Beer #4- Wexford Irish Style Cream Ale

I’ve never been to Ireland, but it has always been one of those places I have always wanted to go. I do remember swimming in the Irish Sea in the winter, but I must say I’ve never made it to the actual country. However, I did stay in Wales for a month when I was 14, and I was shown a very different lifestyle. This Tennessee boy realized everywhere wasn’t like Pleasant View.

I played soccer in high school and I was average. At least I thought I was until one day out in the schoolyard soccer field in Llannsannan, Wales. I got completely “schooled” by boys half my age. It was funny at first, then it got frustrating, then it was just humiliating. I remember this next part vividly. I slid tackled a boy half my size, shuffled the ball across the pitch, dribbled the ball about 10 yards clumsily past another defender. I was just past midfield, and for some reason, I shot it.

I killed the ball. Maybe it was my rage at being shown up by boys half my age, but in any count, I launched the ball perfectly. The ball bounced off my foot, propelled by some celestial force, I realized, as my American grin got bigger and bigger and I watched the ball sink in the top right corner of the net. I raised my hands in utter ecstasy as I elated in my amazing goal- even the Welsh kids thought so. “Fuckin-ell, the American can shoot.” I’ll never forget that comment from a Welsh kid beside me. What a day. And what a beautiful place.

The Wexford Style Cream Ale transports me back to this place. It reminds me of the neighborhood pub where I ordered my first beer, Guinness.

{NOTE: This beer is not Guinness. It is crafted differently, I know. But, the cream style of its brew brought back memories. Just wanted to make that clear.}

The muddy color of the initial pour transformed before my eyes into a wonderful creation of amber-gold glory. This feature of Cream Ales never ceases to amaze me. I eagerly held the glass up to my face, the foam bubbling right below my nose and inhaled the vanilla foam. I was met with an unsurprising creamy sweetness and quick flash of barley malt right before it died in my mouth.

I drank again, hoping for a change, hoping for this beer to live up to my love of Cream style Ales, but the taste disappeared almost immediately after the gulp. Oh, Wexford! You could have been so good. You could have.



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I give Wexford a disappointed 84.


Look: Amber
Smell: Vanilla and Malt
Taste: Greeted with Sweet Vanilla Cream, ended abruptly with malted death.


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Brett's ratings are out of 100.

As with all connoisseurs, personal taste affects all ratings. The best ratings tend to lean towards his two different biases; 1) Well-crafted heavy Stouts and 2) Lagers made with a simple perfection.

Please understand that just because Brett gives a beer a high rating doesn't mean you may think it is good. Only understand that if he gives it a high rating it is because most people who have a good taste in beer would do the same.