New Grist Beer -- Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee, WI)
New Grist is another in the unfortunately small collection of gluten-free brews with something resembling decent distribution. And, befitting the substantial brewing heritage of its hometown (and its brewer, who is responsible for more traditional winners like Riverwest Stein and Wheat Monkey), New Grist tastes like a beer first and a GF beer second.
Characteristics: Pale yellow color, medium carbonation and head, starts with a little bite of carbonation and hops before settling in to a mild yeasty middle and then the tell-tale sorghum tanginess in the finish.
Minor Gripes: Best when served cold, just like the Leinie's or Stella it's replacing -- that's when the sorghum is least noticeable. Its distribution also seems to be spotty outside the standard Lakefront channels. Two weeks after we found it at a Whole Foods in NYC, it went out of stock with its slot in the case given away.
Bottom Line: New Grist is the GF beer for those who (A) miss drinking lagers, and (B) might enjoy multiple beverages in an evening. (I can't bring myself to use the classic Schaefer phrasing today.) New Grist is also the first of the GF brews I've sampled that I would drink even if I weren't looking to reduce my gluten exposure. The Green's belgian-style offerings are good, but New Grist does a better job balancing out the endemic sorghum tanginess.
Rating: 5.75 / 10
Have you tried a Bard's? Bard's Beer is the only gluten-free sorghum beer that [... advertorial deleted ...]
Brian, I have tried Bard's and will be reviewing it soon (even without your comment). I prefer New Grist by a small margin, but take no particular issue with your company's offering.
Now if more brewers working in the GF space could come up with a proper roasted malty stout, I'd be shouting that from the rooftops for the benefit of all. (The Green's is awfully close, but still not quite there.)