Carlyle Vanilla Cream Ale

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.

On tap at brewpub

After a few lighter beers the mood began to slowly shift. This one was a bit darker but still along the same lines as the previous samples. I would have considered a full pint of it. It’s an interesting change of pace from the norm. It reminds me more of cream soda than beer but perhaps that is why I thought it was fun.

Aroma / Appearance - The hazy body was the color of cream soda and smelled likewise. This one might be alcoholic but it would be hard to tell from the nose. It is straightforward and simple.

Flavor / Palate - Vanilla cream soda is held up by a faint malty taste. It reminds me more of a soft drink than a beer; it was painless to finish and fun to try. I don’t know that I would drink it often but the occasional pint would be nice.

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 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.