Billabong Australias Pale Ale

This is the best gluten-free ale I’ve tasted. But that’s not much of a recommendation. There are enough hops in this to mask some of the usual problems with the genre, but the end result is not entirely satisfying. Translucent copper with a poor head that fizzled out almost instantly. Rather sorry-looking. Very sweet and fruity aroma. Bit too sweet for a pale ale. Has that boiled lolly sugar note that I normally associate with pasteurisation. Smells of red Spangles, canned peaches and tropical ice poles. Not very beer-like. Quite a hard mouthfeel but syrupy in the finish. Some good hop cut-through but it has the usual gluten-free hole in the mid-palate where the malts would normally be. Passionfruit and lychee notes but it’s too sweet for mine. Dry finish. (330ml bottle from Randwick Village Cellars. Bottled Jan 26 2008)

Clear bronze coloured body with a lasting head. Some sediment left in the glass. Fairly fruity in the aroma and I quite like the taste, especially for a gluten free beer, dry, very hoppy and fruity.