Glutenberg American Pale Ale
What the brewers say
“Most likely the first gluten-free beer in the world that presents such a hopped character, our American Pale Ale is the true flagship of Glutenberg beers. Its citrus and caramel notes, coupled with a mild bitter finish, come together in perfect harmony.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “A bit of candy sweetness on the nose with a pleasant grapefruit and resiny hops aroma. Light floral hops notes, a bit soapy. Hops character is dominant in the nose. Grassy sweet notes. Some spiced and earthy character. A malt-like grainy sweetness with a hint of roast.”
Flavor: “Citrusy American hops flavors, mostly grapefruit and pine, with a supporting candy-like sweetness. Finish is crisp, dry, and bitter but not out of balance. Carbonation and dryness accentuate the hops character. High carbonation and dry finish. Medium body with a lightly roasted grainiess that is almost malty. The hoppiness is reminiscent of an APA with a decent bitterness and a hint of citrus hoppiness. Some unusual esters, apples and pear.”
Overall: “For hopheads venturing down the gluten-free route, this is one of the best options out there. This is a very tasty gluten-free version of an APA. Nice citrus hops character that is accentuated by the crisp, dry finish of the base beer. Bitter finishes the beer dry. Gluten-free character isn't offensive or astringent and doesn't come through as cider, allowing the nice hops character to come through. The hops profile is right where you'd expect, and it manages an almost malt-like profile.”
