Green’s Gluten Free Triple Blonde Ale
Having known a few Celiacs, the one thing they ask me: “Are there any good beers out there for us?” There are a lot of people allergic to Wheat and Barley making beer unpleasant to a life threatening drink. Lately I have seen a few Gluten free beers come to market, most barely able to live up to the flavor profile of a generic macro adjunct lager. When I saw Green’s Gluten Free Triple Blonde Ale, I though this one may have some possibility, a 8.5% abv bottle refermented Triple Blonde Ale.
Here is how Green’s describes the beer:
Fairly light body for beer of this strength; spice and herb nose with flavors of candied fruit. Aromatic, long finish. OG: 1.072; IBU: 32; ABV: 8.5%
ABV: 8.5%
Bottle: 500ml cap top
Appearance:
Surprisingly, a very nice head on this beer. I suppose my standards are pretty low for this style of beer, but with a good head and a very clear golden color made for a very appealing looking beer. Also it had a good deal of carbonation as you might expect from a refermented beer.
Aroma:
Green’s Gluten Free Tripel Blond has a light yeasty aroma and a bit of lettuce to the nose. Otherwise not much happening here.
Taste:
The Kicker… Very carbonated with a light mouthfeel, it has a bit of a zing with a hint of citrus tartness and apple. Finishes off with a bit bitterness and some strawberry like residual tartness.
Calories: 145 per 8 oz
Glassware: Tulip
Overall Impression:
Actually not a bad beer, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since it is brewed by De Proefbrouwerij. Had some tartness to the beer which I enjoyed. If this style of beer was all I could drink, this would be a good option. The also have several other Gluten Free Beers, an Amber, Dubbel, along with other harder to find styles.
Glad to hear this was drinkable—I’ve been wondering about Green’s beers and thinking of doing a celiac-friendly roundup…
Yeah, it was pretty good. I want to find their Stout (Explorer). Really interested in how they substitute the dark grain.
Bob reviewed some of Greens’ other gluten-free offerings and found them to be pretty good. Interesting that this one was actually brewed in Belgium – didn’t know that.
If I may, here’s Bob the Brit’s take on the British gluten-free beers including a couple from Greens.
http://thebrewclub.com/2010/02/01/british-gluten-free-beers/
I have seen this on mulitiple occasions but have been too afraid to try it. I am pretty clueless about these kinds of beers. Where do they get their fermentable sugars from?
@Scott, thanks scott. I’ll check out bob’s reviews
@nate, I was too. It took a couple months to buy it, then a week or two to finally drink it. But compared to other gluten free beers it really does come within an acceptable flavor range to the style. I imagine that has got to be hard using all those filler type grains. I’m not sure about teh sugars. I think some from the grains and I think they also used some candi sugar
Best Gluten free beer I’ve had to date. Hot on the alcohol and thin. My criticisms were similar to yours. http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/12/18/middle-of-the-week-review-greens-quest/
@mike, almost 2 yrs since your review, sounds like they have improved on the Head retention and possibly a bit on the taste. I actually want to try some of their other beers, why shouldn’t Celiacs and other Gluten free folks enjoy good beer?
Agreed. If you are stuck with gluten-free you should be able to have some good taste. I’m glad they’ve improved.
As a carrier of Celiac disease I am VERY pleased with the Green’s (two varieties) I purchased on a recent visit to the Minneapolis/St Paul area of Minnesota (USA). Green’s beats out the other two gluten free beers/ales I’ve tried (Red Bridge and Bard’s Tale). Bless the brewers who magic out a beer/ale that WE can drink. Man does not live on water (coffee, tea, coke, whisky) alone. There MUST be beer and ale!
Mart
Thanks for comment Mart. I’ll be reviewing other Green’s beers as I find them.
On a recent trip to Washington, DC I picked up Green’s Tripel Blonde Ale from Belgium and Estrella Damm Daura from Spain, both gluten-free. Total Wine in Fairfax, VA had them both and others and I must say I have missed beer for almost ten years now, but, I’m back and will be drinking these both on a regular basis. If anyone knows anymore about the rice beers from Japan, I would like to hear about it as concerns the celiac allergy.
Welcome Back Warren! 🙂 Sprecher in WI also make a gluten free beer made with sorghum and millet. I have it on my self to try. I’ll try to write a review of it for you in the next couple of weeks!
Just seen this review while scouting about for more Gluten-free beer to try. Hambletons and the early Greens efforts were all far too sweet for my tastes but stumbled upon Schnitzerbra and Estrella Daura – both of which are rather passable lagers – but I’ve missed proper belgian beer & lager – and it sounds like this new crop of Greens’ fits the bill.
If your in the Denver area check out the brewer New planet Beer, had some of theirs last weekend and I was very impressed, tasted like a real beer, IMHO.
I live in Southern California and recently found Green’s Amber Ale served at local restaurant. The taste was excellent, but I have been having a difficult time finding a retail outlet for Green’s (BevMo seems to have all Gluten Free OTHER THAN Green’s).
Does anyone know of a place that carries Green’s in the LA or Santa Barbara area? Am also looking for a Green’s retail outlet in Chicago for a friend.
Mike,
Whole Foods in Pasadena has Green’s. I just bought a bottle of the triple blonde today. I got it at the Arroyo Parkway location but I am pretty sure they have it at the Foothill store as well. Call up your nearest Whole Foods. Good luck!
Good review man. I read quite a few reviews before actually trying it and it seems like A LOT of people out there don’t know the difference between Belgium style beers and American beer. Even an American beer that claims to be Belgium style is modified for the American market.
After beginning the first one 10 minutes ago I had to post it somewhere that this beer is a great gluten free triple style. My favorite would be Tremens. It does slightly lack body however, but it’s so close that you can’t complain at all if you are gluten intolerant or celiac. Thanks for the good review.
Brett, thanks for the kind words. I still would like try more of their beers. I feel bad for all those people with Celiac who can’t drink good beer and their selections of Gluten free has been crap.