Cream ale is a style of American beer that is light in color and well attenuated,[1][2] meaning drier.

First crafted in the mid-1800s at various breweries in the United States, cream ale remained a very localized form with different styles until the early 20th century.

During Prohibition in the United States, a great number of Canadian brewers took up brewing cream ale, refining it to some degree.

Following the end of Prohibition, cream ale from Canada became popular in the United States and the style was produced anew in both nations.

Hop and malt flavor is usually subdued, but like all beer styles, it is open to individual interpretation, so some breweries give them a more assertive character.