Frog Island Cousin's Creme Ale (Brewed By Dark Horse)
Dark Horse Brewing Company

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Cream Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 10.51%
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
2
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 12, 2008
Added:
Nov 28, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

3.15/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Orangish amber with a swirling cloud of fine yeasties. The cap is dirty ivory in color and is on the small side after a fairly vigorous pour. It doesn't look tremendous right out of the gate and doesn't improve as it settles. A decent amount of lace helps.

The nose is just okay. It's par for the cream ale course, with a sweetened grain personality that lacks any interesting facets whatsoever. It isn't bad, I guess, but I'm not especially eager to tip the glass up.

I'm not sure why Frog Island continues to seek out contract brewers for Cousin's Creme Ale. First Stoney Creek, now Dark Horse. This isn't a beer to be especially proud of, at least in its current iteration. Since the brewers at DH know what the hell they're doing, the obvious conclusion is that the recipe they've been given is lacking.

The flavor profile consists of barely toasted barley with an ale yeast fruitiness and more hop bitterness than should be present in a beer of this style. Cream ales ought to favor sweet, or be balanced, not favor an herbal-earthy (Germanic) hoppiness. I'm unable to pinpoint the origins of a slight spiciness on the finish. Warming and taste bud acclimation succeed in pulling the flavor score, kicking and screaming, up to average.

The mouthfeel might just be the highlight (not that it's stupendous or anything). It's on the light side of light-medium and has just enough 'hang on' at the finish. Thankfully, the carbonation keeps things energetic throughout the whole 12 ounces.

I would never call Cousin's Creme Ale bland (it has too much spicy flavor for that), but it really isn't a very good version in the final reckoning. If Frog Island ever mangages to get their own brewery, I hope they put out something more interesting than this.
Nov 28, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of GRPunk
Reviewed by GRPunk from Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle poured into a pint glass.

A- There was a 2 finger thick, white head that fell to a thick lace that left decent sticky spots and a slighty hazy golden yellow body with heavy carbonation.

S- It had bready malts and some fruit esters. It was pretty sweet.

T- There was more bready malt and some fruit flavor. It was more toward the sweet end of the spectrum.

M- Very smooth and "creamy" feel. It had a slightly grainy texture to it too.

D- It's a refreshing warm weather beer. I could put back more than 1 in a sitting.

Overall- A smooth, lighter beer that's great for warm weather. I'd drink it again.
Jun 12, 2008
Frog Island Cousin's Creme Ale (Brewed By Dark Horse) from Dark Horse Brewing Company
Beer rating: 3.52 out of 5 with 2 ratings