Carlyle Vanilla Cream Ale

Brewed by Carlyle Brewing Company
Style: Cream Ale
Rockford, Illinois USA

Date: 06/20/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

hazy gold, fine white head, creamy lace, strong sweet vanilla aroma like a cream soda, lots of vanilla flavor, sweet but a light bitterness holds back the sweetness and keeps it from getting too out of control,

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 9/20
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

On tap at the brewpub on 6/20/07: Pours a transparent deep golden with a frothy creamy thin-lacing white head. Aroma of sweet candied vanilla along with some pale malt. Body starts with some sweet sugary vanilla flavor before fading into a more blander finish. Has good vanilla balance and is an interesting brew.

I would’ve classified this as a spiced ale despite the name. (Cream Ale does not means "tastes like Cream Soda"!) Still, I like it because I was a sucker for cream soda as a kid. It’s got a yellow body with a frothy gold head that laces nicely and it smells of vanilla beans. The taste is that of a flavored American wheat ale with an orange pip bitterness in the finish.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Brewing Company, Rockford, IL<font size=-1>

Sample at the brewpub. Hmmm, 3rd vanilla creme ale I’ve had in 2 days in Illinois. Weird. Medium amber, a bit dullish looking. Strong vanilla nose with a twist of caramel. Vanilla, cherry, perhaps a touch of rosemary and tarragon in the flavor...hints of sourness and bitterness towards the end, but the vanilla lingers. Definitely above average for what it is.

The beer pours to a bronzed copper body with a thin white head. The aroma is light. Vanilla and light grains. The flavor is nice and creamy and full of vanilla and sweet corn grains. The palate is creamy and medium bodied. Very easy drinking.

On tap at the brewery. Hazy light orange body, thick off-white head. Strong vanilla aroma which carries over to the body. Hiding beneath the vanilla are light biscuity, cerealy notes. In particular I noticed a corn bran characteristic. The vanilla is stronger than suggested in the description. Quaffable nonetheless.

tap at brewpub-copper appearance-nice white head that lasted a long time. lots of vanilla in the aroma, and that was pretty much it. very one dimensional. thin body.

Bright translucent yellow-orange with a thin grey sheet for the head. Wonderful aroma, chock full of creamy vanilla and white chocolate. Vanilla Tootsie Rolls come to mind. Leading into flavor, vanilla plays up its prominence, joined by a crisp hops appeal and signature lemony-lager characteristics. It’s got a lively light body and perhaps a little too much carbonation, but the vanilla finish and aftertaste remind me of why I’m a sucker for vanilla anything.