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Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale
Thomas Creek Brewery
- From:
- Thomas Creek Brewery
- South Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Cream Ale
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 73
- Avg:
- 3.13 | pDev: 18.85%
- Reviews:
- 75
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 25, 2019
- Added:
- Apr 26, 2004
- Wants:
- 10
- Gots:
- 15
23 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bditty187:
Reviewed by bditty187 from Nebraska
2.81/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
2.81/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Hazy, bright yellow-gold in hue with a smattering of bronze; it is a truly lovely color. White head, at the apex the foam was one finger tall. The bubbles quickly faded to a thin, soapy cap. There was some spotty subsequent lacing. I love how this beer looks; it is youthful and glowing, awesome!
The nose is totally unexpected. I smell lemony citrus and nondescript sweetness. I dont smell vanilla and I dont smell any corn. Cream Ale? Fooled me. Moderate potency, sadly at the back I smell soap. The nose is inoffensive but its not inviting, in fact I am confused and a little leery.
I taste vanilla. I am not a huge fan of vanilla in beer but this is nicely restrained. However, the vanilla tastes like flavored dish soap. No bitterness, no real hop flavors. It is sweet from start to finish, not much development. Where is the citrus coming from? It doesnt seem like it arrived here from the hops. Cream Ale? BS, I am calling Thomas Creeks bluff. The palate is odd. Frankly, its not that bad; I just dont really care for it but I am positive others will. The more I drink the more the vanilla lingers. I dont need more. If nothing else this was a wacky idea executed well enough, I mean, I didnt gag. Now that is praise!
Medium/medium-light in body, creamy carbonation, the mouthfeel is pleasant. Unfortunately the aftertaste is tacky sweet and persistent. Maybe more effervescence would help clean my tongue. What on earth would this beer pair with?
Maybe the brewery should swap in some spicy/funky Belgian yeast. That combo might actually work! As is, I cant rightfully enjoy this beer. Its too sweet, too one-dimensional too bad. I am surprised this beer is as good as it is, yet I think it could be so much better. Would a true Cream Ale jell with vanilla? Ill never know! Thanks timtheenchanta for the bottle.
Feb 15, 2006The nose is totally unexpected. I smell lemony citrus and nondescript sweetness. I dont smell vanilla and I dont smell any corn. Cream Ale? Fooled me. Moderate potency, sadly at the back I smell soap. The nose is inoffensive but its not inviting, in fact I am confused and a little leery.
I taste vanilla. I am not a huge fan of vanilla in beer but this is nicely restrained. However, the vanilla tastes like flavored dish soap. No bitterness, no real hop flavors. It is sweet from start to finish, not much development. Where is the citrus coming from? It doesnt seem like it arrived here from the hops. Cream Ale? BS, I am calling Thomas Creeks bluff. The palate is odd. Frankly, its not that bad; I just dont really care for it but I am positive others will. The more I drink the more the vanilla lingers. I dont need more. If nothing else this was a wacky idea executed well enough, I mean, I didnt gag. Now that is praise!
Medium/medium-light in body, creamy carbonation, the mouthfeel is pleasant. Unfortunately the aftertaste is tacky sweet and persistent. Maybe more effervescence would help clean my tongue. What on earth would this beer pair with?
Maybe the brewery should swap in some spicy/funky Belgian yeast. That combo might actually work! As is, I cant rightfully enjoy this beer. Its too sweet, too one-dimensional too bad. I am surprised this beer is as good as it is, yet I think it could be so much better. Would a true Cream Ale jell with vanilla? Ill never know! Thanks timtheenchanta for the bottle.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Nass from Florida
3.36/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
3.36/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
There is a bottled on date on the neck of the bottle. The pour is honey colored. I agree with the taste being a little bit bland but I was not coming into this review with big & bold flavorful expectations with this beer. Moreover, i'm picking up on a little bit of vanilla that's more towards the finish. For what it's worth this is an easy laid back type of beer, sort of reminiscent of a pale lager in some regards. There are some days where I desire something that's easy drinking & not out to damage to my palate. Cheers! B-
Oct 25, 2019Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Thomas Creek Brewery "Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle with illegible black ink jet coding on the neck of the bottle
Notes via stream of consciousness: Vanilla cream ale, eh? That can be hard to pull off, let's see how they did. It's got a good appearance to it with a fluffy head of white foam atop a slightly hazy golden body. Better clarity would be nice, but OK. The aroma is clean, and displays sweetish grainy malt with just a hint of vanilla. So far so good. The flavor follows with more vanilla, but not by much, and less sweetness than the aroma suggests. It's not that bitter but it's balanced, and it finishes dry with just a drop of vanilla and malt remaining. In the mouth it's light-medium in body and crisp. It's a decent enough beer so the question will be how much do you like the vanilla? Also, if you're having more than one will it build on your palate? I don't have those answers but I'll say that personally the vanilla isn't compelling me to want another, and to be honest, I'd probably enjoy it more without the vanilla added but that's just my personal taste. As a cream ale it does just fine though.
Review# 6,315
Oct 26, 201812 fl. oz. brown glass bottle with illegible black ink jet coding on the neck of the bottle
Notes via stream of consciousness: Vanilla cream ale, eh? That can be hard to pull off, let's see how they did. It's got a good appearance to it with a fluffy head of white foam atop a slightly hazy golden body. Better clarity would be nice, but OK. The aroma is clean, and displays sweetish grainy malt with just a hint of vanilla. So far so good. The flavor follows with more vanilla, but not by much, and less sweetness than the aroma suggests. It's not that bitter but it's balanced, and it finishes dry with just a drop of vanilla and malt remaining. In the mouth it's light-medium in body and crisp. It's a decent enough beer so the question will be how much do you like the vanilla? Also, if you're having more than one will it build on your palate? I don't have those answers but I'll say that personally the vanilla isn't compelling me to want another, and to be honest, I'd probably enjoy it more without the vanilla added but that's just my personal taste. As a cream ale it does just fine though.
Review# 6,315
Reviewed by bmeehan from Pennsylvania
2.58/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.58/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
This beer is seriously lacking on any distinguishing features. It's bland in color and taste and I can't smell a thing when I drink it. It's not bad to drink, but it certainly isn't something I'd buy again.
Jun 13, 2016Reviewed by Tone from Missouri
3.51/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear, gold color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Decent retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, pale malt, slight hops, hint of vanilla, and a hint of tea. Fits the style of a Cream Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of vanilla, sweet malt, pale malt, hint of caramel malt, and slight hops. Overall, decent appearance, aroma, and body.
Oct 01, 2015Reviewed by ordybill from Georgia
3.8/5 rDev +21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev +21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. A golden yellow brew with a sweet vanilla aroma and taste. A nice mild bodied beer with moderate to heavy carbonation that was well balanced with the vanilla flavor. A good session beer.
Aug 30, 2015
Stillwater Vanilla Cream Ale from Thomas Creek Brewery
Beer rating:
73 out of
100 with
177 ratings
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