Did you know that one percent of Americans are gluten-intolerant? The good news is that there are more options now for gluten-free products than ever before, including gluten-free beer! In these beverages, barley malt is substituted for traditional ingredients like wheat, barley and rye. In the past, “good taste” may not have exactly been at the forefront of the limited selection of gluten-free beer. Times have changed, however, and the following are some examples of exemplary brands:
The Daura from Estrella Damm [shown above] is a great gluten-free import from Spain. It has a thick, foamy white head and a clear, golden appearance. The aroma is of sweet pale lager and the flavor is the same, with a touch of hops. The Daura finishes crisp, clean and highly drinkable. I think it’s excellent! In 2011, Daura won a Gold Medal at the World Beer Championships, a Gold Medal at the International Beer Challenge and the World’s Best Gluten-free Lager Award at the World Beer Awards.
I’ve previewed the folks at Dogfish Head Brewery on my site before. This funky craft brewery is known for their “mad scientist” ways of combining seemingly incompatible ingredients to make delicious beers…especially those with fruit! Rather than trying to replicate the taste of regular beer, Tweason’ale combines hints of molasses and pit-fruit, balanced with seasonal strawberries and malty buckwheat honey. This results in a lip-smacking spinoff of the sweet and sour lambic-style. Pair this for nearly any occasion!
Ciders are also making quite the comeback, and are a safe play as well. Hard cider has moved beyond specialty beer and liquor stores and established itself on the supermarket shelves as a new drink category. Made from a base of 100% pure, locally acquired apple juice, Ace Perry Cider adds in fresh, natural pear juice for a delicious difference. To learn more about this distinctive line, click here…
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