I have to admit I’ve had this fear someday I might have to switch to a gluten-free diet. While for the most part I try to cut out a lot of gluten with my food choices, I couldn’t imagine living in a world where I couldn’t partake in my favorite drink.

I’ve talked to many people that for one reason or another have had to cut out gluten from their diets. If they were fans of beer they had 3 options.

The first is to stop drinking beer altogether. Next they could continue drinking good beer, yet they’d suffer the consequences of there actions which could take shape in many forms depending on their condition. The final option would be to drink crappy gluten-free beer.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the attempts to make beer for people on gluten-free diets, however lets all agree that they don’t taste all that great.

Most gluten-free beers are made with some sort of substitute for barley such as sorghum, millet, or buckwheat.

The 4 main ingredients in beer is water, barley, hops and yeast. When you take 1 out and replace it with a knock off, it just isn’t quite the same. It’s like if the band U2 where to replace Bono with Chaz Bono (Sonny and Cher’s son). While it might sound like music, it wouldn’t be quite the same.

These gluten-free beers just didn’t cut it. However the times are changing and the beer industry is starting to see some pretty amazing innovations over the past few years.

Widmer Brewing Company here in Portland, OR has been working on a project that they just released this year called Omission.

It’s the first line of gluten-free beers that I’ve tried that are actually made with malted barley. They however have developed a way to remove the gluten from the malted barley, which creates beers that don’t suck.

Here is a video they created that explains how it came about and how they test their beer.

They were kind enough to send me some samples, and I’ll be honest, they are awesome for gluten-free beers. Below are my quick reviews of their Pale Ale and Lager.

The biggest downfall right now is that they are only available in Oregon (sorry rest of the country). If however you love beer and can’t handle gluten, find a way to come to Portland and smuggle it home, it’s worth it if you’re stuck drinking Red Bridge.

Omission Gluten-Free Pale Ale

The pale ale poured a reddish copper color that had lots of visible carbonation. There is a little white head on the top that quickly left. It has the smell of a traditional pale ale which got me really excited to taste it. Some slight carmel malts which break way to a florally hop aroma.

I’ve tried multiple gluten free beers in the past and have yet to drink one that I’d ever want to drink again… until now. Wow, this is a great easy drinking pale ale. Carmel notes follow the nose and it’s very hop forward with some nice citrus, grassiness, and floral flavors breaking through.

While compared to other pale ales it doesn’t strike me as the greatest pale ale in the world, however compared to other gluten free beers on the market, Omission Pale Ale stands alone at the top.

No other gluten free beer tastes so much like, well… beer.

My Omission Gluten-Free Pale Ale Review: B (Compared to other gluten free beers it gets an A+)

Here are the details:

ABV: 5.8%
IBUs: 33
Style: American Pale Ale

Omission Gluten-Free Lager

The lager poured a very clean golden yellow color  with some slightly noticeable carbonation and a small layer of white head that didn’t last long. The nose is very light with some grainy bread-like aromas being the main focus with some florally hops present.

I’m pretty impressed with the way the flavor hits the lager style pretty accurately even though it’s gluten free. Its slightly sweet carmel malt duals it out with some light citrusy hops.

This is an incredibly refreshing and easy beer to drink that would turn any macro beer drinker into a fan. The subtle complexities of this beer makes it much more enjoyable than the macro lagers as well.

Perfect for summer days or while watching a game.

My Omission Gluten-Free Lager Review: B+ (Compared to other gluten free beers it gets an A+)

Here are the details:

ABV: 4.6%
IBUs: 20
Style: Lager

If you live in Oregon or near by, give both of these a try, even if you aren’t on a gluten-free diet. Both would make great gifts to those friends in your life living with celiac or other related diseases.

Have you tried Omission beers? What do you think?

Tequila. Obviously 3 letters too long to be considered a four letter word, but I’m sure many of you will swear in consternation as images of frat parties or spring break are conjured up from the depths of long blocked out memories of this south of the border beverage.

Now there are those who believe the seemingly prevailing opinion that there are no truly good beers that come from the country that gave us Tequila, but that in no way means that beer and tequila cannot enjoy a relationship!

Now, with Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, many of you will be flocking to your local Mexican restaurant to enjoy whimsical sounds provided by Mariachi bands, or simply to have a Margarita made in your mouth, depending on what your idea of fun is!

In the state of Puebla in Mexico, this day is celebrated as the Mexican’s army unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence Day.

So, with the brief history lesson out of the way, it is time to Fiesta!

The beer cocktail I selected for this holiday did not actually call for Mexican beer. The beverage, known as Here Comes the Sun, was crafted by Mixologist Jill Schulster from New York.

Here are the important bits at the end of this beer business!

Cocktail:

1½ ounces Kah Blanco tequila (In a sweet Dia de los Muertos skull bottle!)
1 dash Angostura bitters
2½ ounces orange juice
2 teaspoons maraschino juice
1 bottle Double Take IPA (brewed in New York)

For the Cocktail:

In a shaker, combine the tequila, bitters, orange juice, and ice. Shake and strain into a pilsner glass filled with ice. Add maraschino juice, top with the beer, and put on your salsa dancing shoes!

The finished product was like an old familiar friend. It was akin to the classic Tequila Sunrise, yet rescued from your grandma’s cocktail recipe book and brought into the 21^st century. With the carbonation of the beer breathing new life into a familiar beverage, the fiesta was under way!

The herbaceous-ness of the Tequila combined with the hoppy-ness of the IPA is very present on the initial sip, like a flavor hammer hitting your taste buds! But don’t be a scared little piñata; the cavalry arrives in the form of the orange, and maraschino juices, mellowing out the beverage which culminates in a rich, complex blend of flavors to enjoy the holiday with!

Now most people know that if you’re going to shake your maracas with the best of them, you need to have something to soak up the good times with. Considering this beverage had its fair share of ingredients, I went with an incredibly simple snack to go with this cocktail.

Quesadillas are a simple, delicious way to go, especially with the right ingredients! Now I’m not gonna bag on you if you like yours with Kraft Singles and Spam, but give this recipe a shot and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

The ingredients are simple; tortillas, Monterrey jack cheese, and Al Pastor! Now, Al Pastor is spiced pork that can be found in the meat section of a Mexican grocery store; it is bright red in color due to the annatto paste marinade and is absolutely phenomenal on a quesadilla!

So, whether this holiday is culturally relevant to you or you simply enjoy the drink, the food, and the celebrations of our southern neighbors; enjoy this cocktail that blends Mexican influence with American craft beer as you imbibe this Cinco de Mayo!

From time to time I get sent products in the mail from companies starting out with beer related products. Some make little sense while others I’d actually buy.

Recently I was sent a gift pack from Swag Brewery, a company that makes no beer, but instead makes some pretty cool beer related gifts, apparel and swag.

I’ll admit that a lot of beer related t-shirts are plain cheesy and poorly created, or they focus on large breweries which leaves us craft beer fans dressed in crappy beer festival t-shirts, or we just say screw it and forget the beer clothes (which is how I roll).

Swag however has some pretty cool shirts that even I would wear. From shirts with a message such as “Save Water, Drink Beer” and “Think Globally, Drink Locally” to a basic “Water, Malt, Hops, Yeast”, there are some pretty good designs for both men and women.

Other than the clothing they have a line of craft beer soap which is perfect if you want to smell like beer 24/7 even when you can’t drink it (ok, it really doesn’t make you smell like beer, but it still smells good). I got a bar of the Summit Oatmeal Stout and have to admit I want to eat it.

The most interesting product they sell in my opinion is the hop candy.

While probably something I wouldn’t want to eat all the time, it is definitely a unique experience as they come in multiple hop varieties. And yes, they taste just like sweet hops. It might be fun to play name that hop with your beer nerd friends.

If you’re shopping for a gift for the beer nerds in your life, check them out. They have some pretty cool stuff going on over there.

Thanks again to the guys at Swag Brewery for sending me the short, soap, and hop candy.

New Belgium Dig

Oh the joys of mid-April. The stress of taxes have left many people reaching for a beer (ok, maybe something a little harder depending on your situation) to help take the edge off.

Luckily for my wife and I we didn’t have to pay as much as we were expecting which is definitely a reason to celebrate with none other than beer. Since she is pregnant with our second daughter, it ended up being just me celebrating with the good stuff.

One beer I grabbed as I was doing my “taxes are in” dance was a New Belgium Dig, which is New Belgium Brewing’s new spring seasonal that they just released in January.

Dig is an American Pale Ale brewed with Sorachi Ace, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade, and Centennial hops with a slightly bitter 36 IBU’s and packing an easy drinking 5.6% ABV.

Dig poured a fairly clear copper color with lots of carbonation bubbles racing towards the top of the glass were they were met with about a finger of lightly tan head. The head stuck around awhile and left some nice lacing on the side of the glass.

The aroma was very mild with malt being the center of attention with some side shows of lemon, mango and other tropical fruits quietly making their presence known. I really had to dig my nose in it to detect much smell however.

With such a weak aroma I was pretty surprised at how much flavor Dig had, and it was delicious. The somewhat sweet malt flavor quickly turns over to a more biscuity malt with a touch of carmel before laying down the red carpet for the hoppy goodness that follows.

The hops in this bad boy are well balanced and a heck of a lot more interesting than a Kelly Clarkson concert. Citrus dominates the flavor with some sweet tropical fruits of mango, peach, and passion fruit weaved into the taste in a way that makes me want to be sitting on a beach watching the waves roll in.

Overall this is one of my favorite beers I’ve had from New Belgium. While the aroma was the only downfall, it has a lot of character that is sure to make make any tax day more enjoyable.

My New Belgium Dig Review: B+

Here are the details:

ABV: 5.6%
IBUs: 36
Style: American Pale Ale

What’s your thoughts on New Belgium Dig?

If you were to follow the timeline of beer, one would at the same time see the progress of humanity. Beer has quenched the thirst of countless individuals since antiquity, lubricating society as it has pushed forward to leave their mark in the annals of history.

Within the earliest accounts of civilizations around the globe, beer or beer like libations can be found in most early cultures. A gift from the gods in some cultures, a healing potion in others, the brew has been wetting the whistles of just about everyone from the pharaohs all the way down to the peasants for many millennia.

Throughout history, the consumption of beer and the ritual surrounding it has taken many forms. The Egyptians drank beer from a large vessel with long straws made of reeds, the Germans passed laws stating that a lid must adorn their steins to keep flies from falling in them during the bubonic plague, beer bongs offered up a quick delivery system, and beer pong made a sporting event out of imbibing and brought “exercise” to the “table” as it were.

It has been said that Henry Weinhardt himself lobbied to have beer pumped into a fountain in downtown Portland Oregon at one point, but was vetoed by a fire chief who knew that folks would merely poke holes in the fire hoses that were piping it in instead of making the journey to where the fountain was.

Bottom line is that consuming beer, or the ritual of consuming beer, has taken many forms throughout the ages; so hold on to your tankards and adjust your beer goggles because it’s about to get a little…different.

Now, I’d be lying if I said that I have never had a beer in the shower. We all know that rack that hangs from the shower head is just as good of a cup holder as the one in your Camaro or Prius or whatever it is that you happen to drive.

But this is entirely different.

Welcome to the Czech Republic, home of the beer bath. Yes, beer bath. Tubs with taps at the end that allow the potential bather to fill up their tub and fill up their mug at the same time. The beer for bathing is approximately 37° C (98.6° F) so you’re not exactly freezing in ice cold brew during this unique experience.

Now it’s not that far of a stretch that this form of ablution would come from a society that every year achieves the highest per capita beer consumption, consuming approximately 338 pints per EVERY Czech citizen!

This bathing experience is in full swing and has become a trend in the Czech Republic since mid 2006 when the Chodovar brewery opened the countries first beer bath.

Many may read about this and think, “Why waste good beer?!” But a quick visit to PragueTouristGuide.com reveals that there may be curative bi-products to bathing with suds. The site touts the benefits as, “successful treatment of psoriasis, cellulitis, and acne. Outstanding anti-stress treatment. Support of skin regenerative capacity, overall modulation of dermatic problems and mental disharmonies, drop of blood pressure and improvement of circulation in the periphery.”

Beer contains a B complex that just happens to be very good for the skin. The beer baths at the Chodovar brewery also contain 50% mineral water, which is said to be good for the skin because of the high silica content which strengthens the spongy cells in between collagen and elastin fibers, and slows down the formation of wrinkles.

The site goes on to state that these tubs full of wonders to behold are not suitable for those with high blood pressure, after heart surgery folks, pregnant woman after their third month of pregnancy, or children below the age of 12; so use your better judgment before tapping a keg to fill up that inflatable kiddie pool that’s been collecting dust in the garage.

A quick search into beer baths on the web conjures up an interesting way to “cleanse” one’s self of the evil eye.

The evil eye, or Malochia as it is referred to, is passed to an individual when the person who is giving this glance of malice is jealous, envious, or possessive. Instances of Malochia have been deciphered in ancient texts of Babylonia and Egypt, so this concept has been around a long time. Although different cultures all call the evil eye something different, the end results are similar, and one must have a remedy against this insidious stare. Further research states that the most effective way to remedy the Malochia is to take a beer bath to remove the traces of it!

So whether you are jet-setting over to Prague to engage in a relatively new ritual of beer consumption, cleansing yourself of the evil eye, or burgling your kid’s inflatable pool to give this a shot, bathe responsibly!

So what do you think? Would you take a beer bath?

Ahoy Mateys! In my journey to find the most delicious beer cocktails, I have stumbled upon some real buried treasures in regard to beverages.

As I set sail (with all three sheets to the wind of course) to bring yet another delicious treat to the reader’s beer glass, I uncovered a drink that definitely deserves a place in the treasure chest!

Now plundering and pillaging is thirsty business and what better drink could a scallywag ask for than a tot of rum after a long day?

This decadent beer cocktail is comprised of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout with a shot of Pyrat XO Reserve, an ultra-premium dark rum that is worth every doubloon! A bottle of this rum also comes with a little extra booty in the form of a charm adorned with the image of Hoti, the Zen patron saint and protector of fortune tellers and bartenders!

The potent vanilla and cinnamon notes in the rum pair incredibly well with the rich chocolate of the stout, culminating in an enjoyable, aromatic cocktail that could easily satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.

Ye Intruders Beware! Contains

• 12 oz. Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
• 1 Shot of Pyrat XO Reserve dark rum

Pairing With Food

Now if you’re lost at sea in regard to what food to pair with this decadent cocktail, there is no need to pout in the corner with your eye patch and peg leg; so, stop swabbing the poop deck and listen up!

This simple treat is both sweety and meaty at the same time and goes by the name of candied bacon. By placing pepper bacon on a cookie sheet and burying this treasure in brown sugar and baking it in the oven at 325°, you end up with nature’s true perfect food coated with enough caramelized goodness to shiver anyone’s timbers!

In taking into account those who may prefer savory compliments with their sweet drinks, I also paired this beer cocktail with the old standby, bread and cheese. Armed to the teeth with a baguette and a wedge of Salemville Amish Blue Cheese, I partook in a savory combination that balanced out the sweetness of this cocktail very well. The bold, rich, toasty, nutty aroma of the chocolate stout as well as the strong vanilla notes wafting off of the Pyrat rum sliced through the boldness and the richness of the blue cheese causing a wonderful balance on both port and starboard side of this drinking excursion.

So scrape the barnacles off of your ship, hoist the colors, and set sail for the furthest corners of the map! And for all who try this cocktail, let me know if this X marks the spot for you!

Sun King Brewery Isis

I’ve been slowly crossing beers off my 50 beers from 50 states list, and am finally able to cross the state of Indiana off my list. While Indiana has some great breweries, I’ve had a tough time getting my hands on them…. until now.

Sun King Brewing, based out of Indianapolis, sent me some samples of their Wee Mac Brown, Osiris Pale Ale, Sunlight Creme Ale, and Isis double IPA (which I chose to review for my challenge).

Isis in a 16-ounce can, to my knowledge, is the first of this beer to be released outside of just draft. In fact their website still shows that it is a draft only specialty beer.

With 9% ABV and 91 IBUs, I was definitely excited to give it a try.

I decided to pour this double IPA into one of my Spiegelau beer glasses. It poured a somewhat dark amber/copper color that was very clean. Carbonation bubbles made their way up to the thick lightly tan head at the top of the glass. The head lasted awhile and left some nice lacing on the glass. It is definitely a beautiful beer to look at.

The aroma jumped out of the glass and gave me a nice little punch in the nose. As I shut my eyes I had the feeling I was standing in the middle of a hop field with a fresh beer in front of me. The citrus and piney hops make a grand entrance followed by some sweet candy, fruits and a touch of grass.

It got my mouth watering, that’s for sure.

Initially I was a bit unsure of the flavor. It’s definitely a battle of piney hops and sweet malt, where the hops end up winning. There is some bitterness, but not as much as most northwest double IPAs I’ve tried. In the mix a nice carmel and almost tropical fruit backbone hangs out giving this a pretty good flavor.

While not a super hoppy double IPA, Isis is definitely a great beer that most hop heads will appreciate to some extent. I’d for sure drink it again (and I will, they sent me 2 cans of it).

Thanks Sun King Brewery for the beer.

My Sun King Brewery Isis Review: B+

Here are the details:

ABV: 9%
IBUs: 91
Style: Double India Pale Ale

What’s your thoughts on Sun King Brewery’s Isis?

Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands.

Now I’m not talking about the type of vigilante justice found in many a Steven Seagal or Jeane Claude Van Damme films; I’m talking about shedding the doldrums of the winter months and forcing your mentality and imagination into a more exotic mindset.

Mother Nature does not always make this very easy. You want to go for a bike ride and it’s raining cats and dogs, or go for a swim but the pool is pretty much frozen solid, or you want to grill out with friends and drink some beers but El Nino saunters in with its Spanish flair and creates mucho problemas for your plans to do that.

It may not be time to turn on the A/C and fire up the grill, but that in no way means we can’t at least pretend that we’re on a sunny patio at our favorite Mexican restaurant, while our ears are serenaded by the delightful sound of the whirr and the purr of the blenders whipping together delicious potions to keep us cool in the hot sun.

With my thoughts lingering on shorts and flip-flops, I recalled a recipe a chica of mine told me about last summer. It is known as the “White Trash Margarita” and believe me; it tastes way better than it sounds.

This recipe is super easy to put together! In a pitcher, you mix one whole can (12 ounces) of limeade or pink lemonade concentrate, than use the can to add 12oz. of Sprite, 12oz. of Tequila, and yep, 12oz. of pilsner style beer. Stir it all up and it is ready to serve!

Admittedly, I was quite skeptical. The mixture of ingredients alone is enough to scare off those that are less adventurous. But powering through was well worth it, and in no time at all I was wasting away again in Margaritaville with a beverage that conjured up images of sandy beaches and ink soaked passports.

Not one to split up a perfect couple, I reached for the tortilla chips in an effort to help soak up the Lunazul Tequila and Pacifico cerveza-based beverage that was quickly being drained from my mason jar which I had press ganged into service as a glass.

And what is a bag of tortilla chips without some salsa? Recently at an outdoor market I picked up some hot mango salsa from Rio Verde Gourmet Products. The mango salsa had just the right amount of caliente to balance out the sweetness of the margarita.

So it may not be Cabo, it may not even be the patio at your favorite Mexican restaurant, but it is a great way to bring the tastes and the spirit of sunnier days into your casa!

If you’re like most self proclaimed beer nuts out there, I’m sure you own a whole plethora of bottle openers. Over the years I’ve collected (and broken) many bottle openers in all shapes and sizes.

Still, the Corona opener I got on my honeymoon in 2004 still reigned supreme in my cap popping activities. Not that I’m a fan of Corona (far from it), but I just liked that opener. It worked well for many years. However it did split reps with my reef sandals with the opener on the bottom which I wear pretty much every day of the summer.

Last week my precious tool finally died. In a battle with a bottle cap, the cap won and the opener ended up in pieces on the ground.

Luckily for me Mike over at TORQ Bottle Opener in Pearl City, Hawaii happened to send over one of his bottle openers and I quickly fell in love.

First off the TORQ bottle opener is a beast. Honestly I don’t see how this will ever break throughout my entire life. Aside from losing it, I think it could pretty much withstand everything from a fire to a zombie attack.

They offer 4 different versions:

• Parkerized Steel Allow (the one I have)
• Stainless Steel
• Naval Brass
• Titanium

These are some pretty solid tools that could be used as a paper weight or self defense weapon if needed. With nice clean lines, no annoying branding, a hole to add it to a keychain, and the power to pop caps all day long, I’ve grown to love my new opener quickly.

Where To Get TORQ Bottle Openers

TORQ is a brand new company that is just starting out and are looking for a little help. They’ve recently launched on Kickstarter.com to raise funds to start mass production on these openers. With a donation you can get your own (and I’d highly recommend it if your looking for a solid durable bottle opener).

Check out details here. Thanks again to TORQ for sending me a sample. I genuinely hope their business succeeds.

Curious as to how tough they really are? Check out this video:

What’s so great about 16-ounce cans? Simple, 4 more ounces of beer than your average 12-ounce can or bottle.

While multiple breweries have 16-ounce cans (a pint), the 12-ouncers still remain king of beer containers in the US. New Belgium Brewing out of Ft. Collins, CO is looking at changing things up with its newest year-round beer offering, Shift Pale Lager.

Shift will enter the market starting April 2nd, and you guessed it, they are only available in the larger 16-ounce cans. However the only downfall (if you can call it that), is that it will be offered in a four-pack, made of 100% recycled paper, so you might have to buy a few packs to properly stock your fridge.

“We’re excited to put a New Belgium twist on pale lager,” said New Belgium spokesperson Bryan Simpson. “The 16-ounce can is the perfect delivery system for this beer and it travels well.”

I’ve always been a fan of New Belgium and looking forward to trying their new 5% ABV beer. The lager is brewed with newly developed Nelson Sauvin hops which should give it a soft fruit flavor.

To check out if they will be launching it in your area, check out their beer finder here.

What do you think about 16-ounce cans?