Eric's Cream Ale
Quidi Vidi Brewery

Eric's Cream AleEric's Cream Ale
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From:
Quidi Vidi Brewery
 
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Style:
Cream Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
76
Avg:
3.11 | pDev: 17.04%
Ratings:
24 | reviews: 16
Status:
Inactive
Rated:
Jul 07, 2018
Added:
Aug 10, 2003
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  4
This cream ale is crafted with the finest two-row pale, Crystal and Carastan Malts.

Moderately hopped, it imparts a substantial but creamy taste with a truly satisfying finish.

Previously known as Eric’s Red, Eric’s Cream Ale was the Silver Medal Winner at the 2001 World Beer Championships in Chicago, IL.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.46/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beer at the hotel bar Port Au Choix NL
Mostly clear deep yellow color with a frothy white head that persists. Bready lightly fruity maltiness with bits of floral and earthy hops to counter. Not too bad
Jul 07, 2018
 
Rated: 2.78 by Erik-P from Canada (BC)

Oct 04, 2016
Photo of papat444
Rated by papat444 from Canada (QC)

3/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Flashback #301
Aug 19, 2015
Photo of Borbly
Reviewed by Borbly from Canada ()

2.64/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a clear, deep golden color with just a touch of coarse head which quickly decays. The nose is quite malty, with a certain dampness to the lager malt along with a metallicity characteristic of Quidi Vidi beer, which to date I am not sure where it comes from. On the palate, this is really nothing more than sparkling water, with a faint earthiness on the finish which seems to be from an English hop varietal. It really doesn't have much of a feel either, and the fact that it still isn't a light beer doesn't give me any desire to drink it - after all, I view nothing wrong with a Coors Light on a hot day, but at least it's because I can drink a lot of them, not the case here. Not a fan.
Apr 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by graybayou from Canada (AB)

Jan 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Erniehoppyhung from Canada (QC)

Aug 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by lgmol from Canada (NS)

Jul 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by cam477 from Canada ()

Jun 20, 2013
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

3.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance- Pours a golden straw yellow with a 1/4 finger width of bubbly white head.

Smell- Sweet malts, grains, apple/pear

Taste- Starts with the toasty grains and malts then transforms into a sweet creaminess. Clean aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Light to medium bodied with light carbonation. Smooth and slightly creamy texture.

Overall- A refreshing cream ale by Quidi Vidi. The flavours are mild and the body has a nice smooth feel. Nothing fancy but a decent brew overall.
May 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by ahugenerd from Canada ()

Dec 16, 2011
Photo of CrazyMike
Reviewed by CrazyMike from Canada (AB)

3.13/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Clear golden appearance with foamy white head that sticks around for awhile. Smell is sweet caramel with a hint of grain.

Taste is malty and grainy with a sweet taste that is made up of caramel and vanilla. Picked up a hint of fruit as well, but overall the taste is pretty light. Light-moderate body with moderate carbonation. Aftertaste has a lingering vanilla taste.

Not a bad beer, refreshing with a good combination of tastes. Missing a kick to it, but worth a try if you see a single bottle for sale.
Feb 23, 2011
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

2.99/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The "Local Beer Local Company" shtick doesn't really work when it's sold clear across the country, unless it's meant to appeal to all the ex-pat Newfies out here...

This beer pours a clear medium golden hue, with two fingers of foamy off-white head, which leaves some sparse random streaks of lace around the glass as it quickly abates. It smells of steamed corn and acrid boiled veggies, with a muddled grassy, weedy hoppiness. The taste is quite a turnaround - sweet caramel malt, a bit of honey, and earthy, floral, musty hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body medium weight, smooth, and a little sugary. It finishes still quite sweet, the malt ceding little ground to the earthy hops.

Wow, another stanky-smelling beer, that turns out all right. What the hell? Get past the off-aromas, and you're good to go, bye!
Dec 24, 2010
Photo of Noxious26
Reviewed by Noxious26 from Canada (SK)

1.68/5  rDev -46%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
341ml brown bottle with a twist-off cap poured in a pint glass. Part of a sampler 6 pack bought at Willow Park in Regina.

Clear and golden. Bright white head is only 1/8 inch on the pour and is gone in an instant leaving no head at all. Very few carbonation streams.

Aroma is barely discernable. Likely due to the minimal head. Corn, cooked veggies and caramel.

A very blah kind of beer. Flavour is inoffensive, but doesn't stand out a whole lot. Very similar to their other beers: Light caramel and malts off the start, the middle is astringent with lots of carbonation. Wet finish with some sharp green apple hints.

Mouthfeel is thin for an ale. Light with lots of carbonation scrubbing your palate.

Drinkability doesn't rate very high because I'm having trouble putting this back. I may not even finish this. Don't waste your time with this one.
Sep 04, 2010
Photo of oakbluff
Reviewed by oakbluff from Canada (MB)

2.18/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pours a light honey colour, very good clarity with a one finger head that quickly dissapears. Nose- sweet corn, slightly grassy. Taste- again a sweet cooked corn flavour with very little backbone of substance. Flacid body, moderate carbonation. Finish is dry from overall lack of flavour. Lacklustre ale to say the least.
Jul 17, 2010
Photo of Jonopoly
Reviewed by Jonopoly from Canada ()

3.8/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Ordered an Eric's Red Cream Ale at Christian's Pub on George Street.

Appearance: A clear, golden color. The thick, bubbly white head quickly died down to leave a small foam ring and some decent lacing.

Smell: Mild grains, with slight hints of vanilla, honey and fruits.

Taste: A malt taste up front, followed by some caramel and vanilla notes, aftertaste is of peaches, very nice.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied beer, fairly smooth.

Drinkability: Great, a few of these go down very well.

*I've had the bottled version, which is not quite as flavorful as on-tap but still worth a try!
Jun 26, 2010
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.17/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
341ml bottle poured into pint glass feb9 2010

A light golden in color with lots of carbonation and a fast falling tiny head that left no lace

S sweet malt and perhaps a little honey and just a little peach

T some more sweet grains and a little fruit

M decent carbonation and enough body to keep it from having a watery feel

D pretty average beer but nothing offensive

I got nothing against this beer it just didn't inspire me in any particular area, try it if your ever in Newfoundland
Feb 10, 2010
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.12/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Quidi Vidi needs either an eye examination or a grammar lesson. This beer, which is named in honour of viking explorer Leif "the Red" Ericson, is certainly not red - as the apostrophe in "Eric's Red Cream Ale" suggests - but is rather a sparkling golden. While we're talking colours, a little more white on the top would also be more befitting for Eric's beer.

It's a funny thing about cream ales: their aroma is actually quite distinctive, even despite that there's nothing necessarily distinct about it. I always find there's some kind of attribute or quality about the smell that makes it distinguishable from that of pale ales or pilsners. It's a really soft, sweet, unusually agreeable corn-like smell... and I kind of like it.

The taste, however, is more bland than it is pleasant, and much more than it is distinctive. The sweet, comfort-food aura of Southern-style cornbread muffins is lost. In its place comes nothing. The malt-bill lists two-row pale, crystal, and carastan malts - I'm honestly surprised there's even that many. This is one wimpy beer, even for a cream ale.

'Eric's Red' may have taken its name from a murderous, adventurous viking but it drinks more like 'Plain Jane'. The flavour - could any really be described - is very plain and humdrum and is not too unlike white bread. The only truly marked aspects are its carbonation and texture, both of which are strikingly similar to a syrupy fountain soda.

Leif Ericson's voyage to North America was an historic, extraordinary milestone - the beer brewed in its honour... not so much. To consider this beer a less than great discovery would be to acknowledge that I'll even remember trying it. On a positive note, I won't be remembering it by any of the bad reasons either.

Which is why I shouldn't be too hard on old Quidi Vidi (although I'd still suggest a proof-reader for the labels). The beer is a fittingly bland, unoffensive example of a suitably bland, unoffensive style. If you like lighter, weaker beers that taste of just a smidgen of malt (and maybe just an inkling of honey) then by all means explore this offering.
Dec 12, 2009
Photo of Shadman
Reviewed by Shadman from Canada (AB)

2.64/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Nice rich gold color, certain the Red reference is to that old convicted Viking murderer, Eric vs. the beer. Nice head & lacing.

Even cold the beer has a very grassy, grainy aroma that may speel trouble in the taste department.

Yep, aroma=taste. Very grainy with a hint of cooked veggies. Slight hop bitterness, but mostly the first two..bleh

I'm going out on a limb, but the world championship silver medel was won vs. local brews only. After all I live in a city that boasts the 'World Famous' Whisky creek pub...have you heard of it? Didn't think so...
Nov 01, 2009
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

3.85/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2001 World Beer Championship Silver metal winner.

I had a fresh bottle from the brewery, but it was over-carbonated. I much preferred it on draft.

A: Golden yellow, very little retention, some lacing.

S: Grassy, sulfury minerals, light caramel, hints of fruity esters.

T: Grassy, metallic minerals, light caramel, biscuity bread, balanced bitterness. The draft had a nice fruitiness.

M: Moderate body is smooth, moderate carbonation, dry finish.

D: A quaffable draft.
Jul 25, 2008