Gutenberg American Pale Ale

I'm still trying to wrap my head around gluten-free beers. In the service of that endeavor, I decided to drink a can of Gutenberg American Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV.

Clear, amber-toned, slim white head.

Lightly hoppy, mildly fruity....nice.

In the mouth: Huh. I still don't know how to judge these. It lacks so much in what I'd want from a pale ale, but how does it succeed as a gluten-reduced pale ale? I'm really missing a lot in what I expect out of beer, in terms of flavor. Whatever replaced the malt, it's not doing it for me.

But what if I had to drink this beer? Would I be somewhat satisfied, because I had no choice? It's a little off, a bit weird, but does it have to be?

There's some malty-ish sweetness, but I'm not sure where it comes from.

I'm not mad at it. I can drink it just fine, but it's not really an American Pale Ale, sure as heck doesn't taste like one. Well, if I had to drink this in order to drink a beer, I wouldn't hate it.

Stone Delicious IPA

Stone Delicious IPA. India Pale Ale, lemondrop and el dorado hops. Bottled on 2/04/16.
7.7% ABV. 70 IBU.

Clear, bright golden hued, huge white head, drifting down slowly, leaving lace.

Beautiful citric notes in the aroma, lemon and grapefruit, orange peel and lime. Gorgeous.

In the mouth: more of that, in liquid form. Bold, brash, vibrant, and full of hop bitterness. Lean-bodied, but not necessarily thin. Finishing dryly. Not bad. Maybe now I know what a good gluten-free, or -reduced beer can taste like. But, I think I'm missing my gluten.
 Lordy, I love that gluten, mmm-hmm.

Burning Brothers Pyro American Pale Ale

Burning Brothers Pyro American Pale Ale, Naturally Gluten Free. Brewed and canned by Burning Brothers Brewing, St. Paul, MN. “Don’t Fear the Beer!” the can tells us.

Clear and golden-hued, with a short-lived white head.

Lightly hoppy nose, small citrus. Little lemon.

In the mouth, it’s got a bite. Sharp and crisp at the fore, clean and lean-bodied. Drinkable, but not especially pleasant. I must admit that I’m not well-versed in gluten-free beers, and I can’t tell how much beer-y flavors I should expect out of it, or how far this veers from how good a gf beer can be. I also have to admit that I heard bad things about it initially, and good things recently, but those were from he who gave me this sample.

This doesn’t taste like a true APA should, certainly not a good one. For a brew that by it’s very nature must miss the things I like most in a beer, it doesn’t taste terrible. If I became gluten-intolerant, I could tolerate it.

Time to share the gobbledygook: “Pyro Pale Ale centers on drinkability though a balanced American hop profile. Combined with gluten-free grains and yeast, this beer is an American revolution in brewing. No gluten in means no gluten out. There is no reason to “Fear this beer.”

I may have to try a few other GF beers to compare it against, but all in all, not bad.

Green's Gluten Free Tripel Blonde Ale

Gluten Free Greens' Tripel Blonde ale, "all Natural Quest", ale made from millet, buckwheat, rice & sorghum. Product of Belgium, 1 Pint, o.9 FL. Oz./500 Ml. Green's ales are brewed and bottled by De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi, Gent, Belgium.
Green's ales DO NOT contain any of the following: Wheat and / or barley, Crustaceans, Eggs, Fish, Peanuts, Soya beans, milk, lactose, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide, and Sulfites.
Best before: 05/08/15
Bottle re-fermented, 8.5% ALC/VOL.

I don't know if I've ever had a gluten free beer. Wait. Yes, One. Didn't feel the need to try any others since. But, here's an intriguing sample, with the added promise of NO crustaceans, celery, or peanuts!

Clear, golden color, gigantic crystalline head, leaving lace, a perfect snowy white.

Aroma: slightly acidic, sharp lemony flavors, hot, peppery spice. Very much like a triple.

Taste: Very light bodied, with a spicy, citric edge. A large spicy, citric edge, too big for it's featherweight frame. Not giving me much of what I'd like here, much too rough, could be softer, smoother, needs something to temper this raw alcoholic, hot and overly acidic flavor. It becomes nothing but lemon in the end, and that's not too pleasant, my friends.

I'm glad something like this exists for those who suffers from allergies and aversions, but I wish it would taste a lot better than this.