Steadfast 2nd Anniversary Bière De Garde
Steadfast Beer Co.

Here we are on another New Beer Sunday & since everything that I have planned for today comes in a 22-fl oz bottle format, mine will be New Bomber Sunday. You may remember that last Sunday, for me, was New Gluten-Free Beer Sunday, so this week will also be partially used to continue that trend.

From the bottle: "Belgian-Style Ale brewed with sorghum, honey, molasses, rice syrup & spices"; "Celiac friendly"; "This is a Belgo-French-style Bière de Garde. That means 'Beer for Keeping'; unfiltered and with 9% alcohol, this beer was built to last. Gluten-Free as always, the 2014 edition of our Anniversary Brew has been infused with exciting spices (rose hips, star anise, grains of paradise, orange zest) and is an amalgam of all of our favorite fermentables (sorghum, molasses, honey, and rice syrup). WE FELT LIKE CELEBRATING. Share a bottle with the important people in your life and keep a few in your cellar to enjoy later as the flavors develop. THANKS for 'Keeping us Around!' Together, we're Steadfast!"; "Steadfast Beer, Born in America."; "Gluten Free".

One thing to bear in mind when reviewing G-F beers is that unless you have Celiac, you are not the intended audience. I try to have my comments reflect this idea. Having transcribed the above before Pop!ping the cap, I decided to go with a gentle pour since it is "unfiltered". Generally, the fermentables leave no lees, but I strive for clarity, so we shall see what happens. My pour was successful in preserving the beer's clarity, but not in producing much in the way of head. An in-glass swirl solved that problem and raised a finger of soapy, tawny head that quickly fell back to wisps. Color was Amber to Deep Amber/Light Copper ()SRM = > 9, < 13) with NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled like mint iced tea, which beats a good whiff of sorghum every time! Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, big for a G-F beer. The taste was not what you would normally encounter in a Bière de Garde, but then again, it was not the usual G-F tastes, either. The spices gave it a peppery mintiness while the honey was sweet and easily recognized. I got some of the usual sorghum/molasses (treacle) sharpness, but it was muted by the other flavors. I will grant you that there was an earthiness, but it was not malt-driven. Finish was semi-dry, very mellow and tea-like, but the honey kept it from being outright dry. The bottle mentioned buying multiples for cellaring, but I did not do this, so I am unable to tell you what it tasted like originally. It is now retired, but if you have Celiac, you might urge them to bring it back to their inventory.

Tastes very much like honey. Touch floral.

 

Very clear and bubbly brew, nearly transparent. Dark reddish-brown color with orange highlights. Thin, small pale head which quickly fades.

Complex and deep aroma. Thickly sweet, representing the malt, molasses, and honey; grainy; slightly tart and sour, with a hint of vinegar and grapes; green, spicy herbal notes; spearmint; floral. The aroma absolutely makes me want to dive right in.

Much more tart up front than the nose indicates, like slightly overripe fruit, but not vinegary. Fruity and flowery, with a syrupy sweetness throughout. Minty. Blackstrap molasses and liquorice on the finish.

Slightly syrupy feel, a little bit of alcohol burn and effervescence, no sting.

This is my first Biere de Garde, and possibly my first gluten-free beer, as well, so I don't have much of a basis for comparison. I can't really rate it to style, just overall enjoyment. It is fairly complex and certainly interesting, but I don't know if it's a flavor profile that I particularly like. It's drinkable, but I don't think I would go out of my way to buy it again.

Steadfast lists the nutritional information on the bottle (including calories), which I think is very cool.