Bottoms Up! Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer

The very thought of a gluten free beer smacks in the face of what beer is. Beer is typically made with barley and malt-both no-nos for those on a gluten free diet. Many more specialty beers are being brewed using wheat, which is the cardinal sin of gluten free living. As more and more people are being told that a gluten free diet may help cure their ills, what's a beer lover to do? Well, find a gluten free beer, of course!

I recently attended a beer tasting event at Heather's Coffee and Café in Springboro and-staying true to form- hung out chatting with the staff long after the other guests had gone home for the night. The topic of specialty beers came up and it was mentioned that they had ordered a case of gluten free beer for a customer but she had never come back to make her purchase. Intrigued, I asked where the beer was and purchased a bottle of Redbridge Gluten Free Sorghum Beer. 

Instead of wheat and barley, Redbridge is brewed using a grain called sorghum. Sorghum beer has a long international history, but is a relative newcomer to the United States, garnering more interest as the benefits of a gluten free lifestyle have become more apparent. First introduced in 2006, Redbridge is brewed by Anheuser- Busch and has taken the gold at the Great American Beer Fest in the gluten free category.

Upon opening my bottle of Redbridge, I was struck by the grassy, somewhat floral scent topped with a hint of caramel sweetness this brew offers. I found the aroma of this beer somewhat surprising, but not at all unpleasant. This beer pours a clear, rich amber color with little head and no real lacing. It is however, big on bubbles. Upon tasting this beer, I first noticed how watery it felt in my mouth. It offered decent carbonation, but seemed a little lacking in contrast to the number of bubbles it put forth. The taste is reminiscent of green apples that fades to a quick burst of hops before it melds back to a longer lasting sour note.

I had no idea what to expect from my first ever gluten free beer and I was somewhat surprised by what I tasted. In my opinion, this is a good all around beer but it certainly takes a little getting used to the apple notes it so generously offers. I would pair it with heavier flavored meats and wild game to lighten up the overall flavor of the meal and offer a fresh, almost fruity tang to the taste buds.