GENESEE CREAM ALE
If you’re from the Central New York area or have ever visited, you may have been introduced to one of the many varieties of beers made by Rochester based brewery Genesee Brewing Comapany. The beer I’m going to be talking about today, Genesee Cream Ale is a staple at college campuses all over CNY — Syracuse included.
I was first introduced to this creamy beer my junior year at SU (I was 21, don’t freak out) over a game of beer pong at a small get together at a buddy’s house. Of course, when you’re playing beer pong, your focus isn’t solely on the (probably warm) beer in the cup you’re holding. Personally, I was more concerned with not having bits of dust in the cup I was unfortunate enough to have to drink from. That being said, it was nice circling back around to this college staple as I watched the droves of students return back to The Hill for the start of a new school year.
Beer Name: Genesee Cream Ale
City and Country of Origin: Rochester, New York
Year Created: The brewery was founded in 1878 — Genny Cream Ale was first introduced in the late 1960s
ABV: 5.2%
Cost: $16.99 for a 30 pack
Taste: With the phrase ‘cream ale’ in your beer, you expect it to be creamy. That’s exactly the experience you get upon your first sip of Genny Cream Ale. Sip after sip you get a light and sweet taste, all while experiencing that signature creamy texture. I did a little bit of light research and found out that in order to get that creamy texture, Genny Cream Ale gets primed for carbonation with wort instead of sugar. Wort is the liquid you get when from the mashing process while you’re brewing either beer or whisky (ooh). Wort contains sugars and has a malty taste as well as special amino acids that help retain the head and flavor of a beer. Yay for science!
How Do I Feel? I’m honestly taking a little bit of a trip down memory lane. I also feel super stoked to be drinking a beer that’s brewed a little over an hour from me. While that may be bad for you since that means you may not be able to experience this beer, I strongly encourage you to drink local and support local businesses. That being said, if you want to experience Genny Cream Ale in all its glory, come visit me and we’ll go to the brewery.
ANYWAY, in a weird way I do enjoy drinking this beer. It brings back good memories all while being a refreshing beer that really is cheap. Also, fun fact — Genesee Cream Ale has won multiple gold medals throughout the years at the Great American Beer Festival; a festival held in Denver that had almost 8,000 entries in various categories last year. That’s no small feat and now makes me feel a little more fancy for drinking Genny Cream Ale.
When To Drink Genesee Cream Ale? I’m a big fan of this as a summer or early fall beer. It’s got a sweet taste which makes it refreshing in the summer. Whether you’re at a kickback with buddies or front porch sitting in the afternoon, I truly think this is a solid beer choice for any occasion. Genny Cream Ale, I will say, actually has a pretty strong taste for a “cheap beer.” Usually you get carbonated water and a little bit of taste with beers this cheap, but you truly get some body and taste with Genny Cream Ale. I’m constantly surprised each time I sip it and realise that this can cost a little over 50 cents if you buy a 30 pack. Crazy.
Overall Rating: 7/10 Genesee Cream Ale is one of those beers that is a solid go-to if you’re trying to ball on a budget. I personally don’t remember the last time I’ve gone out to purchase Genesee Cream Ale, and that’s why I think the rating is a little lower. While this beer is a good choice overall, there are a couple of other cheap beer options that I would choose over Genesee Cream Ale. I’d pick it up for sentimental reasons or if I knew I was about to throw down with buddies for an afternoon of Spikeball or beer pong. Other than that, I’m not super convinced it’d be my first choice.
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Cheers,
Natalie
