Whitetail Cream Ale
Pioneer Brewing Company

A cloudy, dark amber color, very similar to Thomas Hooker Blonde Ale, but with a more attractive, less foamy/soapy head. Smells uncomfortably like wet dog. Taste is fruity and creamy, but the wet dog smell lingers, and is unpleasant. A little more bitter than you would expect in a "cream ale." This isn't a style I would expect great, interesting things from, but rather a tasty, refreshing session beer. This just doesn't taste that good; it's kind of like a cheap knockoff of the Hooker Blonde.

The first bottle I tried was labeled Orange Moose Beer for the Orange Moose Bar & Grill at Black River Falls' Best Western Arrowhead Lodge, which has a big fibreglas orange moose facing the Interstate. I got this one in a sampler sixer at the local IGA. Had a pleasant smell, and poured a good sudsy head atop a light orange, slightly hazy body. At first it seemed nicely done, if a bit corny. But then toward the end, I got a sting of chloro phenol that distracted from the experience.

But in the same batch I picked up at the store with the Orange Moose, I also had a bottle of Whitetail under its original name. This was much better, with a light straw body and persistent meringue head. This had a good light ale taste with a prominent hop character, much more than you'd get with, say, a Genny Cream.

Medium dark golden amber color with a thin, lacey off-white head that dissolves quickly. Smell of floral hops very fresh but very light, it reminded me of a summery open field. Great creamy start to the taste, wonderful smoothness with some notes of fresh hops, fruit sugars, herbs and a malt balanced in well. The malt flavor in this cream ale is great, I really liked it. Smooth and good medium body feel in the mouth and around the tongue. Easy drinkin'.

12 oz bottle. Label depictsa deer jumping over a creek. Freebie from work.
Medium dark gold to amber in color. Thin creamy beige head. Faded fast. Some moderate lacing all the way down the glass.
Smell was of sweet corn and freshly mown hay. More meadow than beer. Sticky and dusty. Taste is more of the same, lots of sweetness, corn water, and grain. I'm not sure what makes this a Cream Ale. Some definite hop presence at the end. Saaz maybe. Overall taste was very much like a American Lager. Sweetness was dominate. Fairly refreshing but not one I would reach for more than every once in a while.

Low aroma overall, with light maltiness and some richness noted. Dark gold color, nice full head with some lacing. Several tastes noted with bitterness noted above some mild maltiness. Has some richness to it and a dryness that has an astringent quality. Seems to have a hard water quality too. Smoothness to mouthfeel, but not soft. Carbonation adequate to heavy. Too many unpleasant flavors to recommend this brew.

Clear sub amber gold color, a poor head that's almost gone in 10 seconds. Chill hazes the glass. Sweet brown-sugar aroma. Mouthfeel is a little thin. Hops are clovey/peppery, well mixed with a rather non-descript but present malt to give this beer a constant impression that reads as creamy. Starts and finishes the same. The fade is fast and well-attenuated. To me, not that bad, not that good -- but its a candidate for a session brew...

Beer's a chill-hazed golden. Small white head tops is off and dwindles to a think film in seconds. Has some nice stickiness however as it laces nicely. Some light floral tones with a little bit of fruitiness on the nose as well. First thing I notice as I drink is the creaminess. Then the flavors start to show up: dry grassy hop flavor, mild fruitiness, herbal tea and a nice malt backbone. Pretty easy drinking. Decent cream ale.

A no-brainer here. Easy to drink and that is about it.
Pours standard golden. Decent head fades away quickly. Faint hops on the nose.
Nondescript malts up front, finishes with some mellow hoppiness. Smooth in the finish.
Very light bodied.
A decent quaffing as a refreshment beer..but you may as well buy a macro for those purposes. Look elsewhere for any style, taste or substance.