Bernard Gluten Free Pilsner

Bernard Pilsner

 

Bernard Brewery a little known Cezk brewer fastley becoming more renowned in the UK thanks to the Tap Brewery. Tap Brewery  is one of the only bar chains to supply said Pilsner in the UK. Recently while working for one of the Tap bars , they started stocking gluten free Bernard Pilsner.  As far as i know Tap bars may be the only provider as of this post in the UK. 

The beer is remarkable example of how to take its gluten counterpart and copy the flavor so remarkable that you may have to double check the bottle for the gluten free symbol. I say this because gluten free lager above all other types of beer really does struggle to capture the same flavor and the same refreshing taste of its gluten based counterparts. Happily Bernard gluten free pilsner does taste like a good lager its sharp intial bitter taste is what you would expect from a Cezk brewed pilsner. Overall very drinkable and the value is hard to beat as  gluten free beers go in bars. 

I really do hope this beer grabs a bigger hold in the gluten free market because it leaps and bounds above its competition. 

Alc: 4.7

  

Ingredients: water, barely malts, hop products. Gluten content max. 20 mg/kg.

My rating: 8/10 

Brewdog Prototype Vagabond Pale Ale

Vagabond Pale Ale

Brewdog may not need any introduction with multiple bars and renowned beers. Brewdog have bars all over the UK and create headlines thanks to their controversial rise to fame and renowned Punk IPA that can be found in supermarkets and many other outlets. More importantly they are one of the newest gluten free beer makers to grace the market.

Its an impressive debut to be sure, enjoyable to drink with a hoppy floral initial taste. The two hops Amarillo  and Centennial really do give it nice hoppy flavor that really give this beer character. Overall Vagabond carry's a nice aroma and fantastic taste, the beer is a great example of tasty pale ale with a bitter kick on the after taste. 

This beer is also the first gluten free beer ive seen on keg! imagine that ordering a pint of gluten free beer! 

While i may be gushing slightly it has to be said the bottled beer for me tasted better then its keg counter part. £4.90 was the price of a pint in Brewdog London (Camden)  which seemed reasonable i just wish it had matched up the bottle i had a few weeks earlier.

 

Alc:4.5

Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast

My rating: 8/10

St Peters G-Free Beer

St Peters Gluten Free Pilsner

 

St. Peter’s Brewery is based at St. Peter South Elmham, near Bungay in Suffolk. Locally malted barley is used, together with Kentish hop among others. 

Is stumbled upon this beer in a Co-op down near Ipswich, i cant recall seeing it any shops in the north of England.  

The smell is rather a herbal aroma, most likely due to the hops used (Amarillo hops) .The initial flavor is rather sharp, similar to that of Mongozo or Greens own pilsner. Despite the interesting start and slight bitter after taste the beer is not a great lager/pilsner its watery and lacking in note worthy flavor. There is an after taste that i cant explain that well, i just know its not that pleasant.

The beer says on the back its an ale with a lager finish, i don't mean to be harsh but it fails at being either. Its not the worst beer Ive tasted but its not the best by a long way either.

Alc: 4.2

Ingredients: TBC

My score: 3/10

Daura Damm

Daura Damm - Gluten free lager 

Daura Damm a Spanish lager you can find in most supermarkets around the UK, else where I am not too sure, it will certainly be available in Spain though, that's a given.

From 2008 onwards it won multiple awards, most recently the “Superior taste” award at the International Taste & Quality Institute in Brussels, I have to wonder then whether in the past and most recently whether Ive just been unlucky in my tasting of this lager. 

Opening the bottle i was suprised to be greeted by a floral yet familiar lager smell, only for a few seconds later to be left with little to entice the nostrils. Taste wise there is little to comment on, the flavor is like a weaker Budweiser, no offense to Budweiser Ive just always felt it was an easy beer to drink. This however is just flat, flat in flavor and almost completely flat after only a few minutes of pouring.

In my opinion its a bit of a disappointment considering its many accolades, the beer would be a bit more enticing to buy if it was a little cheaper, however like many gluten free beers its pricey for what it is. It would be a nice accompaniment to a football game and a Chinese takeaway in my opinion. Overall okay if you fancy just a lager, but its worth noting this isn't the only option for celiac's.

Alc: 5.4

Ingredients: Water,Barley Malt, Rice, Hops. 

My rating : 4/10

Omission IPA

Omission IPA

 

What a find this little beauty was. While walking round the busy streets of Dublin i stumbled across a bar called Against the Grain. A lovley bar that had at least 4 gluten free beers in their fridges. Not to mention a wide selection of world beer on keg and in fridge. So i picked this little number up. Omission is a USA based brewer thats dedicated to making gluten free beers for coeliacs :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXzEFNfGA18#t=100

So the actual taste of the beer, Very hoppy with fruity tones running through out,overall an enjoyable beer. As an example of American beers its not bad, that is to say I expect it to be very hoppy with a nice kick, while this beer has that its a too much initally and then not much after. The aroma was pleasant but something about the taste just didn't blow me away i found it a little harsh. While i read on the website they describe it as smooth im not sure that , id say that its a kind of hit face beer lots of hops and flavour but hard to break down everything.  Still this is a another good example of a sit and watch the day go by beer, If a little too hoppy and heavy handed for my personal taste. 

Alc:6.7

Ingredients: Couldnt Find them im afraid and the bar wouldn't let me take the bottle :(

My rating: 7/10

Greens Discovery

Discovery Premium Ale

Discovery is the first beer that Greens Brewery ever produced. It Is a beer i would refer to as a, watch the world go by beer. Its strong at 6% and carries hints of caramel and hoppy notes run throughout. lingering bitter/savory qualities remain after the first and last sip. This is a stand out example of a good well bodied ale that really does taste and feel the part. In comparison to some Gluten based beers such as Open Bloot from De Molen and Orval its lacking a little something. Maybe more hops or abv would just nock it up a notch, im not a brewer so i don't know what you would have to do, what i do know for sure though is this beer is class .

Alc: 6%

Ingredients: Water, Millet, Sorghum, Buckwheat, Hops and non GMO yeast 

My rating: 9/10

Greens IPA

Greens Indian Pale Ale

 

Greens IPA, I nice medium bodied IPA that's not overly strong or demonstrably bitter. Two things i expect in a quality IPA 6-8% alc and a nice bitter after taste. While this IPA isn't going to knock you off your bar stool its still a beer that's enjoyable to drink from start to finish. Greeting you with a pleasant flowery aroma with a hoppy tone, it then carries over to the pleasant sweetness of the initial taste, followed by a nice bitter malty lingering after taste that leaves an almost Moorish flavour in your pallet. 

Alc: 5%

Indgredients: Water, Millet, Sorghum, Buckwheat, Hops, and non GMO yeast.

My rating: 8/10