REVIEW: Muskoka Cream Ale

This one brings us to the end of the Canadian beers. A bit bittersweet if I'm being honest. I've had a lot of fun looking at these beers. We've had some really good ones and some that were disappointing. All in all though, I've been pretty impressed! I'm going to be super bummed if we end on a real dud though. Hopefully Muskoka's Cream Ale doesn't let me down. To the beer!

The beer pours a very pretty deep, vibrant bronze amber. It's crystal clear and is topped by two fingers of sturdy off white head that doesn't do much in terms of lacing but does persist as a thin rim on top of the beer once it recedes.

The aromas here are pretty delicate. It's slightly sweet with biscuity crackery malt taking the lead. There's a faint floral touch as well as the tiniest bit of caramel. Like I said, delicate, simple, but inviting.

So far so good. It's a pretty beer with a nice nose. But on the palate is where this beer really starts to impress. It's light to medium in body with a fabulous, rich creaminess. Malty flavors of biscuity caramel and toffee start things off. Bright, herbal, ever so slightly citrusy hop bitterness comes in afterwards and turns the sip around on an absolute dime. Muskoka Cream Ale begins as a hearty, malty amber and once that bitteness kicks in in a single instant it's as if you're drinking an entirely different beer. It becomes this bright, lively, crsip beer. Something akin to a pale ale. The most impressive thing is that this mid-sip-metamorphosis never makes the beer feel disjointed. It's incredibly interesting and most importantly, very enjoyable. It finises with a crisp bite and a mild, yet long and lingering, bitterness.

I think it's safe to say that Muskoka Cream Ale has sent the Canadian beers off on the highest of notes. This one is really good. Drinkable, approachable, flavorful, and very interesting. I could drink a whole lot of this one. Well, next summer maybe.

HD