Highland Schenk’s Cream Ale

Brewed by Highland Brewing Company
Style: Cream Ale
Asheville, North Carolina USA

Sampled at Brewgrass 2008, Dark yellow, smallish white head. Corny, citrusy aroma. Flavor is similiar, with a borny flavor up front and a mellow, tasty hop finish.

pint @ Barley’s Tap. Ok aroma, sweet. Little corn, little white sugar, sour grassy notes. Clean orangy gold color, good head that faded quickly, ok lace. Sweet bitter flavors, like aroma. Malt has that malt ball kind of taste. Lite body, thin creamy mouthfeel, sweet finish. Hits the mark for a cream ale. Didn’t make me want another. Flavor would be my favorite part as I got a little more out of it than aroma.

pours a clear gold with fluffy white head. light crisp sweet aroma, smooth palate with dry finish, refreshing qualities of the cream ale, sweet millde and creamy background. light and sessionable, but a good quality palate, It is a ceam ale so complexity is light, but a good cream ale it is. the beer is good for its style.

Bomber from Bruisin’ Ales. I really enjoy most of the Highland lineup. But lately, they’ve been letting me down. A golden lager, an American wheat ale, now a cream ale. What is going on? I pour this brew into a snifter to reveal a crystalline light golden body with a small whitish head. The aroma is corny and grassy with a metallic quality I associate sometimes with lager yeasts. The flavor is very metallic and astringent with a drying, papery finish. Corn husks are found throughout the flavor. To me, cream ales cut the worst of the worlds of ales and lagers. It’s one of my least favorite styles, so while this is probably the intended package, it’s just not for me. It’s got the metallic, corny edge of a light lager, but has the bluntness of an ale. II find it baffling that this beat out a "centennial stout" in the Highland brewing competition. I take a few more sips while I’m pondering this whole situation. I felt most curious to taste a new brew from the good guys at Highland, though I didn’t have high hopes for a cream ale. I just don’t get it. This beer is really nothing special, in my humble opinion. It’s pretty close to a lot of light bodied, mass produced lagers. I think I can finish the bomber while I grill up some tasty steaks, but I’m pretty disappointed here. I mean, I want something more. . .maybe some sweeter, more complex esters, maybe some stronger, more defined hop qualities. This is pretty much grocery- store-beer-aisle in Sevierville material. Okay, just a little parting thought. I tried to finish the bomber and could not make it. The metallic and corn husk flavors keep compounding. Not my cup of tea.

Bottled: We saw it at the BP in Sylva and had to try this rare beer, which was kind of a let down. Pours a gold color with thin white lacing. Nothing in the smell but malts and faint hints of grass. Taste crisp though, not to malty, but kind of bland, with a hint of cream that is extremly faint, that doesn’t last. Glad I had it, but probably wont get it again.

Bottle, special adition from the local BP in Sylva NC. Pours a clear dark yellow with a thin white head. Aroma is grassy and malty. Flavor is clean earthy and grassy. Taste like a pilsner, the end is dry thin body. Only 2.99, I am glad I live so close to the brewery!