brew summary

Okay, hopefully I can get this summary out with a fat cat sitting on my arm here. But I have now tried EVERY gluten free beer on the market in the US. So without further ado, drumroll please.

(*crash* *crash*)

Ramapo Valley Honey Passover. This was my first gluten free beer. I was disappointed when I first tried it because it was so NOT like beer was (or how I remembered it). But the low carbonination was nice, and the sweetness was a nice desert. This is the most expensive beer on the market, and as much as it pains me, I wouldn't recommend it.

Bards Tale. This beer was the second beer I tried. You really can't compare Bards Tale to the Honey Passover beer. Bards is much cheaper, and tastes a lot like an original Sam Adams. Start drinking one of these and you start to belch like Barney. After having the Bards Tale, I couldn't go back to the Honey Passover.

New Grist. I noticed this at Henry's in San Diego when I was there in December. It looks a lot like Bards Tale (maybe a bit paler), but there was something that was off when I tried it. Pouring it in a glass mellowed out the funny residual taste I was getting. Don't get as much of a beer belch with New Grist, but being about a dollar and change cheaper than Bards Tale, this is an acceptable substitute.

Redbridge. Similar to New Grist in that you need to pour it in a glass or mug. It's about the same price as New Grist. The color's a bit deeper than Bards Tale or New Grist. No beer belching here though, probably because the carbonation isn't as strong as the Bards Tale. Which in front of my parents and grandmother, that's probably a good thing.

---

Summary: Everyone's tastes are different. I just reported on what my experience was like for all the different gluten free beers available in the US. When it's home time, and want a beer after work, I'll probably save a couple bucks and buy Redbridge. When I go to the lake or camping, I will bring along Bards Tale. Much easier to drink from the bottle in a camping situtation and not fussing with a pour glass.

yeah Redbridge

Figured I'd celebrate me getting a job today by looking for Redbridge.

Boyfriend and I stopped at AJ's last week on our way to Prescott Valley and asked the liquor guy about it. He admitted that he hadn't heard of it before, but the rep was coming to visit that afternoon and he'd ask then. He then sold me on a Japanese rice pale ale (and a case of Bard's Tale).

Stopped by today, and he was there working. He didn't remember me at first, but when I asked "Do you have Redbridge?" the light bulb flashed on, and he remembered me.

"Yeah, we still have it in the back. How much do you want?"

I decided on only a 6 pack in case I don't like it. At $8/six pack, it's the one of the cheapest gluten free beer out there. What's nice is that when the liquor guy at AJ's has to go get it in the back, it comes out cold.

So I opened a bottle this evening. It's a twist off top, which is a first besides the passover beer. Very nice. Makes it a lot easier to make a magnet from the bottle top.

I tried it from the bottle, but wasn't enjoying it a lot. So I poured it into a beer mug (not chilled). It allows me to measure the color. I wouldn't call it red, but it's a pleasant color that is slightly darker than Bard's Tale or New Grist.

From the mug, it's a very drinkable ale. I even poured a second one with dinner. What else should you have with brauts?

I'll work on a beer summary tonight. In the meanwhile, I put a couple beer mugs in the freezer.