Lexington "Kentucky Vanilla Barrel" Cream Ale

Five years ago, when this blog was in its earliest days, I posted a one-line review of the ale from these guys, and I liked it enough to give it a 4.0/5. My scale hasn't changed since those days, but I would've sworn I had at least one other beer from them, but I didn't record it if I did. So, on to the one I picked up (and if this goes well, I may go out of my way to get the others).

There is a great clear, copper color on this beer. The head is a bit of a letdown, and it fizzles out pretty quickly to become little more than a dusting. The aroma is definitely vanilla cream added to an agave sweetness. It's possible the vanilla is going to be too much for this beer, though.

First sip is - and I am not happy about this - pretty good. This is a cream ale, and that's what I'm getting. I don't know why I thought I was going to be getting something in the taste that was more beer-like (aside from the fact that it looks like beer and is from a beer-maker). This is definitely more woody than most, but it's pretty good.

Tip-in is more than expected carbonation burn with vanilla flowers floating on top of them. The middle spreads into a sweet maple-wood with a creamy almond milk and vanilla while the carbonation sizzles madly at the back of the throat. The finish is oaky and a bit sharp, and then the vanilla and the oak mix for the trail-off.

Bottom Line: Not a bad cream ale, even if it is from Kentucky (JK).

3.25/5