United Nations of Beer

McAuslan Cream ale

by D'Arcy Gray
(Beer Delegate, QC, Canada)

McAuslan Cream ale: lift the Genny curse

McAuslan Cream ale

I fell in love earlier this year. Twice. I went looking, of course, but I knew where to go. Had I not done a little research, I knew she'd be hard to find. My reading told me "go to the source", so that's exactly what I did.

ONCE: a little canal-side terrace, with lovely umbrellas, good scenery, and friendly people willing to nourish me. TWICE: A smile, a scent, a nitro-induced cascading pour, and a taste to put her overseas counterparts to shame.

ONCE: McAuslan's St-Ambroise Terrace. TWICE: McAuslan Cream ale (aka Smooth Ale in the US).

The term "cream ale" is troubling to me. It brings to mind Genesee Cream ale and is technically an American-style beer. Ugh!

What made me salivate at the idea of tasting this particular cream ale was the thought that it might be more along the lines of Caffrey's or Boddington's. Obviously, having some experience with (and confidence in) the brews of McAuslan helped push me on to go and taste this beer.

Still, we're in North America... McAuslan Cream ale could be somebody's way of appealing to the bar-rag-sucking wankers who keep Anheuser-Busch in business. Where cream ales are concerned, there's an image I just can't shake. Ugh!

QUESTION: "What's the big deal, why not just go to the corner store and buy some for chrisakes?"

ANSWER: Well, you see, this beer is only available on tap. They don't put it in bottles and my pub hopping hadn't turned any up so far.

Then it became clear, like a strange spell being lifted: Go to the bleeding St-Ambroise Terrace, they'll have it for sure! Spring had well and truly sprung, so the place was bound to be open. So, a short bike ride later, there I was, falling in love for the first time.

"Till seraphs swing their snowy hats,
And saints to windows run,
To see the little tippler
Leaning against the sun!"
Emily Dickinson

Well, cut me loose for a couple of hours and THIS little tippler would definitely put on a show for the local post-factory office workers. This terrace/pub is just off of the Lachine Canal bike path and is a nice little spot to take a break on a hot summer day. There is a BBQ, with typical BBQ-type lunch foods and all the McAuslan products on tap. This is what riding a bike is all about. I'm in LOVE.

Still reeling from the great location, my first hint that McAuslan Cream ale was going to be a good time was the FABULOUS pour. This is a long, several stage pour (like Guinness) which results in a gorgeous cascading head. Also like Guinness, this is a head that will last the beer. In other words, there's still head at the bottom of the glass. If you're into a creamy head and a generally silky texture, then this is for you.

On the nose, nothing outstanding. A little fruit (VERY little) and a bit of hops. In the mouth, the texture is what's impressive, but there's a nice mix of fruit and malt. The aftertaste is quite bitter, much like a stout. Generally speaking, a fairly light beer but with a bitter aftertaste. Really, it's the texture that sets this apart.

In fact, if I were to compare McAuslan Cream ale to anything you've surely tasted, it would be Guinness. Ya ya I know, many differences too. So, we'll have to say "a bit like Boddington's, a lot like Caffrey's", but maybe you haven't tasted those. It brings to mind the old Caffrey's slogan: "Caffrey's Irish ale: Forever unfolding." That could certainly apply here.

Like any beer with a creamy head, I draw a smiley face in the froth, then utter the words "Awww, gimme a kiss lassie" before tucking in for my first taste. I'm weird that way.

Well, my lassie came to me, and I fell in love again. My beautiful cascading smiley face was something special. This is a light, slightly bitter kind of lovely beer that you could drink all day at a decent, slightly chilled termperature. As such, it's nothing like its namesake by Genesee. Genny Cream is a CURSE from which I am now free.

"A CHARM invests a face
Imperfectly beheld,
The lady dare not lift her veil
For fear it be dispelled."
Emily Dickinson

This lady McAuslan Cream ale lifted her veil and dispelled the terrible Genny Curse.

Cheers ONCE. Cheers TWICE.