Cream Ale
Cumberland Brews

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From:
Cumberland Brews
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
Cream Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.4 | pDev: 14.71%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 31, 2015
Added:
Apr 28, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BEERchitect:
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.08/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Simple, drinkable, and with low pretention; this is a solid choice when you don't want to over-think a beer. A great alternative to American industrial beers.

The beer is delivered to the table in a standard shaker glass with the Cumberland logo. Brightly colored with a canary yellow hue and bubbly carbonation. A short-lived cotton white head tops the beer, but then dissipates despite the constant streams of carbonation. No real lace forms on the glass, but that's par for the style.

Grainy-sweet aromas of pilsner malt, raw barley, and light vegitative corn are cornerstones for the style. Very pilsner-esque with the overtones of corn, light sulfur, and apple-like esters.

The part-grain, part-malt character continues in flavor. Sweet with pilsner malt, grain, and corn carries a richer flavor than most lagers. Sulfur and apple flavor provides a crispness that's as much an attribute to the beer as it is a deterrant. Fairly simplified otherwise.

Medium richness and fullness for a lager is aided by the corn starch and protien. The beer makes a quick transition to dryness in finish with a soft grassy bitterness that cleans up the corn character for a refreshing finish and a clean palate for the next drink.

Meant for quaffing, the beer is very non-offensive and complements a lot of light dishes well. The pesto pizza topped with poultry, onion, and garlic made a fine complement to the beer.

Gave it a shot at Churchill Downs Microbrewery Fesival this weekend. Though it quenched the thirst and was better than water or soda, it's a far cry from a quality Cream Ale. Light and airy it is, but it also has a pronounced grainy flavor that hinges on astringent character. The beer really lacks the creamy smoothness that is expected. Would finish quite clean and refreshing is the barley husks hadn't been so over-stressed. Not my favorite among Cumberland Brews.
Jun 04, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.45 by Cory_Brown from Kentucky

Jan 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by spycow from Illinois

Oct 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by psmith161 from Indiana

Feb 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by target88 from Kentucky

Dec 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by levi_shanks from California

Jul 26, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by KerryCummins1977 from Kentucky

Jun 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Apr 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by cwd from Kentucky

Dec 10, 2012
Photo of dbrauneis
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina

3.06/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served on tap at Cumberland Brews in Louisville, KY.

A: Pours a crystal clear golden yellow with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a 1.5 finger tall creamy white head that barely reduces over the entire drinking of the beer (though it does appear to get a little more dense). There is moderate amounts of lacing observed.

S: Overall this beer has a pretty mild aroma with notes of cream, cereal grains, lemon/citrus, and some herbal + grassy hops.

T: The taste and smell are very similar but there is some moderate lingering bitterness with this beer. There is a lightness to the flavor of this beer with cereal grain malts, some notes of lemon/citrus, and the herbal + grassy hops.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Creamy and slightly dry in the finish.

O: This is a good beer, not the best that Cumberland Brews had to offer but it was pretty enjoyable on the hot afternoon that I killed some time enjoying the brews. The beer was pretty easy to drink and could be sessionable.
May 29, 2012
Photo of mrfrancis
Reviewed by mrfrancis from Kentucky

2.96/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A: Pours a clear gold with a creamy, lingering white head.

S: Aromas of cream, honey, grain, lemon, and herbs are present on the nose.

T: Notes of minerals, cream, lemon zest, herbs, grass, straw, and grain husks wash across the palate. The finish is mild and brief with notes of grass, cream, herbs, and lemon zest.

M: On the lighter side of medium and fairly dry for the style. Carbonation is neither crisp nor forceful. While I would have preferred something a bit more carbonated, this does go down very smoothly.

O: I'm not a huge cream ale fan, but this is pretty decent for the style. It's not Cumberland's best effort by any means, but it's not bad either. Don't avoid this one, but also don't make it the reason to stop in and kill some time at Cumberland Brews.
Mar 27, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by getbehindthemule from Kentucky

Jan 26, 2012
Photo of RTJakarta
Reviewed by RTJakarta from Kentucky

2.72/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Had this on tap today going around town seeing some of the sights of Louisville.

Came to me a light/pale yellow with a solid finger of an off-white head which went away fairly quickly. Not too much lacing.

Smells like faint wheat...and...that's about it. Really inoffensive and plain.

Taste is about the same. You just taste a lot of wheat. I haven't had many cream ales in my youth, but this tasted just like a regular old wheat ale to me.

Mouthfeel was like the beer itself, nice and smooth to drink.

Like I mentioned, the beer goes down nice and easy, but the flavor is so minimal that I don't really see the point in drinking a bunch, even though I could.
Mar 22, 2011
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a hazy, pale golden color. 5/4 inch head of a white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of yeast, cream, and slight citrus. Fits the style of a Cream Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of slight sweet malt, yeast, cream, and a hint of citrus. Overall, weak in body, but still a good cream.
May 03, 2010
Photo of Ragingbull
Reviewed by Ragingbull from California

3.84/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This review typed from notes taken on a trip to Kentucky.
Cloudy gold with little to no head. Lemony quality to the nose and perhaps just a hint of bourbon. Smooth attack and mouthfeel. The taste and the nose are a perfect match. There are some citrus like flavors and a hint of bourbon. It seems really light to have bourbon tones and I hope I am not having "Kentucky brainwashing" and thinking its there when its not. I am not usually a "cream ale guy" but this is enjoyable.
Jun 22, 2009
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I tried this on tap at the brewpub in Louisville. Served cold in a Nonic.

A - A clear golden w/ light haze from the chill, but allowed to warm and develops sharp clarity The head appears and vanishes like whack-a-mole - revived and swirled but back to a small ring. No lace to speak of, but specks do stick and then disappear.

S - A nice sweet and creamy malt odor w/ a slight hint of yeast, but mellow and reserved w/ mostly german malt scents in the nose.

M - Mildly fruity, crisp, moderately full carbonation that fades to a light malty feel w/ a honey round sweet finish.

T - A mild maltiness w/ no bitterness in the flavor, this is made for sessioning - a nice flavor that is neither too sweet nor bitter. A very mild ale what some might call "lawnmower beer" but the malt is subtle and expresses itself well w/ mild sweet and yet noticeable malty flavors that have a hint of honey malt.

D - Very much one you could not from the standpoint of it not being an extreme beer, but it is well suited fro the purpose it was created for and is a very good representation of the style. I could definitely drink a quart to 1/2 gallon w/out blinkin'. So quaffable, it is similar to a blonde, but this is definitely brewed according to the cream ale style. Kudos Cumberland Brews for the refreshing ale.
Apr 07, 2008
Photo of ganner0918
Reviewed by ganner0918 from Kentucky

2.9/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Not a whole lot to it. It was thin and mostly flavorless. There is nothing offensive about it so it is better than some, but it has little to offer. Beer was a yellowish color, transparent, with very little head. Basically their beer for people who don't like real beer.
Jan 29, 2008
Photo of clvand0
Reviewed by clvand0 from Kentucky

3.92/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had this in a sample glass at the brewpub. Pours a simple yellow color with a small head that dies off. The aomra is mild, but has a slight bit of grassy hop. The flavor was very nice and completely not what I was expecting. The body was perfect and the drinkability was pretty good. The flavor gave a great creamy feeling with a grainy touch. Some hops fall into the finish. This is a nice beer and I'd have it again.
Oct 20, 2004
Photo of SheepNutz
Reviewed by SheepNutz from Kentucky

3.67/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap poured into a sample glass. It pours a light yellow color with almost no head. There is minimal lacing on the glass. The smell is mostly grassy, with some light maltiness. Almost smells like a pils. The taste is light, but has some grassy and malty characters. Slight hops on the finish. The mouthfeel is just a little watery. The drinkability is great though, so smooth and easy drinking.
Oct 20, 2004
Photo of kmpitz2
Reviewed by kmpitz2 from Tennessee

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This beer came off the tap a transparent yellow color, a few shades darker than a pilsner. The nose was light with a bit of corn in there, but there was a touch of earthy hop lingering in the background. The flavor was nice. Not too heavy or thin. It had a nice subtle hop to carry this one. I enjoyed it a lot. The mouthfeel was thin to a weak moderate, sort of what I had expected. Drnkability was good as well. This would be a great lawnmower beer in the summer. Nice, light and crisp
Oct 17, 2004
Cream Ale from Cumberland Brews
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 21 ratings