Blonde vs Cream Ale

[ASantiago]

I'm starting my research for a light ale that I can serve my light-beer-drinking friends and relatives. I want something that resembles a lager (crisp, good attenuation, etc), but lagering is not an option for me at this time.

So, I've got the style down to either a blond ale or a cream ale. However, their descriptions are similar. Can someone explain what the main differences are?

Thanks!

 

[zgardener]

Cream Ales usually use corn adjuncts to give it a creamier mouthfeel.
They are also either finished with lager yeast, or use a yeast blend of an ale and lager yeast. Some are blond ales blended with light lagers (tho I have no idea what homebrewer would go thru that trouble).

Blond Ales are usually 100% malt with any clean fermenting ale yeast, tho yeast blends and adjuncts can be used.

The way I see it, it really just depends on what you want to call it, there is such a thin line. No one will call you out one way or the other.

 

[NorCalAngler]

They aren't very different at all. I think the difference comes down to how clean the taste is. The description of blonde allows for more malt, hop and yeast contribution to flavor while the cream ale description allows for a dry, clean profile.

http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style06.php

 

[zgardener]

I suspect that if you entered the same ale in both categories in a BJCP competition there would be no issues whatsoever, their style guidelines really overlap, making it possible for one to be the other.