Cream Ales in Canada

Cream ales are a historical style in North America which have gained a lot of popularity in Canada. Here's what the BJCP has to say about their history:

An ale version of the American lager style. Produced by ale brewers to compete with lager brewers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. Originally known as sparkling or present use ales, lager strains were (and sometimes still are) used by some brewers, but were not historically mixed with ale strains. Many examples are kräusened to achieve carbonation. Cold conditioning isn’t traditional, although modern brewers sometimes use it.

 So while I am visiting Canada I thought I'd take a look at the style and some simple research online showed that in British Columbia their version of a cream ale is actually an English Mild while in Quebec it tends to be a pale ale on nitro! Check out the above link for the story behind this bizarre situation.

The iconic example is Sleeman's Cream Ale which had a strong showing in the early craft beer boom in Canada and is still one of Sleeman's top sellers(Sleeman is now owned by Sapporo). 

For this blog post I will look at two beers: 

Bell City's Eureka Cream Ale which is a traditional cream ale from Ontario and

R & B's Raven Cream Ale which is an English Mild from British Columbia.

If I have the chance I will try the Montreal-style  "Cream jAle" AKA a nitro pale ale and update this then, same goes if I go for a Sleeman after more than 5 year's since my last one. Anyways's on to the tasting!

Bell City's Eureka Cream Ale

I bought this at the LCBO as it had a great looking sky blue can and served it in a footed pilsner glass. 

It poured a clear light amber color with a light beige head. The aroma was light caramel + cocoa malty aroma. 

It's a touch bready with some savory vanilla. It is smooth with a creamy mouthfeel. The taste has nice bready caramel malts  and is a touch tangy with light tannic + vanilla notes. Nice.

R & B's Raven Cream Ale


This beer pours a much darker mahogany brown with a very slight head that vanished fast. Served in a flared pilsner glass. The aroma is syrupy caramel, butterscotch & fudge. 

This cream ale has the zesty active carbonation I associate with Vancouver beers, thankfully it is pretty smooth and not so rough. 

The taste is tangy butterscotch and caramel. I think it may have been heat damaged and I am getting diacetyl. It is OK but that sweetness is somewhat cloying. Once it warmed up you did get some cream flavor as well.

Out of these two, I think Bell City's Eureka Cream Ale is the clear winner though my brother prefered the Raven Cream Ale. I find the Eureka much creamier and more satisfying for me the Raven is too sweet & possibly has production or storage/shipping issues. 

The next time you're in Canada why don't you reach out for a cream ale?