Bard's Gold Gluten Free
Bard's Tale Beer Company
Utica, New York, USA
Independent
Gluten Free Golden Lager 4.7 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 355 ml.
$2.22 (Canadian) At LCBO ($13.30 for a six pack)
Twitter: @Bardsbeer
Tonight's beer is one that rides in the grey area of malted alcoholic beverages. Which leads us to ask: what is beer really? The short answer is an alcoholic beverage made from malted wheat, rye, or barley. In the USA, they have laws that state beer must be made with at least 25% barley. Most large American Macro Brews contain high amounts of rice and or corn (adjuncts) but must maintain that 25% barley to legally use the term "beer." However, outside of that, is something that has no grain in it beer? Well yes, and no. The lines are still being drawn and I'm sure infighting amongst the Beerluminati will continue for some time. But the category that is getting the most attention and which will probably be classed as a beer soonest, is Gluten Free. 1 in 1000 people have the auto-immune disease called Celiac's. It is a ailment that prevents the proper absorption of nutrients in the intestines caused by the gluten in grains. Gluten is the protein that makes your bread rise, your pizza dough stretchy and thickens your sauces. It also can confuse the immune system in a person with celiac's disease and make it attack their intestinal lining. Now I said it affects 1 in 1000 people, which doesn't sound like much, but when you consider that in Canada that equals 35,000 people and in the USA over 3.5 Million. (and most are undiagnosed. Some sources also say the figure could be 1 in a 100, but that has not been proven yet). So that leaves us with almost 4 million people in North America who can not enjoy a cold beer on a hot day. Enter Craig Belser and Kevin Seplowitz of Utica, New York. Both diagnosed celiacs and beer lovers, they decided they needed to open a craft brewery dedicated to people like them. Tonight's beer is the result of their efforts.
If you believe you have Celiac's Disease it is VERY IMPORTANT, that you seek out a Doctor trained in autoimmune diseases who can properly diagnose you. Entering into a very restrictive diet such as gluten free is very difficult and potentially dangerous to your health if you are not a celiac. For more information go here in Canada, here in The USA, here in the UK.
Onto our Tasting.
Light gold in colour, thin white head that disperses quickly. Nose is sweet grain, apple and citrus. First taste is thin, sweet, and slightly medicinal. Apples and grapes, some tartaric acid, tangy. Slightly watery. Has a club soda, or tonic water feel in the mouth. Lightly chemical, quinine, slightly flinty and mineral. Aeration brings out more of a medicinal chemical taste.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 4/6 PASS
Re-Order: 3/6 SO-SO
Experience: 4/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
Very wine like, very gassy. It felt like a "Beer and Tonic." Not unpleasant, I would certainly drink it as a non-celiac. It did indeed make me think I was drinking a beer. If you are a celiac, or just curious about GF beers it is a must try.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online
And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.
Bard's Tale Beer Company
Utica, New York, USA
Independent
Gluten Free Golden Lager 4.7 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 355 ml.
$2.22 (Canadian) At LCBO ($13.30 for a six pack)
Twitter: @Bardsbeer
Tonight's beer is one that rides in the grey area of malted alcoholic beverages. Which leads us to ask: what is beer really? The short answer is an alcoholic beverage made from malted wheat, rye, or barley. In the USA, they have laws that state beer must be made with at least 25% barley. Most large American Macro Brews contain high amounts of rice and or corn (adjuncts) but must maintain that 25% barley to legally use the term "beer." However, outside of that, is something that has no grain in it beer? Well yes, and no. The lines are still being drawn and I'm sure infighting amongst the Beerluminati will continue for some time. But the category that is getting the most attention and which will probably be classed as a beer soonest, is Gluten Free. 1 in 1000 people have the auto-immune disease called Celiac's. It is a ailment that prevents the proper absorption of nutrients in the intestines caused by the gluten in grains. Gluten is the protein that makes your bread rise, your pizza dough stretchy and thickens your sauces. It also can confuse the immune system in a person with celiac's disease and make it attack their intestinal lining. Now I said it affects 1 in 1000 people, which doesn't sound like much, but when you consider that in Canada that equals 35,000 people and in the USA over 3.5 Million. (and most are undiagnosed. Some sources also say the figure could be 1 in a 100, but that has not been proven yet). So that leaves us with almost 4 million people in North America who can not enjoy a cold beer on a hot day. Enter Craig Belser and Kevin Seplowitz of Utica, New York. Both diagnosed celiacs and beer lovers, they decided they needed to open a craft brewery dedicated to people like them. Tonight's beer is the result of their efforts.
If you believe you have Celiac's Disease it is VERY IMPORTANT, that you seek out a Doctor trained in autoimmune diseases who can properly diagnose you. Entering into a very restrictive diet such as gluten free is very difficult and potentially dangerous to your health if you are not a celiac. For more information go here in Canada, here in The USA, here in the UK.
Onto our Tasting.
Light gold in colour, thin white head that disperses quickly. Nose is sweet grain, apple and citrus. First taste is thin, sweet, and slightly medicinal. Apples and grapes, some tartaric acid, tangy. Slightly watery. Has a club soda, or tonic water feel in the mouth. Lightly chemical, quinine, slightly flinty and mineral. Aeration brings out more of a medicinal chemical taste.
Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional
Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASSBeer Style: 4/6 PASS
Re-Order: 3/6 SO-SO
Experience: 4/6 PASS
Final Thoughts:
Very wine like, very gassy. It felt like a "Beer and Tonic." Not unpleasant, I would certainly drink it as a non-celiac. It did indeed make me think I was drinking a beer. If you are a celiac, or just curious about GF beers it is a must try.
Cheers
CJT
Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online
And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.
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