Coeliac Friendly Estrella
It was at Gilbey’s Wine Portfolio tasting in the Clarion earlier in the week that I came across the Estrella Daura, their gluten free lager. Quite a nice one too. Brand manager Ealron Kennedy had quite a few other beers there as well including the Estrella Inedit, the beer developed in association with Ferran Adria and the famous El-Bulli restaurant.
But I had a particular interest
in the Daura as a friend of mine is a coeliac so I took a few details for his information.
It is a refreshing good quality beer, brewed by Estrella Damm, a sponsor of
Barcelona FC, a fact that should appeal to my buddy as should its endorsement by
the Coeliac Society of Ireland. Ealron told me it is on sale widely and certainly
in Dunnes Stores.
Expanded my research a little
further and found that, of course, it was also on sale in Bradley’s Off Licence
in North Main Street. And, when I checked with Michael Creedon in Bradley’s, he
told had more gluten free beers and, in a few seconds, he had gathered a few (see photo).
Gleeson incorporating Gilbey’s
are building their craft beer selection and I heard later in the afternoon that
one of the leading Irish craft brewers will soon have their products included
in the portfolio.
The World Beer Award winner
for 2010, the Weihenstephan Vitus, is already in the Gilbey’s line-up and was available
for tasting at the Clarion. I like my wheat beers. This is a strong one, 7.7% abv,
with a taste to match; well balanced though.
The Dunkel, a dark wheat
beer, comes from the same stable as does the Hefe, a cloudy wheat beer. The
brewery, dating back to 1040, is regarded as the oldest in the world.
Ealron also had some Belgium
beers (Vedett and Duvel), the Czech Budejovicke Pivo and a couple of Dutch (Bavaria
Lager and Bavaria Regular Malt). Always thought Bavaria was a German beer but
now I know better!
