Craft Brew Alliance will distribute its gluten-free Omission Beer in Canada beginning in mid-January. Launched in March 2012, Omission Beer is the first U.S. craft beer brand focused exclusively on brewing great-tasting craft beers with traditional beer ingredients, including malted barley, that are specially crafted to be gluten-free. Omission Lager and Omission Pale Ale, the first two beers in the Omission portfolio, will be introduced in British Columbia in January before moving into other Canadian markets in the coming months.
Omission beers are brewed by Widmer Brothers Brewing in Portland, Ore., using an innovative brewing program to ensure that gluten levels in every batch measure well below the widely accepted international gluten-free standard of 20 parts per million (ppm) for food and beverages. Every batch of Omission beer is tested by the brewery and an independent lab, and all test results are available to consumers at: www.omissiontests.com.
The international gluten-free standard was set forth by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which was created in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Health Canada also adopted this gluten-free labeling standard, citing that, “the best currently available scientific evidence indicates that levels of gluten below 20 ppm in gluten-free foods would be protective of the health of the vast majority of people with Celiac disease.”
“We look forward to sharing Omission with Canadian consumers,” said Terry Michaelson, CEO of CBA. “As a longtime celiac, I’m excited to bring the Omission craft beer experience to those who have previously been unable to enjoy a great beer brewed with traditional beer ingredients because of gluten intolerance. The best thing about Omission beers is that they are great-tasting brews that can be enjoyed by anyone of legal drinking age, not just those with gluten sensitivities.”
“Unlike many other gluten-free beers on the market, Omission beers are brewed using traditional beer ingredients: malted barley, hops, water and yeast,” said brewmaster Joe Casey. “This considerably broadens their appeal. Omission Lager and Omission Pale Ale are both great-tasting craft beers that are true expressions of their respective styles.”
Omission beers will be distributed in Canada by AFIC Group.
Gluten-free Omission Lager and Omission Pale Ale:
Omission Lager is a refreshing and crisp beer, brewed in the traditional lager style. Omission Lager’s aromatic hop profile creates a unique, easy-drinking gluten-free beer for those looking for a lighter beer style.
Bold and hoppy, Omission Pale Ale is a hop-forward American Pale Ale, brewed to showcase the Cascade hop profile. Omission Pale Ale is amber in color, and its floral aroma is complemented by caramel malt body, making for a delicious gluten-free craft beer.
Omission Lager and Omission Pale Ale have a suggested retail price of $15.95 per six-pack and will be available in 12-ounce bottles at retailers, restaurants and bars.
Omission Brewing Process:
The Omission brewing process includes additional steps and requires additional care beyond standard brewing practices and protocols to ensure that beer brewed with malted barley meets strict gluten-free standards set forth by the brewery:
- Ingredient and style selection: Omission beers are brewed with low-protein barley. Style choices are based, in part, on the ability to reliably reduce gluten levels to well below exacting standards.
- Sanitization: All brewing equipment downstream from fermentation is freshly cleaned and sanitized for every batch of Omission beer. Unlike the process used in brewing other beers, where a hot water rinse may be sufficient, equipment is cleaned and sanitized before Omission beers are brewed to avoid risk of cross contamination.
- Brewers Clarex: Brewers Clarex, an enzyme developed by DSM Food Specialties and traditionally used to prevent chill haze in beers, is added during the brewing process. The enzyme, which has been used by craft brewers around the world as a clarifying agent since it was introduced more than five years ago, works to break down proteins, including gluten, in the beer.
- Testing: Every batch of Omission beer is tested for gluten by an independent lab using the R5 competitive ELISA. Tests are also conducted internally by the brewery at various stages in the brewing and packaging processes. No bottles of Omission are released to consumers until all results are reviewed and the beer is verified to contain gluten levels well below the international gluten-free standard of 20 ppm. To date, gluten levels in every batch of Omission beer have been undetectable at a threshold of less than 10 ppm, the lowest detectable gluten level for fermented beverages tested using this method.
- Packaging: To further protect the integrity of the beers, Omission beers are sold only in bottles and never on draught, where risk of cross contamination from tap lines or server error could compromise the Omission experience.
- Consumer education: CBA is committed to sharing information about its beers, brewing processes and testing so consumers can make a confident choice when purchasing and drinking Omission beers. Consumers are encouraged to visit www.omissiontests.com, where they can enter the date code stamped on their bottle and view their beer’s R5 competitive ELISA test results.
