Show 28: Suddenly Sorghum
Prebeer Preamble: People who grapple with an auto-immune disorder called celiac disease put their health at risk every time they drink a beer. A chemical in wheat and barley—known as “gluten”—causes their body to attack its own small intestine. Yikes! What’s a poor celiac sufferer to do, give up beer entirely? Heck no! Just take a listen to this show and find out about beer anyone can enjoy with impunity.
Beer #1: I’m joined by my old friend, Kristi, who happens to be both a beer enthusiast and a celiac sufferer. We first try Bard’s Tale Dragon’s Gold, an all-sorghum beer brewed by a small craft brewery founded by celiacs. The goal is to squeeze quality and flavor into a beverage that makes going gluten-free a choice, not a sacrifice. Were they succesful?
Interbeer Interlude: Microbrewed. “RFD, Part 2″ Phil Rossi, Tee Morris, and their pals in D.C. drop by to keep this show from becoming a “very special episode.” Their beercast-within-a-beercast continues their night out at a Washington watering hole with a massive selection. Which beer scores a “Charlie”, and which a “Joe”? Tune in and see! (part 2 of 3)
Beer #2: Kristi and I now sample Redbridge Beer from our good friends at Anheuser-Busch. When a macro gets into the gluten-free thing, you know it’s big. Do adjuncts and excessive carbonation make for a quality drinking experience? Ever?
Beer Geek Moment: “Indigenous Beers.” Beers made from grains other than wheat and barley have been around for millenia. In today’s Moment, we look at a handful of these beverages and marvel at human creativity in turning everything from corn to tapioca into good time at the local watering hole.
Postbeer Postscript: Kristi and I score up the gluten-free bevvies, and the result is the greatest point disparity in the history of the show. Does a fist-fight break out, or does the eerie SoB serenity carry the day? Yup, you need to listen to find out!
April 26th, 2007 at 10:07 am
A beer loving pal of mine has been told he may have celiac disease. Very sad. Sorghum beers clearly have a market, then, from him alone.
The question is, are beers with only small quantities of malt extract safe in smaller quantities? Many people consider
Nigerian Guinness (reviewed by me on my blog here)Nigerian Guinness, a fine beer, to be safe for those with the disease, for example. Others aren’t so sure.
I’ve got wind that one very well respected British microbrewery - that exports much of its beer to the US - is working on a sorghum beer at the moment.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:30 am
You forgot to include the FIRST gluten-free beer allowed to be called beer: New Grist from Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee
A gold medal winner at the 2006 GABF, Experimental Category against 37 other “regular” beers.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Thanks for pointing that out, Orlando. I had New Grist listed as the “alternatives” for the show beers in the previous “Beers to Find” post, but it wasn’t mentioned by name on the show. I have some in my fridge, as it turns out, and I like it better than both of the beers sampled on the show. It’s still not my cup of tea (”mug of beer”?), but it had the “crispness” that I wasn’t able to find in the others.
April 29th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Another story on the topic.
http://www.brookston.org/beer/sprecher-remakes-shakparo-gluten-free/
May 1st, 2007 at 6:58 pm
After hearing Charlie’s review of the brews I was kinda glad I wasn’t able to find either of the featured beers. Instead I enjoyed a nice Alaskan IPA and grinned listening to Charlie trying to be polite. We all know he wanted to spit that fizzy stuff out, yell yech and then rinse his mouth out with a good stout. Great self control.
August 19th, 2007 at 7:28 am
I’ve had the British beer mentioned above–Toleration, from Nick Stafford’s Hambleton Ales–and it’s as good as any of the others mentioned. Also had Ramapo Valley’s Passover beer, which is better than all, but still not great. But Sprecher just released two African-style beers that are gluten-free and are amazing! If you’re looking for gluten-free beer, go to Sprecher for your answer!
December 14th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Thank you for a delightful taste treat. My cousin in Utah found Dragon’s Gold Beer for me as I consume very little wheat. I am going to see if it is offered in any of the liquor stores in BC, Canada.