Welcome to week 3 of our exploration of the variety eight-pack from
Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, WI. This week, we're tasting
Lakefront's Cream City Pale Ale, classified as an American Pale Ale
(APA) that's dry-hopped with Cascade hops (a classic American variety
often used in Pale Ales) and weighing in at 5.68 percent alcohol by
volume. Its name, if you're wondering, is a reference to one of
Milwaukee's many nicknames.

Lakefront Brewery Cream City Pale AleAs far as APAs go, you can
generally expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and
diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from
lightly floral to pungent. The major difference between American and
English Pales Ales is that American versions tend to be cleaner,
hoppier and more alcoholic, while their British counterparts tend to
be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced, with a more moderate
alcohol content. So now that we sort of know what to expect, let's
give Cream City a try.

The Taste
The 12-ounce bottle unleashes what appears to be a well-carbonated
brew, with thousands of tiny bubbles cascading throughout the beer and
forming a very tight white foam head that retains extremely well and
leaves rings of sticking lace as we drink-thanks, no doubt, to the
abundance of hops. What lies beneath is a peachy amber-colored brew
with a touch of haze running through it. Nose is floral, like orange
blossoms, with some citric rind and soft apple. Ultra-smooth on the
palate, with a silky creaminess up front and an even consistency to
the end. Mineral notes. Sharp citric smack, with grapefruit, salt,
lemon rinds and a piney edge. Crisp bite. Leafy undertones. Apple and
pear notes follow, with a touch of pale malt sweetness and orange-like
fruitiness mingling with light hop oils. Bitter, grainy and drying in
the finish-with just enough residual sweetness to make the linger
enjoyable.

Final Thoughts
In our opinion, Cream City Pale Ale (which got a score of
"recommended" on BeerAdvocate.com with some 40-odd reviews) is a good
brew that's a bit predictable, but impressive nonetheless, full of
flavor and highly drinkable. It's actually a great example of a modern
APA, with more of a hop presence due to its being dry-hopped. Serve it
cool in a nonic glass (or something similar). A mesclun salad with a
citrus-infused vinaigrette would pair nicely, as would a nice chunk of
aged cheddar or a light poultry dish. On its own, it makes for a good
session brew-meaning you can have more than one without losing respect
for beer.

For more info: lakefrontbrewery.com

Respect Beer.

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