Glutenberg.... Not Steve

Canada gave birth to some of my most favorite things; Hockey, Lost Girl, and now my go to Gluten Free beer, Glutenberg!  Glutenberg's popularity was instantaneous in Quebec, right from the beginning of Brasseurs Sans Gluten brewery's operations in July of 2011. The launch of the Glutenberg Red and the Glutenberg American Pale Ale in December of 2011 largely contributed to its fast-growing success. May 2012 marked a major milestone in the history of the young company, when BSG made it big at an event held in San Diego, United States. The brewery won the gold, silver and bronze awards in the “Gluten-free beer category” at the World Beer Cup. A first in the history of the brewing industry’s most important competition in the world.

Instead of traditional ingredients such as barley malt or wheat malt, Glutenberg beers use millet, a grass found in large quantities in Africa and Asia. It is a frequent ingredient in African beers, as is sorghum which most gluten-free beers use as the main malt.

The thing that sets Glutenberg beers apart from many gluten-free beer options is they don't try to hide the non-traditional flavors that millet has compared to traditional beer malts. Instead, the beers are brewed to maximize the flavor in the best way possible. Many other gluten-free beers use fruit and spices to try to disguise the off-flavors.

Red Ale

Their Red Ale (which really isn't red at all) won the gold award at the 2012 World Beer Cup. When poured into the glass has a rather dark appearance with a thick frothy head and complex aroma. It had flavors of caramel with just a hint of bitterness in the finish. This beer is brewed with roasted chestnuts which gives it a unique aromatic personality. Their Red Ale has a 5% APV and is made with buckwheat, millet, molasses, chestnuts, candy syrup, quinoa, hops, yeast. The nose smells of roasted nuts, coffee and caramel and tastes of coffee and hazelnuts. I wouldn't normally go for this type of beer since it has a heavier flavor. I much rather a pale ale but overall not bad.... not bad at all....