Over 3.2 million people around the world of legal drinking age, cannot drink beer. Many potential craft beer lovers, simply can’t tolerate a protein found in gluten that is prominent in the grains used to make traditional beer. Not being one to accept that our Gluten-intolerant brothers and sisters can’t enjoy a brewed beverage the way we can…in fine BeerBuzz fashion, I set out to find the BEST gluten-free beverages available. We’ve had a lot of requests to do a Gluten-Free beer show, and today was the day. Now of course I’m not one to settle on just any old gluten-free beverage…I wanted to find some really great choices. After a few weeks of research (yes it took weeks) I think I hit on three of what I would consider some of the best choices available in the gluten-free fermented beverage world.
Today I chose to sample St Peter’s Brewing (United Kingdom) Sorghum Beer (Pilsner style lager.) This brew uses sorghum, to replace the wheat & barley traditionally used in beer and it is regarded by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ales) as well as the Gluten-free brewing convention as one of the best Gluten-free beers available….and better yet, it IS available in NEPA! 
Now keep in mind if you are expecting this to be a beer that rivals some of the best craft-beer out there, it will not. You simply cannot get all of the flavor and complexity with the limited grains available for brewing, but it is still a great easy-drinking and enjoyable beer. Also keep in mind as this market grows, and it is growing…you’ll see more and more creative gluten-free brews. 
I also chose to sample some cider today. Like beer, cider is a fermented beverage and almost all ciders are gluten free. Today I chose to sample Doc’s Pear Hard Cider and what is regarded as perhaps the best cider you can get, JK’s Scrumpy Solstice Cider. These ciders are very wine-like in their texture and flavor, but also very beer-like in their fermentation. These two ciders are also available in PA ad simply taste great! To make things even more interesting, we blended some Sorghum Beer and some cider to make a really unique blend. It reminded me of the Apfelweizen brews of Germany where a simple wheat beer is mixed with apple cider to make a refreshing summer beer.
If you’re in the gluten-free world or even if you’re not, be sure to try out these beverages and the various combinations you can blend. Be sure to also read carefully if you are gluten-intolerant. There are all sorts of claims out there, but be sure to choose beverages like the three I chose today that are Gluten-free certified….and finally…
I know we’re a beer show, and these are technically not traditional beers…but as I always ask of you every week on the Friday BeerBuzz….keep an open mind and try them for yourself.
Thanks
to Joe, LA Tarone, Karel & Bosco for yet another fun Friday.
The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together.
As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE
Interesting show. I know it's not easy finding a great gluten-free beer, but I have three friends with Celiac that now love you. Where can we find these beers?
ReplyDeleteRyan W
Thanks Ryan. I think we found some good choices but it is still not an easy find. I think Gluen-Free beer will get better so stay tuned. All three of these beers come out of Shangy's and I found them locally at Sabatinis. I also checked and Georgetown Deli has a great selection of ciders & gluten-free options.
ReplyDeleteNice show guys. I think you've all done a great job without Nancy Webster.
ReplyDeleteJJ
Probably not a beer I'll be chasing down (I'm not gluten free) but I commend you guys for putting that sort of information out there for those that are celiacs.
ReplyDeleteRock the boat! Very funny.
ReplyDeleteArt
I agree with Art on the music. You guys manage to always make the show fun and the music is a big part of that. Who thought to use Bugs Bunny>??? Great choice from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI've tasted Redbridge and it's awful.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Thanks everyone...and for those unfamiliar..Redbridge is Anhueser Busch's Gluten-free beer. I haven't sampled it myself, but our beer of the day today has been rated considerably higher by the gluten free convention & CAMRA members. These are not traditional beers so if you're expecting that, you will likely be dissapointed....BUT these are great choices whether you are gluten-tollerant or not. The JK's Scrumpy Solstice is a great and east drinking beverage so be sure ot try them.
ReplyDeleteBugs Bunny! That's right I forgot who did that music.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of cider but my friends love Scrumpys.
ReplyDeleteFor those skeptics out there, the ciders are good and they're easy to find at bars and bottle shops. We just bought some Woodchuck cider at Krugels last week and my wife loves it.
ReplyDeleteMartin
I give the Scrumpys an A, the pear cider a C and the St Peter's an incomplete (until I try it). Tough topic for a beer show, but I think it was a great idea whoever thought of it. I have family members with Celiac's Disease and I plan to tell them. They always struggle to find food and drink when they are out.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Tom
Thanks Tom. I think if you are gluten-intollerant, the grades for these brews probably go a little higher. As I mentione don the show I think it will be easier and easier to find G-free choices, in fact I know Sabatini's is adding a Gluten-free pizza crust so hang in there G-free people. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe get woodchuck on tap at Zi's pub @ Januzzi's pizza and I love it.
ReplyDeleteNice show.
ReplyDeleteNot a lot of great choices in zero gluten beers so I'd like to try this one.
ReplyDeleteI think the ciders are under rated. We used to buy strongbow in the UK and loved it.
ReplyDeleteSam (Olyphant)
I really don't like these G beers or ciders so for a beer show it was a surprising choice. Sorry
ReplyDeleteNo need to say Sorry Anon. Not every beer is for everyone. We've had lot sof requests for a gluten-free show and even though we are a "beer" show, I don't want to deny our glute-bree brothers and sisters an opportunity to find a beverage they can enjoy. As a vegetarian I can appreciate the struggle so I wanted to help and I think we did.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the buzz. I think you can make the argument for many brews that are not technically beer but we still drink and enjoy them. I think it's a good idea to show off gluten-free beers and shine a little light on Celiac's Disease. I give you guys credit for taking it on and it was a good show.
ReplyDeleteJason
My brother has Celiac's disease and had to give up beer. I just sent him the show link and if you heard how excited he was to check these out, you'd know how good the show was. He was a beer drinker for many years and had never heard of gluten-free beer and didn't realize ciders were ok too. A wonderful public service on the friday beer buzz. Thank you from my brother (and me)
ReplyDeleteJake (and John)
Thanks guys. Even if we help one or two people AND have some fun on the show, I think it is a good thing. Jake & John please DO report back on your experience with these beverages.
ReplyDeleteI think if people are expecting G-free beers to compete with the likes of SIerra Nevada or Dogfish, then they are probably going to be dissapointed. But if given the choice, I think these are great choices and I love scrumpys cider.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Can't wait to check out the video to see LA Tarone's face when he drinks cider.
ReplyDeleteThere will be a little delay but the video should be up by lunch....and yes LA did make a yuk face for one of the ciders. Gluten free or otherwise, I really don't expect everyone to love every beer...in fact I'm dissapointed when they do. As long as people keep an open mind and try the beer I'm happy regardless of what they think.
ReplyDeleteSorghum just sounds awful and I don't like apples so I guess it's a good thing I don't have to drink them.
ReplyDeleteTo each his/her own Anon....but at least keep an open mind. I'm no big fan of apples and I like the JK's Scrumpy a lot....and who knows what Sorghum tastes like anyway...in the end if you are Gluten-intollerant these are options. Not everyone will love them.
ReplyDeleteI think people are missing the point. To be gluten-free is not an easy thing. I applaud you guys for showing off some possible choices that a gluten-intellerant person can try. Not everyone will love them but I think it was a great idea to feature on the show. I've always thought you guys were more than just good looks and great beers. :)
ReplyDeleteChris (Dallas, PA)
Very educational. I always learn something on the buzz.
ReplyDeleteThank you...and DO stay tuned. I do expect we'll eventually see other Gluten-free beers like stouts and barrel-aged brews.
ReplyDeleteAs someone with Celiac's Disease, I can tell you it can be no fun. I can't drink most spirits, most beers and I don't like wine. Personally I think it was a great show and I can;t wait to watch it back. I know it's probably a risk to do this on a beer show, but I thank you. I never thought about ciders and never knew of anything beyond Redbridge so this is good news for me. I'll check them out this weekend for sure and let you know. Even if I don;t like them I do appreciate you taking the time and risk to do a Gluten-free show. Big G Kudos!
ReplyDeleteJared
Thanks Jared. I think we pushed the edges of "beer" today, but I LIKE pushing the edges so it's no big deal. We've had lots of requests to do a Gluten-free show so I'm happy to oblige and even happier to see how many people weren't aware of their options. Good news for everyone I think. Cheers!
ReplyDelete