Is Cream Ale supposed to be clear?

Cain · Dec 6, 2014

I have an American Cream Ale that is about a month old in the carboy.

I will be kegging it soon. Does Cream Ale clear or does it stay cloudy like a Hefeweizen?

If it is supposed to clear I will hold off on kegging, if it's supposed to be cloudy, I will keg this weekend...thanks for the help!!!

eatmorefrogs · Dec 6, 2014

"Brilliant, sparkling clarity."
http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style06.php

Yooper · Dec 6, 2014

Keg it, keep it cold for three weeks at fridge temps, and it should clear right up.

If it's not clear after a month in the carboy, then it's not going to clear in the carboy. Cold conditioning will help a lot with cloudiness and haze issues.

ericbw · Dec 6, 2014

It should look like any run of the mill lager. It's greenish gray in the fermenter. Hard to believe it clears but it should.

CJ-3 · Dec 13, 2014

I agree. I have one currently bottled and it is clear.

WouldBeBrewmaster · Dec 13, 2014

Since this is in the extract forum you may not be able to (have a large enough fridge) cold crash. Add some gelatin to the secondary to help clear.

If it's a little hazy it's not the end of the world.

ericbw · Dec 14, 2014

If you keg, that's like a cold crash, except your first few oz will be sludgy. Pour off 3-4 oz the first time you pour, THEN pour a pint. If you pour a full pint it will be cloudy and a little bad.