BJCP 1C · Standard American Beer
Cream Ale
A pale, light, clean American ale that comes very close to a lager. Refreshing and smooth, with a light grainy or corn sweetness.
Cream Ale by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.2 – 5.6%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 8 – 20 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 2 – 5 SRM4–10 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.042 – 1.055on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.006 – 1.012on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Cream Ale is like
A clean, well-attenuated, very easy-drinking ale with a soft malt flavor and often a touch of corn. It's the ale brewers' answer to American Lager.
Appearance
Pale straw to light gold, usually very bright. Low to medium head with fair retention.
Aroma
Soft malt and sweet grain, sometimes with a corn note, and low floral or spicy hops. A very faint fruity ester may show up, but it shouldn't dominate.
Flavor
Moderate grainy sweetness, sometimes corn, low to medium-low bitterness and a dry to slightly sweet finish. Overall it's balanced and clean, with no diacetyl.
Mouthfeel
Light to medium body, smooth, with medium to high carbonation.
Where Cream Ale comes from
It appeared in the 19th century in the northeastern United States and Canada, when ale breweries wanted to compete with the fashionable pale lagers. It survived Prohibition, and many craft breweries are bringing it back today.
Ingredients
American pale malt with up to 20% corn and sometimes sugar. Restrained American or European hops. A clean ale yeast or, in some versions, a blend with lager yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Cream Ale at home
Ferment with a clean American ale yeast at the low end of its range, around 15-17 °C (59-63 °F), to avoid esters. A mash at 64-65 °C (147-149 °F) and some flaked corn give the typical dry finish and grainy touch. Cold-condition it for two or three weeks to clear it and carbonate to about 2.5 volumes; the typical mistake is fermenting warm and ending up with a fruity beer.
Food pairing
Goes well with fried chicken, salads or a margherita pizza.
Glassware: pilsner glass, tall and slender, to show off the color and the bubbles.
Classic examples
- Genesee Cream Ale
- New Glarus Spotted Cow
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Cream Ale?
Between 4.2% and 5.6% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Cream Ale?
It has 8 to 20 IBUs, a very low bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Cream Ale?
Straw to gold: 2 to 5 SRM (4 to 10 EBC).
What food pairs well with Cream Ale?
Goes well with fried chicken, salads or a margherita pizza.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try American Lager, Kölsch and Blonde Ale.
If you like Cream Ale, try these
Classification and statistics: official Cream Ale guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.