The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) outlines specific guidelines for cream ales. Some key attributes include a pale golden color with good clarity, a mild malt aroma with light fruity notes, a soft and well-attenuated mouthfeel, and low to moderate hop bitterness. The color range is typically 2-5 SRM, and the ideal alcohol content is between 4.2% and 5.6% ABV.