Glutenator - Epic Brewing Co.

mactrail

California

1.7/5  rDev -48.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

First sip, and you think, this isn't so bad, but a half-second later the honeymoon is over. The puff of foam disappears into the clear amber depths, leaving barely a tickle on the tongue.

This is so overly bitter it tastes like boiled potato skins instead of hops. Woody and bitter and rather acidic.Tastes like some kind of wine cola but the can got punctured so it's flat. The plastic aftertaste permeates the nose. Spoiled fruit and buckwheat with a dose of industrial vinegar. It's probably not possible to pump up the alcohol enough to kill the taste

Isn't there some other grain or fruit you could ferment to make something more like beer? If this is what you have to do to avoid gluten, I'd advise going for the cheap vodka instead. This one just makes it under the wire for the Worst Beer of 2012 competition. From the 22 oz bottle bought at the state Liquor Store in Salt Lake.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 05:33:50 | More by mactrail

tdm168

North Carolina

3.2/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to jtd1969 for buying this for my wife. Unfortunately, she didn't like it, but that meant I got to sample the remainder.

A - bright yellow with a huge, frothy, white head that has great retention

S - sweet, citrusy hops

T - very sweet, light citrusy hops

M - light bodied, well carbonated

It's hard to make a gluten free beer. Especially one that tastes good. I thought using sweet potatoes and molasses was smart. Unfortunately, the flavor just wasn't there. It was cloyingly sweet with none of the earthy flavors I would expect from molasses. There was a good deal of hops but they weren't nearly bitter enough to break through the sweetness. It was a good effort, but it fell short of the mark for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 01:35:59 | More by tdm168

metter98

New York

3.48/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is crystal clear yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thick collar around the edge of the glass and some lacing on the surface; these eventually completely faded away.
S: There are fruity aromas of grapes in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of grapes along with some hints of sweet potatoes.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This isn’t bad for a gluten-free beer, but other than that it’s not overly exciting.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 02:22:06 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crystal clear medium yellow in color with light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a quarter finger tall bright white head that reduces to a small amount of mottled extremely thin film and a thing ring at the edges. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of sweet potato along with notes of grape and some floral hop notes.

T: Slightly sweet with notes of grapes and sweet potato - there are some light floral and citrus/orange hop notes but very little bitterness.

M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: Probably the most enjoyable gluten-free beer that I have tried, if it had not said it was gluten-free I would not have guessed that it was. Easy to drink and light/refreshing. Good balance as it is not overly sweet or bitter.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 21:30:18 | More by dbrauneis

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind some light lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of grains, sweet potato, molasses, and floral hops with a touch of citrus hops.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet potato, grains, and a touch of orange and citrus hops. Through the middle, the molasses comes through with some floral hops and a hint of bitterness. The finish is a mix of molasses, sweet potato, grains, and floral hops.

M - Medium-minus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet and grainy finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really interesting mix of flavors, like the sweet potato, but the balance is actually very good.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 04:23:52 | More by ngeunit1

kirok1999

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brewed with sweet potato puree, millet and rice hulls. It pours a clear light orange with a hint of head and no lacing or apparent carbonation in the glass. Smells sweet and spicy with almost a Belgian yeast note. The millet gives it a grainy, grassy taste and smell. Tastes much sweeter than the nose implies. Mild carbonation on the tongue and a lingering sweet aftertaste. An unusual combination of ingredients makes for an unusual brew. Not bad but not one I'd seek out on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 16:05:12 | More by kirok1999