HDHC Genesee Dream
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

Grabbed a can at OH FLX. Consistent with Cream ale style overall. Not disappointed, but fairly weak in flavor and body. Didn’t really notice the oats/ creaminess usually experienced with OH. Have had fresh draft Genesee Cream Ales that were actually smoother. Taste was ok. All the Citra but considering HDHC… found too light.

 

Onsite can drank at Other Half Finger Lakes in Bloomfield, NY.

This one pours a fairly hazy golden yellow color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like tangerine, orange, mango creamsicle, oats, and lactose.

The original version of this collaboration leaned more towards classic Cream Ale, and this certainly leans more towards the usual oat cream obsession that Other Half has. It's certainly got a lighter hand on the lactose than some of the Daydreams, and it's got the crisp grainy finish of a cream ale. The Citra definitely dominates here, with orange and tangerine leading the way, along with a hint of grassy bitterness.

This is light bodied, clean, and super drinkable. It's a real treat to drink it.

I really liked the first version of this one, and this is also a great take on it.

Gene Cream.

Who doesn't like it?

I'm sure it's part of college stories of yesteryear for anyone who went to school in Upstate New York - just like Saranac or Pete's Wicked. It's an old-school beer that I love as a guilty pleasure so when the original iteration of this came out last year, I was upset that I couldn't get my hands on a can of it. Thankfully, the HDHC version was available at Other Half in Brooklyn a few weeks back and I grabbed a 4-pack of this to have and share with friends.

Thankfully, it was worth seeking as this was smooth, creamy, and hoppy enough to give it a modern take on an old classic that I hadn't savored in quite a long time!

Not surprisingly, this was blonde and cloudy with a nice brightness to the hue as enough head topped it off, like any good Cream Ale. A thin and soapy ring lingered near the top as there were hints of soapy suds the rest of the way down the side of my pint glass. Lots of oats, tangerine, and adjuncts in the nose as the taste was smooth, creamy, and full of lager yeast with the end result being a beer that effortlessly slid right down without being too light or weak on the palate. Some dark Citra pith entered the fray as this was some hops to it but never did this feel like an Imperial beer or deviate from it's style.

Of course, this was sessionable and easy to drink as the alcohol was light and barely noticeable. The carbonation was present, but not strong, as the hint of milk sugar gave this the creaminess and sweetness that it needed from feeling heavy-handed or unappealing. Canned on 7/23 with "TEAM CREAM" written underneath that, this was a fun beer that was an improvement on the original while being true to it's roots. So glad I was able to get in on this!