Sun Up Light Rail Cream Ale

Brewed by Sun Up Brewing Company (Sonora Brewhouse)
Style: Cream Ale
Phoenix, Arizona USA

This beer is a brilliantly clear gold color and is topped by a thin, frothy, pale, off white colored head. A soft fruity aroma is a mix of kiwis (I think), apple and honeysuckle. Actually more than fruity this reminds me of an aromatic sweet nectar from a flower. I really like the aroma, there is a soft herbal character to it as well an perhaps even a touch of diacetyl, which only adds to the complexity.

The taste is a touch creamy feeling with a definite malt sweetness and again just a hint of diacetyl. A nice honey flavor runs throughout as does a nice hoppy, herbal bitterness. The bitterness fades in the finish where the sweet honey-like nectar notes linger on for a bit. The mix of flavors in this cream ale are just so well integrated. In fact this is the first cream ale I have had that I would be happy to drink again. Despite this, I don’t see this being too much for the craft beer neophyte or reluctant brew-pub goer.

Reviewed 9/5/2009 (Draft @ SunUp Brewpub, Phoenix, AZ): Pours a golden yellow color body, with a small white head, diminishing. Has a nutty aroma, cashews, and some hops and very floral. Not too strong. Creamy mouthfeel, nutty, cashew-like. Fruity, light fruit. Good taste.

On draught at the Brewer’s Den (Sonora Brewhouse) in Phoenix, AZ. Pours a clear pale golden brew with a creamy thin off-white head that slowly dissipates to a white ring and film top. Aroma of fruity light golden grain malt, a touch of vanilla, some citrus zest and honey. Taste is light to medium bodied, light carbonation with a light fruity malt and vanilla flavor. Finish has a light flowery hop aftertaste and then quickly changes to a clean cut palate. One of the better cream ales I’ve tried.

clear pale golden/yellow color with a small whitish head and light lacing. fairly faint aroma... semi sweet grain almost like honey, citrus-ish fruit and spice. the flavor is somewhat the same... grain, grass and floral hops and some vanilla. spicy dry finish. rather rich and full bodied... dare i say ’creamy’. i wasn’t expecting a whole lot but was pleasantly surprised...

Like hellbilly, I was also nicely surprised. Very smooth, with light sweet malt qualities in aroma and mid-body. Absolutely the creamiest cream ale I have had, and I appreciate that. Vanilla flowers are near the finish.

Gold with a thin white head. Beer had a light fruiy aroma. Flavor is sweet creamy vanilla with light citrus notes at the finish. Smooth, easy drinking beer. Not bad.

On tap at Brewers Den - Pours a clear golden color with a small white head. Nice lacing as most BD beers have. Aroma is a light, sweet malt. Flavor is also light malt and a touch of herbal hops. A smooth, medium body beer. A very nice Cream ale.

I thought this beer was unremarkabale until I tasted it. I’m relatively inexperienced with cream ales, but this beer tasted actually quite creamy and lightly fruity! This (for some reason) pleasantly surprised me. It poured a bright sparkling yellow with a good amount of head which had limited durability. Aroma was really minimal, but lightly fruity. Taste was quite odd (in a good way)...a bit of subtle spice along with a genuine creaminess which I found quite shocking. Mouthfeel was a bit harsh, but not bad. I found this beer rather drinkable. I’d recommend this beer as a great example of a cream ale.