-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Cali Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale
Mother Earth Brew Co.
- From:
- Mother Earth Brew Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Cream Ale
Ranked #41 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #19,140 - Avg:
- 3.82 | pDev: 13.35%
- Reviews:
- 96
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 22, 2024
- Added:
- Dec 12, 2012
- Wants:
- 63
- Gots:
- 196
Our flagship offering is golden to pale in color, with low bitterness, medium body, and a white head. Our Cream Ale has redefined the category and made a classic style cool again. We use a bit of Madagascar Vanilla Bean to give it that “Cream Soda” kick. This beer finishes dry despite a subtle perceived sweetness from the Vanilla. Great any time of year.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rudzud:
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts
3.89/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received as an extra in a trade. Shared with JLindros.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a crystal clear amber hue with a thin head that fades to leave light wisps.
S - Aromas of some odd cereal grains. Once you get past the cereal grains there is loads of vanilla. Really aromatic and smells like a vanilla cream soda!
T - Taste is really close to a cream soda. Lots of vanilla on initial sip, however, once that's gone there is a corn thing going on along with an astringent bitterness. Husky grains, weird finish, the finish is a mixture of vanilla pods and corn husks.
M - Mouthfeel is brightly carbonated, somewhat like a soda but not quite as sharp.
O - Overall this beer had potential to be incredible, however, the weird bitterness and husky corn thing completely detract from this beer.
Serving type: bottle
Aug 19, 2015A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a crystal clear amber hue with a thin head that fades to leave light wisps.
S - Aromas of some odd cereal grains. Once you get past the cereal grains there is loads of vanilla. Really aromatic and smells like a vanilla cream soda!
T - Taste is really close to a cream soda. Lots of vanilla on initial sip, however, once that's gone there is a corn thing going on along with an astringent bitterness. Husky grains, weird finish, the finish is a mixture of vanilla pods and corn husks.
M - Mouthfeel is brightly carbonated, somewhat like a soda but not quite as sharp.
O - Overall this beer had potential to be incredible, however, the weird bitterness and husky corn thing completely detract from this beer.
Serving type: bottle
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
3.8/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Starting off, two twelve ounce cans have been emptied into a clear glass liter mug. The just-off-white head was generous, but not overly foamy. Its color is bright golden-amber that's surprisingly on the translucent side. The aroma of vanilla bean is decently distinguishable. The vanilla is also prominent to the taste. It seems a little yeaty and malty in that adjunct lager way. Also much like adjunct lagers, this is a long way from hoppy. The vanilla and other added flavors sweeten this, but for what it is, that part is tolerable. There's almost no glass lacing, but the body is also passable. Nothing here is outstanding. It's much like drinking a sweeter commercially mass produced beer with some vanilla flavoring in it. That might make it a novelty try, once in a while, but nothing more.
Nov 12, 2023Reviewed by Tykon from Indiana
1.8/5 rDev -52.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.5
1.8/5 rDev -52.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.5
When I was introduced to this beer 4 years ago, it was a must have for the fridge, would drive everywhere trying to stick up on it. *HAD an amazing creamin taste and smell....now you can barely even tell what it is. So disappointing, not sure if the company went through hard times or what but they definitely changed the formula on how they make it. Cali ain't bland, nor should a beer rep'n Cali, M.E. Brew Co. Give Cali Creamin' it's flavor back please.
Sep 08, 2023Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.96/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz can into a pint glass. Canned 7/18/22, so 10 months old.
Pale golden yellow body with a small white head. Smells and tastes of cream soda. A little vanilla, and a featherlight bitter note late in the finish. Nice beer.
May 21, 2023Pale golden yellow body with a small white head. Smells and tastes of cream soda. A little vanilla, and a featherlight bitter note late in the finish. Nice beer.
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
3.54/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
light creamy ale with light taste of vanilla refreshing beer
Apr 22, 2023Reviewed by Pipipilsner
1.64/5 rDev -57.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 1.25
1.64/5 rDev -57.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 1.25
This is more of a La Croix than an ale. With CaLi cReAmIn VaNiLlA aLe, you get a hint of a hint of vanilla, along with a hint of a hint of a very light beer. You might as well drop some vanilla extract in a Keystone Lite.
Smell — smells promising, can definitely feel like there’s going to be something creamy and vanilla forward happening.
Look — very pale/transparent, like a white ale. Didn’t seem like a promising appearance, though.
Feel — decently fizzy, no complaints here either.
Flavor — MAJOR let down! Unreasonably lite for a beer aspiring to be something worth considered creamy. Sugary, artificial-vanilla forward, and very beer backward. I made an account specifically to counter the inauthentic positivity here. This is a truly vile beer.
I drank three over these over the course of a week, hoping it might grow on me. Eventually I poured out the rest to recycle. So bad I could not, in good faith, even offer these to a neighbor.
Feb 20, 2023Smell — smells promising, can definitely feel like there’s going to be something creamy and vanilla forward happening.
Look — very pale/transparent, like a white ale. Didn’t seem like a promising appearance, though.
Feel — decently fizzy, no complaints here either.
Flavor — MAJOR let down! Unreasonably lite for a beer aspiring to be something worth considered creamy. Sugary, artificial-vanilla forward, and very beer backward. I made an account specifically to counter the inauthentic positivity here. This is a truly vile beer.
I drank three over these over the course of a week, hoping it might grow on me. Eventually I poured out the rest to recycle. So bad I could not, in good faith, even offer these to a neighbor.
Reviewed by Hobbs87 from New York
3.46/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.46/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Very nice vanilla aroma but that’s where it stops. Nothing special after the smell. Just kind of bland with no punch. Might be fine for non IPA drinkers. Seemed like just a vanilla flavored Budweiser.
Dec 04, 2022Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
3.62/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
One of the better cream ales I have had. It has a very full mouthfeel, and a robust, tangy taste. Looks great as well. Definitely will be on the lookout for more.
Jul 30, 2022Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
3.51/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.51/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Canned March 14th 2022. Another can thanks to Eric.
Pours a clear gold with lots of bubbles, long lasting head of foam.
Smells of sweet vanilla, light grain, not much else.
Taste is mainly vanilla, earthy, no bitterness, not really that sweet. Kinda one dimensional. Disappointing.
Smooth mouthfeel.
Jun 07, 2022Pours a clear gold with lots of bubbles, long lasting head of foam.
Smells of sweet vanilla, light grain, not much else.
Taste is mainly vanilla, earthy, no bitterness, not really that sweet. Kinda one dimensional. Disappointing.
Smooth mouthfeel.
Cali Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale from Mother Earth Brew Co.
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
511 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!