Cream Ale
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Cream AleCream Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Cream Ale
ABV:
4.4%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.59 | pDev: 11.7%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
207
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 21, 2020
Added:
May 16, 2013
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  47
In 1935, Richmond, Virginia made beer history as the first place ever to sell canned beer, a cream ale from Krueger Brewing Company. A tribute to the original canned beer, Hardywood Cream Ale is an unfiltered example of the style that embraces its east coast roots with an unbelievably smooth body and a refreshingly clean finish from extended cold conditioning in our lagering tanks. Raise a can to RVA, where the canned beer revolution began!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tectactoe:
Photo of tectactoe
Reviewed by tectactoe from Michigan

3.91/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Thanks to smokeypeat for this one... Awesome dude, awesome trader. Hardywood Cream Ale pours a nice, golden-orange color. Pretty murky throughout, with a HUGE number of rising carbonation bubble streams. The chunky and cloud-like head is thick and slow to settle; it's a shade just lighter than beige and leaves a little lacing behind.

The aroma is pretty light and relaxed, but pretty on-point for the style. Handfuls of cereal grains, bread notes, and a touch of sweet corn. Very "barley-esque" in nature, and the sweetness of the corns isn't so much that it becomes overwhelming which is oft a problem with cream ales.

Light hoppage is appreciated; slightly floral and earthy, and maybe even a touch dirty. A mild lemon and citrus spritz shows up in the finale with the gentle crispiness and clean finish of lager yeast. Nothing incredibly complex, mind-blowing, or rampant, but something easy to relax with and appreciate while sitting out in the hot sun.

Hardywood Cream Ale is very smooth and drinkable - I can already make this assessment after just one sip. A framework of grains and barley with some hints of corn and crisp yeast that bounce back and forth. Lightly sweet from the start; just enough to ease drinkability without approaching disturbing levels.

The corn sweetness fades quickly into a mild and apparent bitterness from the hops, which are definitely more present on the palate. Earthy, floral, and meshed perfectly with the light and zesty lemon and citrus notes on the very back end. It has a clean, dry finish, thanks to the lagering of this brew with appropriate yeast.

Wow, I don't know if I've ever seen my glass empty this quickly before. This is up there with Schlenkerla Helles as one of the most easily drinkable beers I've had. Again, this beer isn't going to blow your mind. But that's not its intention. I threw this back during a family barbecue and it was the perfect choice. Very nice cream ale.
Jun 25, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
April 12th, 2016 - A funky cream ale, it does have that telltale cream soda smell, but not as sweet and not a scream. The body is thin (as expected) but maybe also a little thinner, which gives enough room for the flavor to perform but is also makes this a summer quenching beverage. Hints of vanilla and mineral water in the flavor, but just hints, all of which makes this an excellent sessionable brew.
Aug 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.85 by foghornleghorn22 from Virginia

Jun 16, 2020
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
As a lifelong drinker of Genny cream ale, I wholeheartedly support the decision to rock the metallic green cans. Surprisingly cloudy head and unsurprising biscuit note round out the optics and nose portions.

A nice bit of sweetness in the bread and butter note early before dissolving into something a little grainier and tinged with yeast, which is still not bad. This is easy on the tongue and leaves you licking your lips for more.
Jul 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.45 by JamesGrove from Pennsylvania

Jul 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gkruszewski from New York

Feb 15, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by eldergleam from Virginia

Jan 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by paulish from New York

Sep 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.7 by Bryant1985 from North Carolina

Aug 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.3 by ledouge from Virginia

Jun 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.65 by Jason_cs from Florida

Jan 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.32 by RBorsato from Virginia

Oct 18, 2017
Photo of BeerSexLove
Rated by BeerSexLove from Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Nothing especially notable about this beer. Not bad, not remarkable.
Jul 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.71 by Hockey_Fan from Maryland

Jul 02, 2017
Photo of mpyle
Reviewed by mpyle from Maryland

3.64/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Exceptionally pale straw color, fairly clear but a slight chill haze. Poured white head, creamy and with some retention.

Slightly sweet corn? aroma, Not a whole lot to it. Pretty clean

Flavor shows a more assertive hop bitterness than expected, almost pilsner like in some ways (clean and bitter).

MF - light body and fairly high carbonation that gives it a tangy character

Nice light easy drinking beer. Good clean low alcohol offering for the summer.
Jun 10, 2017
Photo of avalon07
Reviewed by avalon07 from South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Poured from a can to a pint glass. Had a golden yellow color and a somewhat hazy consistency. There was a half inch of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Average lacing.

S: A decent enough aroma of cream, malt, and light hops.

T: Tasted of a moderate amount of malt, a good shot of cream (especially evident in the finish), some faint hops notes (not overly pronounced), and a slightly grainy quality. A solid enough flavor for a simple style. Clean, straightforward, light, and generally tasty.

F: A decent amount of carbonation with a surprisingly sharp finish. Light-bodied.

O: Hardywood's Cream Ale might make a pretty good session ale. A drinkable beer that's worth trying.
May 11, 2017
Photo of vainosuomi
Reviewed by vainosuomi from Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: clear, pale straw color, off white head
Smell: smooth and light—sweet grain, faint indistinct hops
Taste: Good balance of sweet, bready, slightly toasted malts and floral hop, honey notes
Feel: crisp, light/medium body, moderate carbonation

Overall a solid cream ale. Smell is a bit weak, but it's crisp and refreshing with developed, tasty flavors.
Apr 23, 2017
 
Rated: 2.9 by DarkSideOfTheMoon from Virginia

Mar 18, 2017
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a straw color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has malt hints
The taste follows the nose with a slight malt flavor
A light bodied well carbonated beer
A decent lager
Feb 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.63 by MouldyCrow from Pennsylvania

Jan 30, 2017
Cream Ale from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 207 ratings