A different version of Labatt 50 to celebrate brewers’ half-century mark. Fizzy raspberry spritz, floral fruit scamper, and grain-malted tranquility consume front end. Short-lived meringue finish recalls spicier red ales, but expected creaminess lacks.

Translucent coppery one-off can’t escape miring Sleeman-related grain dankness. Yet heavier alcohol combustion and tangy orange-apricot stint best brewers’ traditional Cream Ale. Sweet malts turn frustratingly pungent though straw-to-cracked wheat spine holds up well against meager lemon drop snip. Too bad carbolic diacetyl finish gets oily. (Numeric appellation designates ancient recipe page.)

Exquisitely full-bodied hazy golden amber libation seamlessly merges pleasant floral hop bitterness with dense honeydew-orange-grapefruit wallop and residual candied sugar sweetness, besting meagerly cream ale competition with its eccentric cornucopia of fruits, spices, and grains. Peppery herbs are scattered across tropical kiwi-mango flourish, sappy honey continuance, piney resin goo, and eventually, an earthen mineral-like mustiness. Sterling.

Not unduly original amongst subordinate stylistic competitors, but crisp lemony grapefruit slurp and bittersweet hop spicing enliven taut barley-toasted wheat-cracked baked bread spine above usual lawnmower session beers. Popcorn illusions will turn on lightweight pilsner addicts and Bud Lite suckers.

Buttery cream ale seems fire brewed as flighty bittersweet cereal grains and toasted barleymalts reach charred hop bitterness, increasing filling nature of otherwise inconspicuous middleweight. Orange tang and butterscotch sweetness induce Scotch-tinged finish.

Brisk water flow saturates smooth pumpernickel foundation. Sweet fruited malt caress, orange rind bittering, marble rye reminder, and dry nuttiness knock back light creaminess to compromised finish.

Worthy light-bodied amber-clouded delight with solid head retention, smooth barley-hop confluence, and clean mocha-caramel malting. Arguably the best cream ale on the market for a short time. Brewery defunct: 2002.

Thick and chewy buttered malt creaminess differentiates Warthog from most crisp, clean, lighter-bodied Canadian brews. Smooth brown-sugared grain-toasted chocolate nuttiness lasts for the duration, gaining dry barleywine illusion along the way. Will appeal to less discriminating brown ale and light porter fans.

Brewed by Stark Mill for New Hampshire-based Milly’s Tavern. Overly foamy cloudy white-headed cream ale retains lime-y carbonation, uncharacteristic lagered yeast lightness, and unspecific tartness. Besides, creaminess lacks.

Friendly yellow-cleared cask-conditioned light-body too mainstream and soapy despite zesty lemon tagline. Aromatic wheat straw wisp penetrates pallid corn-sugared cotton candy sweetness, mild perfumed fruitiness, and illuminating coriander seduction to soft biscuit-y recession. Closer to a white ale, but labeled a cream ale.

Protracted citric hop simmer given subtle lemon fizz, floral peach-pear ebb, and quince hint. Washed-out faint bitterness and soft water flow lighten dry wheat-grass chaff to doughy finish. Despite lack of reputed creaminess, no negative traits disrupt this undistinguished middleweight.

Velvety smooth, lively carbonated, light amber ale lacks expected creaminess as dry wheat grass base encounters miserly vegetal spell, yucky diacetyl swerve, and dank lemony metallic astringency.