The Craft Beer Alliance has been teasing glutards for months but sweet satisfaction lingers close: the long awaited barley-based, yet gluten free, Omission Beer has made it to the shelves of local Columbus proprietors. And holy shit does it taste good.
Haven’t heard of Omission? Then you probably don’t have Celiac disease–lucky you. For those who are bread averse and pastaphobic but miss the foamy, beer-laden days of yore, Widmer Brothers’ is offering an epic new line of beers aptly named Omission.
Currently producing a lager and pale ale, these two brews are made from barley malt and later run through a process involving Brewer’s Clarex, an enzyme that is meant to reduce chill haze that also happens to break down the gluten proteins. Each batch is tested using the R5 Competitive ELISA test with results recorded online so you can look them up yourself.
Despite Omission’s devotion to ensuring each batch is safe for the gluten intolerant to drink, FDA regulations prevent the company from labeling the beers “gluten free,” which leaves the internets and word of mouth with the responsibility of spreading the word: this beer tastes good and is safe for most digestive systems.
The first delivery of Omission to Columbus was small and short lived but it is likely Columbus distributors will be bringing more in as Widmer Brothers continues to expand distribution of this new brand.
Pale Ale
A basic pale ale, amber in color, with strong hops on the nose, a floral bitterness up front, tropical fruits in the middle and a snappy, tart finish. Decent head retention and malt characteristics make it a holy grail for both normal and gluten free beer drinkers– make no mistake, this is definitely beer. A high gravity version of this would make my summertime perfect. Found it at Weiland’s in Clintonville.
Malts: Pale, Caramel 10, Dark Munich, Carapils
Hops: Cascade, Citra
IBU: 33
ABV: 5.8%
Lager
Hop aroma is predominant in this lager and has yeasty undertones on the nose. It pours light gold with little to no head retention. The hops offer some pine and citrus up front with a touch of sweetness in the middle and a dry finish. This is an easy-drinking lager that would serve the lager-drinking populous well. No indicators point to it being gluten free, leaving this beer a realistic option for all. Found it at House Wine in Worthington.
Malts: Pale, Caramel 10
Hops: Citra, Sterling, Mt. Hood
IBU: 20
ABV: 4.6%
