Living the Dream Brewing Company - Powder Run

No one’s exactly sure where the term ‘cream ale’ came from, but one thing is for sure – there’s no cream or milk in it at all. The style originated in the U.S. in the mid 19th century when brewers began taking warmer fermenting ales, incorporating a touch of maize, and cold conditioning them like lagers, resulting in a less fruity and more crisp style of light ale. The ‘cream ale’ moniker almost certainly was a marketing term calling attention to the beer’s characteristic smoothness. This version from Living the Dream, which features the addition of vanilla, has garnered multiple medals, including bronze at the 2020 GABF. We’re presented on the pour with a pale golden straw color with nice clarity and a head of white foam. On the nose, expect that vanilla addition to really stand out, joined by some very light fruity and grassy hop tones that flash through with a good swirl of the glass. On the palate, the beer is quite smooth, an impression augmented by the vanilla character which doubles down on the beer’s inherent silky, pillowy feel. That being said, there’s also a lager-like crispness in the finish that we expect with cream ales, which beckons us to take another sip. Look for the malts to come across clean with hints of bread and cereal grain character, while hop bitterness is quite low, in line with balancing what is ultimately a fairly dry brew. For pairing options, the brewery recommends pairing this crisp easy-drinker with shellfish, grilled chicken, sausages or anything off the grill. Cheers!

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined.” This quote by Henry David Thoreau forms a sort of mantra for Living the Dream Brewing Company, appearing on their website as a symbol to encapsulate their philosophy.

Living the Dream was founded in Littleton, CO by Jason Bell. Born in Chicago and raised in Iowa, he attended Iowa State where he initially studied civil engineering before switching paths to follow his interest in culinary arts. He apprenticed with a chef and graduated with a degree in hotel & restaurant management in 1997. After eighteen years of experience in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry, and years as an increasingly serious homebrewer, Jason – with the support of his wife Debbie – launched Living the Dream in 2014.

In their decade in business, the brewery has become a well known and popular hangout for the locals who appreciate a dog-friendly taphouse environment with excellent beer and an impressive rotation of gourmet food trucks. In May of 2020, the brewery took delivery of their own canning line, allowing them increased opportunity to grow their retail footprint. In fact, with the brewery now at capacity, Living the Dream is – as we write this – preparing to move to a new, larger, and quite a bit more polished location about a mile up the road. It’s the former home of Grist Brew Co., and will offer an even larger location for beer production, the taphouse, and events, and is expected to be open in mid-January 2024.

The brewery currently produces about five year-round canned beers along with a variety of limited availability beers (many of them being inventive variants of their award-winning flagship Powder Run cream ale), and their taproom has a larger selection of tap-only beers. For more info on the brewery, their tasty brews, and events, check them out at www.livingthedreambrewing.com.