dave´s cream ale

Cream ale is a beer style that sounds like the latest in craft beer. One immediately thinks of creamy pastry stouts, brews with vanilla, chocolate, or coffee, and other dessert-like creations from contemporary brewers. Contrary to this initial intuition, however, cream ale is a classic beer, first brewed in the mid-19th century. Its roots lie in the United States, but it found its way to Canada during Prohibition, where it proved to be a real crowd-pleaser.

Stylistically, the brew is similar to a pale lager and boasts a straightforward and refreshing flavor. The top-fermented brew typically undergoes long cooling and aging periods, which lends the aroma clarity and simplicity. Despite its name, there are no dairy products on the ingredients list. Instead, the word "cream" in the title hints at the ale’s silky-smooth texture and drinkable, light-flaky character.

The master of this particular style is Dave Chebbi – master brewer and brainchild of the Malz und Hopfen label – who has teamed up with the team at Orca Brau in Nuremberg to create an excellent version. Their collaborative brew is simply called Dave’s Cream Ale and impresses with its feather-light body, delicate fruit notes, delicate hop flavors, and wonderful freshness. The beer is extremely drinkable and lives up to its name with a velvety mouthfeel.