. It very quickly begins to cohere into a caramel apple flavor -- synthetic caramel apple, like those green apple suckers with the cheap caramel coating over them. Halfway through (with warmth?) Little Kings develops an acerbic, medicinal flavor. So the beer ultimately tastes like caramel apple flavored Robitussin.

Average mouthfeel for a cream ale: noticeably thicker than a pale lager, but pretty insubstantial for an ale. A touch too slick, but that's nitpicking. Overall, this is a fine cream ale. It has flavor, which always helps. It's like the flavor of lean you never knew you wanted, only without the codeine.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 17:11:48 | More by Reaper16

jsisko01

Michigan

4.9/5  rDev +62.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a clear golden color with a VERY thin head that dissipates instantly. Has a creamy-like lacing.

Smell - Coriander for sure.. Sweet with notes of bread, corn, and cream soda.

Taste - Quite bitter.. Has a grassy flavor and corn, with a slight hint of caramel. The creamy aftertaste is real good.

Mouthfeel - Thick bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall - I was a little skeptical at first trying a cream ale.. turns out I love it.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 06:08:27 | More by jsisko01

mralphabet

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

7 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Little 7 oz bottle.... cute, poured a deep yellow color with a fingers worth of head that settled to a ring. Visible carbonation and pretty nice lacing.

S: Sweet smelling malts, no hops that I can smell... But I'm the getting a grainy sweet smells of corn.

T: Sweet malt, just a small touch of hops... Finish is clean and sweet. Simple but works well.

M: Medium bodied, smooth and creamy. Very nice.

D: It is simple small and pretty good tastings.. 5.5 and 7oz...A good session beer... Just wish it came in a bigger bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 03:39:01 | More by mralphabet

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The CANQuest (TM) CANtinues to close in on the seemingly-unbelievable # 600, thanks to Another6Pack, who not only sent me a Little Kings CAN, but in a Slim Line CAN to boot!

From the CAN: "It's Good To Be King."

The Crack & Glug produced two thick, foamy fingers of bone-white head with decent retention. Color was a very pretty sunshine-yellow with NE-quality clarity which brightened my day on the post-snowy day leading up to Hallowistmas. Nose was very sweet, almost sugary in its intensity. I CAN agree with a previous reviewer who mentioned pineapple esters in his review. Mouthfeel was medium with a sweet CANned corn taste in the mouth. Finish was still very sweet and I began to fear for an onset of diabetes. It was not bad, but it just was not my cuppa tea.

Serving type: can

10-30-2011 13:54:55 | More by woodychandler

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Two 7oz bottles from the same 8-pack poured into a Shaker pint glass. No dates on bottles.

Appearance: Clear golden yellow, a tint on the dark side. Barest amount of white foam on top - mostly a ring at the edge and a very thin skin on the top that does not go all the way across. Even this fades with time to nothing. No lacing. Nice color though.

Smell: Sweet with some corn, grain, and malt smells. No hops at all.

Taste: Like a richer simple American adjunct. A little bit crisp at the finish with some apple flavors in the middle along with the corn and grain. Not bad, just nothing special. If there are hops in here, they are incredibly well hidden.

Mouthfeel: I hesitate to call it creamy, but it does have some good thickness to it along with persistent carbonation, which borders on the fizzy side unfortunately.

Overall / Drinkability: Ho-hum overall. Nothing terribly special but not bad either. Quite drinkable though - it's there and it's gone. Went well with pulled pork BBQ and I suspect it would be good with a lot of other meat and grilled dishes.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 22:27:05 | More by damndirtyape

zeff80

Missouri

2.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had to try one. Threw it in a mix a six.

A - Poured out a clear, golden orange color with no head. It left no lacing, either. Not a good start.

S - It smelled of grains, caramel and an unusual floral presence. Not your typical hoppy floral notes.

T - Okay. Sweet with grains and caramel. Just a touch of bitter adds balance.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This was okay. It was fun to try once, but I probably won't be going back for this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 23:47:51 | More by zeff80

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.33/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

7oz bottle poured into a pint glass. No date.

Appearance - Huge white head. Pale clear straw body.

Smell - Musk. Corn. Wet cardboard. Smells like a skunked German pilsner.

Taste - Moderate sweetness. Light. Smooth. Corn. Medium bodied.

Mouthfeel - Smooth. Medium bodied. Almost creamy.

Overall Drinkability - Decent. Smooth. Inoffensive. Uninteresting. Sort of bland.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 23:13:06 | More by ZenAgnostic

match1112

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

use to drink these all the time in highschool then they disappeared forever and was i ever happy to see them again. not necessarily for taste but because of memories. nothing special about this beer as far as anything goes. pours a pale clear yellow with half a finger of sudsy head that is gone within seconds. at first pour the beer had a skunky presence about it. luckily that went away after opening up in the glass. from here on out both nose and mouth experience the same thing. sweet corn and grain with a little bit of grass in there, probably the skunk i smelt during the pour. has a sweet creamy mouthfeel with a slightly dryfinish. overall worth it for the novelty of seven oz bottles that arent over priced. just a decent sweet grainy beer on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 17:43:08 | More by match1112

Blueribbon666

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed form notes. Enjoyed many times over the years, reviewed here for the first time. Little 7oz bottle poured into pilsner glass pours a straw yellow with a fluffy half inch head. Funky smell of sourdough and corn with a bit of yeast. Taste isn't funky at all for a green glass bottle however it does have a distinctive funky smell which is more akin to an american adjunct lager then a cream ale, but the taste is smooth and clean with a good mix of the usual corn, biscuity sourdough and a mellow hop in there as well. Not as creamy as Genesee's Cream Ale, but smooth and very drinkable nonetheless.The other remarkable thing is that at 5.5% abv over the course of blowing through the 7oz bottles in a session the alcohol can definitely become apparent for this stinky lil lovely that is always great with pizza. I've had this in the new 12oz Red Bull like cans which actually is a little more cleaned up and less funky, but not nearly as enjoyable as the green glass which adds funk instead of skunk, but only in the smell department. Great price too for either bottles or cans. Hope this stays in production again for years to come

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 15:08:44 | More by Blueribbon666

JayQue

Virginia

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

A light Ale, a little better than some Macro lagers but not much. Poured from a 7 oz green bottle into a sample size tumbler. Nice clear gold color, minimal white head, poor retention and almost no lacing.

Mild smell of sweet bready malts. Taste is pretty bland. Some sweet malts and a little grassy hops at the end, thankfully no corn or vegetable tastes. Mouthfeel is a bit light but still crisp.

A lawnmower beer at best, not bad but nothing memorable either.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 17:59:26 | More by JayQue

LAMAGS

New York

3.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Curious looking beer, and I’m talking about the bottle, pours a straw yellow very clear modest off-white head with low retention and lacing. Very subtle nose consisting of sweet malt and a bit of grassy hops. Sweet malty cereal flavor a bit floral, nothing really stands out. The palate is light crisp dry and refreshing, thin body with ample carbonation. Not a bad beer but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 23:54:00 | More by LAMAGS

falloutsnow

Illinois

1.88/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours a 0.5cm head of whitish, huge bubbles that very quickly fade to nothing; virtually no head retention, definitely no lacing. Body is a transparent dull orange-gold color. Lots of active carbonation in huge bubbles. A bit below par for the style.

Scent primarily of the sweet grain bill and maybe a bit of biscuit and diacetyl. Very dull, barely there.

Taste mimics smell: grainy sweetness, corn adjunct, a nod towards cream soda flavor. Aftertaste is a mix of light fake apple flavor and residual sweetness.

Body is thin and overly carbonated, almost painful on the palate. Carbonation and malt base do not mix well together.

For the most part, this is like drinking carbonated water with some artificial flavors in it. Could use a bit more of everything in the nose, taste, and feel.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 03:55:24 | More by falloutsnow

JMad

Texas

3.48/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Drank from a pint glass..

The beer is golden yellow with a thin foamy white head. it smells of buttered biscuits and sour grain. The taste is similar with grain and honey butter with a hint of cream soda. This beer is light with prickly carbonation and a dry finish. This is a solid easy drinking beer, might get old after awhile but a few of em are good.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 02:01:07 | More by JMad

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Acquired from TheManiacalOne so a big THANK YOU goes out to him.
7 oz bottle poured in to a pint glass.

A: This beer pours a translucent golden color with a 1/4 inch white head that recedes instantly. No lacing left on the glass.

S: Nose is very sweet grain and corn, perhaps a touch of apple, and a mild hint of grass notes.

T: Taste starts with sweet grain and corn, adjunct before a cider flavoring comes through. This is the most dominant flavor in the beer - cider! A bit of grass and more grain come in through the finish. Aftertaste is that of apple.

M: Light body, moderate carbonation, thin bodied with a crisp feel.

O: Goes down easily, ok taste, not filling, low kick, ok representation of style. Although the beer wasn't unpleasant, the apple flavoring and aftertaste make this a one and done for me.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 23:19:15 | More by Jayli

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From the 7 fl. oz. bottle no. 27410-18180K. Sampled on June 30, 2011. The label looks like something out of 1950. It has a pale yellow to nearly golden yellow pour with a burst of white fizzy head that settles down in seconds. Green bottle skunkiness rules the day but once you take that into account, you get a bready, malty aroma that isn't half bad. The body is watery-to-medium but fits the style. The taste is lightly malted but mainly bready and biscuity with a slight hop bite thrown in for good measure. I paid $1.95(!) for an eight pack of these little seven ouncers so I can't complain too much. Good enough for the beach. Easy to hide in your beach bag.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2011 23:11:40 | More by puboflyons

plaid75

New York

3.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a medium straw hue with a two finger foamy white head. There was dood retention and very good lacing.

The smell featured sweet adjuncts a grassy hop and a touch of metal.

The taste was likewise sweet with soft malts and a light grassiness. Fruity notes detected as well.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a tasty cream ale. Not an overly exciting style, but a good rendition nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 00:48:30 | More by plaid75