Omission Pale Ale (Gluten-Free) - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

LCB_Hostage

Pennsylvania

3.21/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Served from a bottle into a pint glass

A: Deep coppery orange with moderate head and virtually no lacing

S: Nothing much of note. Some bready yeast and a little ripe fruit, but not much on the nose at all.

T: A surprisingly rich, drinkable brew. Enough hops to cut through the substantial malt. A bit of sweetness up front, quickly subdued by the hops.

M: Crisp and refreshing. Doesn't linger for long, but does sparkle a bit.

O: Not sure if this is a beer that ages surprisingly well, or if I was just in the mood for it tonight, but I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle after being pretty unimpressed with the the lack of flavor presented by first two I drank several weeks ago. I don't know as I'd actively seek this out, as there are many pale ales I enjoy more, but if you have gluten issues, this would be a great option. Light enough to serve as a session beer, but with enough flavor to enjoy every glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 23:47:53 | More by LCB_Hostage

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.46/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on March 29, 2013.

The pour is medium amber to copper orange with a small, lingering head.

Sweetness on the nose as well as light malts and a pear-like fruitiness too.

The body is around medium but nice and creamy.

The taste goes through the motions of a pale ale with an upfront malty sweetness followed by a mildly bitter ending. The difference is that there is this pear-like hint to it too that gives it a little character. Drinkable for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 22:57:41 | More by puboflyons

bashiba

Iowa

1.61/5  rDev -54.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 1.5

Poured a clean amber color with a very thin white soap ring head.

The nose has a light sweet caramel malt quality to it.

Wow is this bad, cloyingly sweet up front, no hop flavor other than some astringent bitterness in the finish. This beer has absolutely no middle, just badly sweet right to badly astringent. Just bad.

Watery and thin mouthfeel.

I'm sure its tough to make a good gluten free pale, but this is terrible, especially being a pale ale, if they used good hops of enough abundance they could mask the awful gluten free malt bill, but they did a poor job at both ends of the spectrum on this.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 22:27:00 | More by bashiba

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Ah ha! I stumbled upon their secret on their website. It has been brewed with barley and the gluten removed probably via flocculation. Whether or not it is really gluten free and the ELISA test is accurate is debatable. If you have hardcore Celiacs, you will want to do more research into the contents of this beer and the fact that recently ELISA testing methods have been questioned as to whether or not they are 100% effective. For me, this is a great alternative as I don't think that I have full blown Celiacs. I haven't been tested as I haven't had medical benefits for a while. But it's nice to know that gluten can be mostly flocculated out with natural additives that are also used for clearing up your beer. I'm pretty sure that they are natural. Don't quote me on that.

The beer pours a coppery amber color and is crystal clear with an off-white thin head that fades to a ring and a tiny Friar Tuck type center cap. After a while it starts to fade, but while doing so during the drink it leaves a little bit of lacing.

The aroma is an extremely pleasant and balance mix of floral west coast hops with a bit of caramel malt sweetness and the tiniest aroma of citrus. It's quite nice.

This beer is an APA. It starts off a little flat with a hop bite and as it moves across the tongue the malt sweetness comes through while the citrusy hoppy flavor stays along for the ride. The finish is a little flat and dry with a little bit of black pepper, but it's pretty well balanced.

As for mouthfeel and body, well, the body is a little light. If you put it side by side with your avarage APA you'd think it was a little watery. It is, however, mildly sweet balanced with hops and is a great alternative for gluten intolerants like me. I hate to use the word "Glutards" as it grates on my soul to think that most people think this is all in our heads and we should just "man up" and eat pizza. Can I hear an "AMEN" from all the Glutards? How many think you are crazy too? Has the term "bitch-slap" ever crossed your mind in relation to such folks? Anyway, this is great. The carbonation is moderate and not too lively.

Overall, I'd say that this is the best Gluten Free that I have had, BUT is it really gluten free? That is the question. It is more like a modifed American Pale Ale. If judging by APA standards, I'd say that it was watery. That is not always a bad thing because it makes the beer sessionable. Will I seek this beer out again, HAYLE yes! In the gluten free realm, this beer scores overall 4.25, or better, out of 5. In the APA world, 3.6 or so.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 00:22:10 | More by WissBrauSean

openmind

Massachusetts

3.2/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a nice amber or golden brownish glow. Features a nice creamy white large head that leads to a disorganized thick lacing. Nose is slight. Some sweet citrusy notes. Taste is of a quality standard pale with some citrus and nice malt. No flavor really comes to the fore. Apparently they can't call it gluten free. I' d like to see what my gluten friends think about it. I also worry about what they have to do to get the gluten out. Chemicals?

If glut people can actually drink this, it's got to taste better than the glut free brews.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 19:28:29 | More by openmind

bsp77

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into tall glass.

Appearance: Rich amber with decent off-white head.

Smell: Mild citrus with some toasted, grainy malt.

Taste: Tastes exactly like the typical American Pale Ale, which means it tastes damn good. Nice mix of citrusy hops and toasted malts. Finish is spicy and somewhat bitter. Really tastes about halfway between SN Pale Ale and Kona Fire Rock. Does not taste gluten free at all.

Feel: Moderate carbonation, medium body, nice dry finish.

Overall: This is a straight down the middle Pale Ale - no flourishes, nothing out of the ordinary, just very well executed. And considering this is made for those with gluten issues, I am not surprised they went the more safe route. I think some are suppressing their scores because this is gluten free, which is ridiculous. While I do not have to avoid gluten, if I did, this would be my staple.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 19:04:35 | More by bsp77

jjamadorphd

Florida

3.79/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Omission - a pale ale unlike one I've had to date.

The brew pours out a cloudly orangish-brown color, not so appealing. The head is frothy, lite, thin, and short lived, but it had surprising staying power with good lacing. Very nice smell for a pale ale - citrusy, apples, oranges. The beer had just the right amount of carbonation, even though it had the distinct after taste I dislike to IPAs and pale ales. The taste was like most pale ales but at least the taste of oranges and apples came through - a nice touch. Overall, I gave it a good score since it was by far the best smelling and tasting pale ale I've had to date. What ever it is they omitted, more pale ale makers should omit as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:36:36 | More by jjamadorphd

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.15/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours a pretty clear amber with a fairly thick and fluffy, if not too persistent, off-white head. Aroma is not strong, but invites with malty and fruity notes. Malty flavor has a strong woody hoppy note and a fruity undertone, just a little sweetness. Smooth texture has average thickness and little fizz. For a gluten free beer, not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 02:06:45 | More by Cyberkedi

Phelps

Arizona

3.63/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Omission is a new gluten-free line brewed by Oregon's Widmer Brothers Brewing.

It looks like a normal beer, anyway. The liquid, cranberry-copper, is capped by an inch of tan sea foam that recedes only after a few minutes of waiting. The hops, too, are what you'd expect -- spicy, like grass and herbs. A touch of lime and orange peel meet a sugary, honey-like malt backbone.

But appearance and aroma can be faked -- what about the flavor? The problem is that gluten is the natural byproduct of brewing with barley and wheat, and most attempts to make a beer without those malts taste like crap.

Most gluten-free beers use sorghum as a malt substitute, but Omission Pale Ale is made with Pale, Carapils, Caramel 10 and Dark Munich malts -- the same used in many standard pale ales. The gluten in Omission removed via a proprietary process -- the flavor remains, the gluten doesn't.

Even without gluten, the flavor of this pale ale stays strong. There's not a ton of malt complexity, but the honeyed sweetness deftly balances the grass, orange peel and rose petals of Cascade hops. Moderate bitterness sits on the sides of the tongue while mild carbonation prickles a body that's like 2 percent milk. Nice thickness, with just enough alcohol to numb the tongue and let you know you're drinking real beer.

And it is real beer. If you served this blind, there'd be no telling it was gluten-free. That's all any Celiac can ask for.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 20:52:05 | More by Phelps

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: Slightly hazy golden hue with visible carbonation floating up towards a thin off-white head.

Aroma: Not too much on the nose. A little biscuit and just a hint of earthy hops.

Taste: Not bad for gluten-free! Starts a tad bready with some nice earthy hop overtones. The hops overtake the malt a bit in the second half but a nice balance remains throughout. Average bitterness for the style, probably around 20-30 IBUs (their website lists it at 33 IBUs). Not getting the fruity/tropical notes I'd expect from Citra and Cascade hops but perhaps the process of removing the gluten from the grains affects the hop character. I'm not usually a big fan of straight up Pale Ales (more of an IPA guy) but the fact that it is gluten-free and has this much good flavor is surprising. Nice smooth and decently clean finish. Very sessionable at 5.8%.

Mouthfeel: Just below medium in body with average effervescence for the style. Easy drinking.

Final Thoughts: I would recommend Omission Pale Ale to any easy going beer drinker; gluten intolerant or not. It's a worthy beer for anyones glass and hat's off to the brewers who figured out a way of removing the gluten. Would I drink it again? Sure… now, if they could only come out with an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 04:06:03 | More by JamesMN

nickfl

Florida

3.2/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours with inef finger of white foam on top of a hazy, golden brown body, the head settles quickly and leaves only Light lace,

S - A light, malty aroma with a touch of spicy hops.

T - Some toffee and caramel with a bit of brown sugar in the middle. Finishes with a hint of herbal hops and light bittness.

M - Medium thick body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - The malt character succeeds in covering up the lack of gluten but it tastes a bit muddy. What is harder to get around is the lack of fresh hop character, which is subtle at best. This could have been something pretty nice if they had just tried a little with the hops and allowed them to make up for the lack of malt depth.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 05:43:43 | More by nickfl

garuda

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Orange-gold, hazed, white head has decent retention and lace.

S - Grapefruit flesh, caramel and bready sweetness, touch of pine.

T - Follows the nose, but has a buttery off-flavor mid palate which builds as it warms. Little bitterness from the hops, stays mostly sweet.

M - Medium body, good medium carb level

O - Needs a little more hop bitterness to balance sweetness. Buttery/diacetyl flavor doesn't help.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 13:05:15 | More by garuda

kojevergas

California

2.63/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

5.8% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a nonical pint glass in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are below average given the brewery and the fact that it's gluten free.

Served straight from the refrigerator Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger thin head of no cream but of average retention. Body colour is a clear pale copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Floral hops, biscuit malt, and light toasted malt. Very simple. An average strength arma.

T: Clean malts, floral hops, and clean barley. Brutally simple and not all that effective. Balanced, but there isn't much to balance. Lacks flavour. Bland and boring.

Mf: Predictably smooth and wet, with generic thickness and slight overcarbonation. Doesn't complement the flavour profile all that well.

Dr: Drinkable but underwhelming. A middling pedestrian effort from Widmer, but then I've come to expect that. Hides its ABV well. Meh. For a gluten beer, it could be worse.

C-

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 05:54:03 | More by kojevergas

secondtooth

Indiana

3.15/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Nice amber color with a fair head. I do see some sediment, though, so points off there. Lacing is present, but thin.

Nose is mild, and what aroma I do get I hesitate to mention...cat urine. Not good.

Taste fares much better. I get plenty of hops, but with an odd malt profile. I can't put my finger on it.

Decent for a light, session-worthy pale ale, but not one I'd return to given the other choices on the market.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 15:02:50 | More by secondtooth

searsclone

Arizona

2.95/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

bottle into a pint glass

clear copper, almost amber, color with a nice tan head and great lacing

smell is very faint. maybe a touch of molasses or brown sugar

taste is synthetic sweetness and nutty. a bit of bitterness in the end, not very well balanced

mouthfeel is creamy, almost like a nitro

not a bad beer, but I wouldn't go to this for a pale ale-it reminded me of an amber lager

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 03:48:32 | More by searsclone

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not really into gluten free beers, but at least worth a try.

Very light fizzy head, not great retention either, some lacing, very clear honey orange tan color.

Nose has light grassy hops, little pine and floral hops, touch fruity, and a touch of a sweet malty-like possibly syrupy like aroma in the background, but not really malt aroma.

Taste again starts with the hops, mostly grassy and flora, a hint of pine and fruity hop flavors, with a decent bitterness. There is a slight syrupy almost toffee like flavor in the background that gives the candied hop presence with a hint of citrus. The "malty" like flavor is there, but more of a sweet sugary thing that's hard to describe, except maybe making it gluten free?. A light grassy grainy yeasty flavor towards the end. It finishes fairly dry with a crisp like finish, long lingering grassy hops, a bit floral, decent bitterness.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, but decent carb.

Overall OK, but not great. A nice hop profile, but the weird sugary syrupy flavor and lack of nice malts brings it down a bit. However, nice and crisp, fairly flavorful, and easy to drink, a nice beer overall. For gluten free, this is top of the line.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 22:08:04 | More by jlindros

UCLABrewN84

California

3.08/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle pour at the BevMo Holiday Beerfest held at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, fruit, and a slight hop aroma. Taste is much the same with a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer that really isn't a good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 21:27:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I think this is my first Gluten-free beer tasting. Picked up this sixer at the local Jewel.

Nice pale copper color underneath a a thick film of foam. Good head after the pour and nice retention and foam stickage. Good bubbling too. This is a good looking pale ale.

Good citric hop aroma with some toasty biscuity malt aromas. Smells well balanced and easy to drink.

Citric bitterness upfront. The middle has a toasty bread crust and biscuit flavor mixing with the hop bitterness from the front of the palate. The finish is a resiny, sweet tropical fruit flavored pineapple bread. This beer tastes pretty good considering what Widmer has Omitted.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 16:29:56 | More by scruffwhor

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a slightly chill hazed caramel-copper coloring with a decent, frothy, light, white head that settles into a film coating along the surface and the sides of the glass. Aromas of rich and roasted caramel and toffee, with a spicy, resiny hops presence that cleans and balances. Flavors are just as balanced, with a caramel sweet initial offering that is quickly swept up by a peppered and resiny hops characteristic. Floral highlights give even more layering to the hops anchor of the palate, and there are citrus tones sprinkled amongst all of this, too. Very tasty and balanced. The aftertaste is light and smooth, with more of a malt presence than you get throughout the rest of the brew. Light, clean finish with a bitter, crisp ending. Very smooth, very tasty, and very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 02:28:32 | More by GarthDanielson

gpogo

California

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Slightly hazed golden amber body with a white foam cap. Lots of bubbles keeping the foam cap going.

A- Nice sweet bready caramel aroma with some, but not much citrus hop aroma.

T- Sweet malt with a bitterness throughout. Old hoppy bitterness finish. Meh.

M- Medium body and medium carbonation.

D- It's drinkable. It isn't anything special. I actually just found out it is "Gluten-free," but made with malt and the gluten is removed. The brewery checks each batch and publishes the findings on the website. Worth trying out if you have issues with gluten!

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 21:28:25 | More by gpogo

barnzy78

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, pours amber in color with a frothy, off-white head, good head retention and nice chunky lacing on the glass. Aromas are earthy, piny, bready malt, bread crust, faint citrus, orange perhaps. Tastes are bready, earthy, pungent, piny hop, caramel, grain, some citrus comes through, balance seems off though. Medium bodied, has a nice resiny feel. Overall, not bad, but seems like it's missing something & balance seems to be off - maybe it's the flavors. I was hoping for better.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 00:24:20 | More by barnzy78

mastodonj

Colorado

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I grabbed a single bottle not knowing this was gluten-free.
It looks pretty average. Very little lacing.
Smell is very piney, citrusy. Juniper likely.
It has a lot of bitterness but at the same time, seems light.
The citrus makes the mouth feel very clean.
Overall, it is very sessionable especially for you looking for a beer to go with Mexican food and not wanting to settle for industrial.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 01:35:39 | More by mastodonj

SeaOfShells

California

3.85/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. poured into a Duvel tulip

DISCLAIMER: A friend with celiac disease left this over after a party. I've had 2 already, and I actually quite enjoy it. I'm going to review it against other gluten free beers, because it isn't to fair to rate it against "traditional" beers.

A: Brilliant burnt orange with a very nice 2 finger head which left some lace. It looks great, and I'm loving the color.

S: Honestly, it's just okay. I'm only getting hints of hops, otherwise it's a "malt" bomb. I believe this is sorghum based, but I could be wrong. I haven't had very many gluten-free beers, but this one smells decent all things considered. There is an underlying sweetness.

T: Okay, if you had told me this was gluten-free, I would have spit it in your face and called you a filthy liar. There is NOTHING to suggest this is gluten free. Sure, it may be light in flavor, but it's actually really good. I could drink this regularly. I'm not getting a ton of hop quality, but who knows how long this sat on the shelf. There is just a hint of bitterness on the back end, followed by a surprising sweetness that I think plays well with the bitterness. Of all the gluten free beers I've tried, this is the best. There really isn't even a close contender.

M: It's a tad thin, but it has enough carbonation to distract me. It feels kind of oily in a way. Very slick. Nothing offensive to speak of.

O: I consider this a winner based on the fact that I would drink this over some traditional beers. It's very drinkable, and refreshing. If you are rating this beer low, you need to lower your standards for this style. It's a pale ale, and it's the best GF beer on the market (that I have had). In fact, I would drink this over every year round Widmer Brother's offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 21:26:57 | More by SeaOfShells

kylehay2004

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thin head on a hazy amber with golden hues body. Aroma of earthy malts and caramel. Flavors also have more hops than I expected. Mostly earthy and herbal hops with nut and wood notes. Medium body and moderate carbonation. This is a very good gluten free beer from the ones I have had. Little is lost in flavor and the hop character can stand up to many gluten-filled pale ales.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 01:50:31 | More by kylehay2004

jucifer1818

Florida

3.43/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: clear light amber, with ample carbination. a nice looking fizzy beverage. Very inviting.

Smell: Not much here. Little to no malt character in the smelll, with only some light hoppy characters. Overall not impressive, but not offensive

Taste: Very pale alish. No malty backbone, but supported by a decent hoppy character. nothing that wows me, but considering the fact that its a gluten free beer, Im giving it a .5 bonus from 3 to a 3.5

Mouth feel: Intense carbonation that bites your tongue from the moment you drink it. Little to no body present. I didn't like it, but it fits to style, so im giving it another 3.5 (because of the gluten free bonus )

Overall: a tough beer to rate. Overall it feels REMARKABLY average, however...it is a gluten free beer.

If your a gluten free person this is the beer for you, and deserves a 5. for everyone else you can do better

3 for gluten folk
5 for non-gluten folk

4 average

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 16:00:53 | More by jucifer1818