Another new addition to our growing beer review library! This time, it’s Lakefront Brewery out of Wisconsin. They make 2 gluten free beers. The New Grist Pilsner and the New Grist Ginger Ale. Both beers are brewed with 100% gluten free ingredients and are therefore safe for any level of intolerance.
The New Grist Pilsner will be the topic of review today. It was first released in 2005 and apparently, was the first to be granted federal approval to brew a gluten free beer. Its only ingredients are water, rice, sorghum, hops, and gluten-free yeast grown on molasses. I can’t say I’m tickled by the ingredients, but this is a Pilsner after all, so I will calm my hop-head and give it a fair shot.
The Taste Test
New Grist Pilsner
The New Grist Pilsner pours a golden yellow with a thin head that dissolves quickly, but the bubbles remain…a very audibly fizzy pilsner-style ale. It has that snap-crackly-pop sound even 10 minutes after the pour as I write this. By the way, the video of the pour can be spotted on the @glutenfreebeers Instagram.
The light-bodied 5.1 ABV ale smells lightly of fruit…tart fruit. But besides that, the aroma is mild as session ales often are. This beer is extremely clear. So clear that you can read the label straight through it!
Okay, enough babbling…time for a taste.
This pilsner is fruity, again–not in an overly sweet way, but in a mildly sweet & tart sort of way. It tastes crisp, sharp even. But also has a malty background taste that lingers longer than the crispness. The malty quality isn’t my favorite part of this brew, but the longer I sip it, the less it bothers me. (Again…reminding myself that we are reviewing a pilsner…Ha!)
At the end of the day, if you like Pilsner-style ales and need a completely safe gluten free option, I think you will like this New Grist Pilsner by Lakefront Brewery. If you are not a fan of sorghum brewed beers, this might not be your first go-to. But it’s certainly a drinkable option.
Stand by for the New Grist Ginger Ale review…coming soon!
[…] yellow color. You can’t see through this one quite as well as we could see through the Pilsner. (Seriously…their Pilsner is so clear, we can literally READ through […]
This is the only gluten free beer my little grocery store sells. After having to drive over an hour to find a selection I finally tried this. If you need a perfectly safe gluten free beer and like a light one this is an excellent option. I now prefer it to the other sorghum beers which are often heavier and more hoppy than I want.
Rob
5 years ago
Was not a huge fan of this in bottles, but after having it on draft at Summerfest and at the brewery, it’s one of my favorites. Completely different on draft.
This beer is so so so very good for a gluten free beer! I was diagnosed with celiacs seven years ago and at the time I loved beer. It is light, yes but has a bit of hop that gives it a really nice finish. I have tried tons of other gluten free beer and this one is by far my favorite.
Chuck
7 years ago
I had the Ginger version when I was in Wisconsin last summer, and I definitely preferred that one. It was interesting enough to warrant a few pints, and didn’t carry the pilsner sweetness that I don’t generally care for. But while the normal New Grist is easily found in Seattle, the ginger is rare. Hope to see it more.
{"id":null,"mode":"text_link","open_style":"in_modal","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/bestglutenfreebeers.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/bestglutenfreebeers.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"https:\/\/bestglutenfreebeers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/cropped-BGFB-Logo-Stamp-e1535731527199-200x200.jpg","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"buying me a beer for my efforts","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Submit Tip","payment_request_label":"Best Gluten Free Beers","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"Like what I do for the gluten free beer community?","form_subtitle":"Show your support by treating me to a cold one! \ud83c\udf7a","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"CHEERS and thank you for your support!","payment_confirmation_title":"Best Gluten Free Beers","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip?"},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip?"}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to tip Best Gluten Free Beers?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to tip Best Gluten Free Beers?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to tip Best Gluten Free Beers?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
[…] yellow color. You can’t see through this one quite as well as we could see through the Pilsner. (Seriously…their Pilsner is so clear, we can literally READ through […]
[…] New Grist Pilsner […]
This is the only gluten free beer my little grocery store sells. After having to drive over an hour to find a selection I finally tried this. If you need a perfectly safe gluten free beer and like a light one this is an excellent option. I now prefer it to the other sorghum beers which are often heavier and more hoppy than I want.
Was not a huge fan of this in bottles, but after having it on draft at Summerfest and at the brewery, it’s one of my favorites. Completely different on draft.
This beer is so so so very good for a gluten free beer! I was diagnosed with celiacs seven years ago and at the time I loved beer. It is light, yes but has a bit of hop that gives it a really nice finish. I have tried tons of other gluten free beer and this one is by far my favorite.
I had the Ginger version when I was in Wisconsin last summer, and I definitely preferred that one. It was interesting enough to warrant a few pints, and didn’t carry the pilsner sweetness that I don’t generally care for. But while the normal New Grist is easily found in Seattle, the ginger is rare. Hope to see it more.