Game Day Beer Review: Capital Brewery Hop Cream Ale

Photo by terren in Virginia on Flickr

Poured on draft at the Riverside Market in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Hopcream was the first beer we've tried from this small Wisconsin-based brewery.

The beer was a hazy, deep gold color with a massive white head, and smelled of grass and -- surprise, surprise -- hops, much as the name implied.

The taste was a bit unusual, and certainly unlike any other cream ale we've tried previously.  It's safe to describe it as a mix of flowers and biscuits.  The beer was hoppy, but ever so smooth -- a very interesting, off-beat approach. B-

Game Day Beer Review: Anderson Valley Brewing Summer Solstice Cream Ale

Summer Solstice poured a warm caramel color with an off-white head that disappeared before I was able to properly appreciate it.

The beer's smell was sweet toffee, with some tart apple notes also apparent. As it warmed I got a faint whiff of rum.

Solstice's taste was way different that most other summer beers. The taste of heavy, sweet caramel flavor lingered on the palate, while some lively carbonation kept it interesting.  A very pleasant way to while away a hot summer day....  B