McAuslan Cream Ale
McAuslan Brewing

 

 

 

 

Pint on draft in a nonic at Poutineville in Quebec City.

Appearance: Somewhat cloudy copper with a big cream head that sticks around forever. Looks great.

Aroma: Floral, malty, rich. Has kind of a citrusy, lemony aroma backed by bready maltiness.

Taste: Citric and malty. Caramel, bread, toast. Some grass. Lemon. Grains. Some pine hop.

Mouthfeel: This aspect makes this good beer great. Super smooth. A pleasure to sip.

Overall: Terrific cream ale. One of the creamiest I've had. Tres bien!

 

McAuslan Brewing "McAuslan Cream Ale"
on tap via ntiro

Notes: Ah, I had no idea McAuslan was from Quebec. For some reason I thought they were on the other side of the country in Alberta or British Columbia. Anyway... it's a clear deep-amber/copper in color beneath a creamy bright white head. As might be expected the head retention and lacing are both excellent. The aroma is limited to some doughy and lightly caramelish malt, but that usually a trade-off with the nitro pour as the head itself is keeping the aromas in. The flavor opens up delivering sweetish biscuity malt with a light touch of golden caramel, and some yeasty fruit (apple, pear).Spicy and floral hops appear across the palate and become a bit grassy as well in the dry finish. Firm bitterness. Medium-light body, and creamy smooth via the nitro pour. Very nicely done. An enjoyable, quaffable pint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pint on tap at Beer Revolution, one of several McAuslan brews currently on showcase. Quite a looker, a cloudy golden-beige with two fingers of creamy whipped head, small nitro bubbles forming a nice compact froth. Aroma is very light and fruity: Hard candy, subtle orchard fruit (pears), a whiff of citrus rind, sweet grains, and a dash of green grass. Palate is similarly fruity and gently bitter, a muddle of lemon rind, vanilla, pear, stale white peppercorn, and grass with a mineral bite. Background white bread and corn sweetness. I do appreciate the silky smooth creamy texture, as billed. Whereas McAuslan's red failed to meet my expectations, this exceeded them. Nothing that will re-define your beer paradigm (or even your cream ale paradigm), but makes for a reasonable low-key session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A totally beige body due to the silky, creamy head mixes nicely with the light copper body. Aroma of nuts and malt is somewhat muted by the nitro. Decent flavor, mineral hops, some fruit. Very creamy body, ultra smooth but middle is a bit muddled.. Overall, decent enough.

 

 

 

A:
Thick and creamy looking with nice cascading effects and good head retention; some light lacing.

S:
Dry hay and some slight maltiness. Nothing too in-your-face.

T:
Tastes mildly hoppy but not bitter or anything. A touch of sweetness citrus, grass, mustiness.

M:
Nice and creamy. Smooth and dry with a quick finish.

O:
This is a good beer. I read (don't know for sure) that this is just their Pale Ale with nitro and that they thought it tasted so different they decided to call it cream ale (I don't think it actually is one). I don't know if that is true but if it is, then it is quite amazing how different the taste is. I wouldn't spend tons to get my hands on it, but if it is on tap I'll definitely get it over some other stuff. Really enjoyable.