Toleration Ale (Gluten Free Ale)
Hambleton Ales

Toleration Ale (Gluten Free Ale)Toleration Ale (Gluten Free Ale)
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From:
Hambleton Ales
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Pale Ale
ABV:
4.4%
Score:
66
Avg:
2.43 | pDev: 29.63%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
29
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 22, 2018
Added:
Oct 05, 2006
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
Toleration is brewed using water, Challenger, Liberty and Cascade hops, top-fermenting yeast and specially prepared sugars.
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Ratings by a77cj7:
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Rated by a77cj7 from South Dakota

2.5/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Apr 09, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.33 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Nov 22, 2018
Photo of Libeertarian
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana

3.75/5  rDev +54.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From notes taken 07/28/17:

Fairly clear copper amber or burnt orange. There was some sediment in the bottom that I could only manage to get a little of into my glass, and that change it from crystalline to just barely cloudy. Creamy tan head, light and fluffy, but forms a thick film on both the surface of the beer’s body, and the inner walls of the glass, before even taking a sip. Later, this lace develops into a tall half-ring shaped berm, with drizzly legs slowly streaming back into the beer. As one might have surmised from the ingredients on the front of the label, it does smell quite sugary. Like some sort of syrup, but also overripe dark fruit, some alcohol, a good balance of sweeter aromas. Akin to brandy, or even certain dark rums, overall, but with less alcoholic fumes. But then, tasting it, it comes back around to beer, albeit seemingly watered down compared to other beers of this color and aroma, lacking a real grain to make it robust, and not very strong in the hop category. Still, it is clearly a beer, and an English one at that. Apart from our dark fruity sweetness and tartness, in the main, and almost as strong as in aroma, it yields some lighter toasty, leafy, woody, metallic suggestions, throughout, strongest at the onset, and yet not overpowering the sweets until the finish. And for the small amount of alcohol, it is still plenty easy to pick up on, with a longer than usual retro-olfactory presence. Light- to medium-bodied, watery, smooth, with extra fine and soft carbonation, beginning to gently prickle as it activates, before softening again and resulting in a creamy overall feel. Small amount of astringency. Compare to certain American Amber ales, for one, assuming you can find one without very many or very distinctive hops.
Jun 18, 2018
Photo of VoxRationis
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York

3.58/5  rDev +47.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Decanted from a 16.9 oz bottle into a conical pint glass; no production information.
A: Pours a crystal clear, light copper color. Nice effervescence on pour, but clears quickly leaving a quarter inch head (short term) and little more than a rim (within minutes). No lacing or legs.
S: Aromas of bread, pitted fruit and spice, but also a slight pepper and chemical (acetone) notes.
T: Thin biscuit and yeast flavors. A little aspartame-like sweetness but no bitterness.
M: Light to medium bodied; little carbonation throughout.
O: My first gluten free beer. Palatable, but does have a slight chemical taste and smell. Somewhat reminiscent of a "light" beer, but more flavorful. In fairness, this brew is working from a limited palate, so the scoring seems low if one is comparing it to similar offerings.
Jul 18, 2017
Photo of Beginner2
Rated by Beginner2 from Illinois

2.72/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Unfair ratings. This ale is designed for gluten-sensitive folks. (Altho, I'm glad I'm not among them.)
So, there is no comparison to the good stuff.
Dec 09, 2016
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

3.36/5  rDev +38.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This pours a clear copper colour, a finger of foam and good lacing.

The smell is of apple sugar and a hint of the hops that they say on the label.

Tastes better than it smells to me. Sugary, yes, but it comes across to me as similar to some malt attributes that I have noticed in other non gluten free beers. Apple taste is there and I think it contributes rather than detracts from the overall taste. Very little hint of hops but at this point, it just doesn't matter.

Decent mouthfeel for the lowish abv.

Interesting. I'm not sorry that I bought it but there's little chance of a repurchase despite my not negative review.
Jun 03, 2016
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

2.29/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
A: The beer is crystal clear deep amber in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a collar consisting of large bubbles around the edge of the glass and delicate bits of lacing on the surface. There are lots of black particulates hovering in suspension near the bottom of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of apples and sugary, caramelized malts are present in the nose along with some hints of chemicals.
T: Similar to the smell, the beer tasted like a sweetened apple juice along with some notes of burnt caramel and hints of chemicals. No bitterness or hop flavors are perceptible.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a low amount of carbonation.
O: Compared to the other gluten-free beers that I've had, this beer is a lot different and doesn't have that much in the way of "off" vegetal flavors you normally get from sorghum-based beers, but the sugars do contribute some bits of chemicals to the smell and taste.

Serving type: bottle
Jun 10, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by JohnK17 from Pennsylvania

Sep 19, 2014
Photo of DrDemento456
Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania

2.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Ow my I had no idea this was a "Gluten free" beer offering or I never would have bought it. It makes no note on the bottle of this but at least I only paid 1.75 for it.

A - A rather dirty orange brown color with a bit of sediment at the base so both old and Gluten free this beer will be horrible. Just a 1/4 inch of head that fades to nothing.
S - Rather sour really but not full blown Flanders red. I can smell no hops and some sweeter malts in the base but it's so light its hard to distinguish.
T - Ah downhill from here it came off as a light pale very watery. No hops just sour and sweet malted water.
M - With a body so light I am surprised I finished it.

Overall if you can't have hops there are way better offerings than this. I wonder why these never sold marked down from 5 bucks and the reason is they are terrible. Skip it if you can.
Nov 04, 2013
Photo of Beejay
Reviewed by Beejay from Virginia

3.05/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
A: Medium brown with a tint of rose. The head is mostly fish eyes, and dissipates quickly.

S: Sweet. There is a syrup like smell, as well as a touch of honey with some floral notes. Slightly oaky with caramel overtones. Not sure what I expected, but it smells interesting, although possible cloying.

T: Light, fairly sweet, but also a touch watery. There is almost a light spice note perhaps peppery. Light toasted nut flavor and finishes with a touch of bitterness.

M: Medium light in body, carbonation is a touch on the low side.. It definitely lacks a little on the mouth feel, it feels watery.

O: Overall it isn't bad, nor is it great. It's pretty passable as an English pale ale, but lacks the substance to make it wonderful. Perhaps a little more hop character.. Still interesting overall.
Apr 10, 2013
Photo of tdm168
Reviewed by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

3.16/5  rDev +30%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A - deep amber; thick brown head; little retention

S - baked apples, very faint caramel

T - apples, faint caramel

M - medium bodied, smooth, light carbonation

This is really a simple beer even for a gluten free offering. The apples notes are intense, overwhelming, and off putting. They're hard to avoid when brewing with sorghum and millet, but there is nothing here to balance it out. I won't be purchasing this again.
May 27, 2012
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

2.91/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a one-finger cream head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Crystal clear copper color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Hints of sugary nose and flavor is sugary hops and a dry finish. Okay but needs some malt. Pricey at $8.99 for a 500ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.
FWIW there was no sediment and no blood like clots floating in it as MaryAl observed.
Nov 08, 2011
Photo of Kshock
Reviewed by Kshock from California

1.43/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5
the things i do when im bored....

A- Not good. Little head, no lacing at all. Copper orange color.

S- Metal, sour fruit, nasty something or other.

T- Taste like a drain pour

M- Not bad, easily the best part of the beer

O- A beer i cant tolerate ;)
Sep 03, 2011
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

2.28/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Aroma is fairly strong and crisp, like a typical lager but with a strong fruity overtone. So far, so good. It pours an inviting dark amber with an off-white head that doesn't stick around. Flavor is - well, sorta fruity with a nasty bitter undertone. Not very drinkable. Texture is smooth and only faintly tingly. A good try, Hambleton Ales, but better luck next time.
Feb 09, 2011
Photo of crossovert
Reviewed by crossovert from Illinois

1.15/5  rDev -52.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
500ml bottle.

It pours with almost no head, it srtuggles to form a white head. The beer is clear copper, no lacing.

The smell is reminiscent of rotten fruit and nail polish.

The taste is sweet and like poop.

bad total waste of my money, too expensive, too sweet, shite baaaddd
Aug 13, 2010
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

1.97/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Got this bottle a couple of weeks ago at Sam's in Chicago. I poured it aggresively and the temperature of the beer is cool but the head was small to medium with no lace. Some head did last though along with some nasty looking coagulents on the top and in the bottom of the glass. Aroma is chemicals and sour fruit. Color is brownish amber. Flavor is like the aroma but more intense. Ditto finish. Guess if you were gluten intolerant you might be grateful. Glad I don't have to drink this tho.
Jun 14, 2009
Photo of Nick3
Reviewed by Nick3 from California

1.81/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
OK, I don't usually hammer beers but this one I don't even think should be called a beer. The best thing about it is its appearance and that's only because it's got a nice brown color to it. Nose is a but fuity and metallic as is the taste. Just not pleasing at all. Mouthfeel is lacking carbonation. As the beer warmed, it became a train wreck. Not a fan.
Apr 19, 2009
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

1.6/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Pours bunt orange with some slight ruby highlights. Initial head fades to a moderate ring. The smell is very fruity with peaches, pomegranate, grapes and berries, More cider like in the nose than like beer. Taste is very sweet with a slight chemical bitterness in the back. There is some fruit, but everything is overwhelmed by the slightly putrid sweetness and chemical harshness. Nasty. The mouthfeel is slick and light and this is basically undrinkable. Even if I were a celiac, nothing would induce me to drink this again.
Nov 27, 2007
Photo of deanhead
Reviewed by deanhead from Vermont

2.25/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Appearance -Nice deep burgundy color, with virtually no head. I noticed small globules of darker matter floating about in my glass. Possibly proteins? It was reminiscent of a Rodenbach Grand Cru I dank once that had several floaties in it.

Smell- Sweet and sour, hints of alcohol.

Taste- Molasses like, cloyingly sweet taste, with sour notes. The beer seemed to get sweeter as it warmed up in my glass. The taste was not even reminiscent of beer.

Mouthfeel- Very thin, almost watery. Very light body, It tasted more like a malternative beverage then a beer. It was adequately carbonated, with almost champagne like qualities with out the head.

Drinkability- This beer got increasingly difficult to drink as it warmed up. I hate wasting beer, and unfortunately I was unable to finish this beer. I would go without rather then drink this Gluten Free beer again.
Nov 26, 2007
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

2.32/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
You get a slight light tan from a vigorous pour. This quickly fades to just a skim and some lace. Body is a chocolate water, dark root beer kind of color. Nose has a distinct sour sweetness almost like fresh on the vine grapes. You really get the tart character in the smell. A sharp sour twang attacks the tongue but quickly yeilds to a slight murkey sweet hue on the mouth. There is lack of backbone that is left due to it being gluten free. Almost like flat root beer or old cola. Almost oiley on the mouth feel with slight sour hue also. Fruit could have been more pronounced to back up lack of malt.
Oct 24, 2007
Toleration Ale (Gluten Free Ale) from Hambleton Ales
Beer rating: 66 out of 100 with 29 ratings