St. Patrick’s Day Or Not, New Planet Beer Is Green All Year Long

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Green is Good!

March is a month of transition, changing seasons, and yes, green beer. March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and as the saying goes, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!” So while you may see everyone and their cousin decked out in green on March 17, here at New Planet Brewing, we’re proud to say that we’re green every day.

Sure, green is one of our favorite colors, but when we say “green,” we mean that since our founding, we’ve desired to brew clean, refreshing, gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers that have a minimal impact on our environment.

Curious about how we stay green all year long? Keep reading!

Brewing is an Energy-Intensive Process

Transforming water, malt (or millet!), and hops into beer flowing from a can or tap to your glass takes a lot of skill and work. Ensuring the beer you drink is delicious, gluten-free or gluten-reduced, and fresh involves a lot of moving parts, and if it isn’t done carefully, it can use a lot of natural resources that affect the environment.

A few years ago, we decided to live our mission more fully by creating and joining a brewing co-op. This meant that instead of having our own dedicated brewhouse, we’d share a state-of-the-art facility with other like-minded breweries.

Why?

The answer was simple for a few reasons. First, building a brewery is expensive. You’re talking tanks, fermenters, hoses, fire mitigation, zoning requirements, canning equipment….the list goes on, and so does the bill! Secondly, breweries tend to take up a lot of land, and as mentioned above, they require a lot of equipment that draw significant amounts of energy.

So rather than spend millions of dollars on a facility just for ourselves, we thought, “Why can’t we share the expenses and in doing so, reduce our overall environmental footprint?” And that’s what we did. Today, we’re proud to be part of a brewing co-op that shares a phenomenal $8 million facility that crafts excellent beer for you, our consumer! This also translates to $8.99 6-packs in our home market and $10.99 per 6-packs nationally….one of the best-priced specialty beers in the market!

It Takes a Village

If you’ve ever been to a beer festival or know anyone who works in the industry, you know that it is a collaborative, knowledge-sharing community. Brewers are a different breed. Collectively, we know that the adage “A rising tide lifts all ships” applies to brewing. The success of one brewery means the success of many. In that spirit, brewers are often very transparent with their industry peers about what they’re working on and how they’re doing it.

This collaboration is at the heart of our co-op, too. By putting many talented brewers in the same space, the exchange of ideas, philosophies, and best-practices happens naturally and in a very business-friendly way.

By developing these close relationships with our peers, we’re able to provide our consumers with the best product out there…not only because we’ve toiled for thousands of hours, but because we’ve had honest, well-intentioned feedback from our beer brethren in order to make our beers the best gluten-free and gluten-reduced ones in the market.

Be Green!

Whether you’ll be partaking in St. Patrick’s Day or not this year, remember that you can stay green all-year long when you celebrate life’s moments with New Planet Beer. Our cans (which take up less energy to transport than bottles AND keep your beer fresher!) and kegs contain beer that was conscientiously brewed to be kinder and gentler on the environment. We’ll drink to that! As the Irish say, “Sláinte!”

Cold Beer and Warm Chile

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Green chile. It’s delicious, spicy, and oh so satisfying. Tantalizing your taste buds and warming your soul, a bowl of green chile really hits the spot, especially on a cold winter day.

Hatch season is a delight with the smell of roasted chile in the air. What’s even better? Freezing chiles to enjoy year round. If you don’t have frozen chiles, you can buy roasted ones in your grocery freezer section to use in this recipe.

Traditionally, flour is used to thicken the green chile and give it texture. In this gluten free version, corn meal thickens the chile and adds a toasty note. The bone-in pork adds another layer of flavor to compliment the spicy chiles.

There are a lot of recipes out there, many passed down for generations or meticulously fine-tuned over the years. Below is my version and it’s best enjoyed with a cold New Planet Pale Ale or Tread Lightly. Always great to enjoy a beer while the simmering chile fills the house with the smell of home cooked goodness.

Gluten Free Pork Hatch Green Chile

 

Gluten Free Pork Hatch Green Chile

2 lbs bone-in pork shoulder, cubed (save bone)

1 cup roasted, peeled, seeded, de-veined Hatch chiles

2 tbsp. cornmeal, fine ground

2 tbsp. bacon fat, lard, or vegetable oil

½ medium onion, fine diced

8 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ cups chicken broth

¼ tsp. oregano

Salt to taste

Heat Dutch oven or heavy bottom pan over medium/low heat. Add fat to pan, add onions, sauté until translucent. Add garlic, and sauté until fragrant, about one minute. Transfer veggies to bowl, leaving as much fat as possible in the pan.

Brown pork in batches in a single layer of pieces over medium-high heat. When pork is browned and transferred out of the pot, keep 2 tablespoons of fat in pan. Sprinkle cornmeal in pan, cook until golden and fragrant, about two minutes. Slowly add chicken broth stirring continuously to avoid any lumps. Add green chile onions mixture, pork pieces, and bone from pork. Bring to slow boil, cover and simmer over low heat for 30-45 minutes.

Serve with a warm corn tortilla or corn chips. An extra yummy option, sprinkle cheddar cheese and cilantro on top.

 

Top 5 Guide to Survive the Holidays Gluten Free

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It seems that from October 31st through January 1st, holidays–and holiday parties–happen just about every weekend! Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years, it’s a non-stop flow for company and house parties. It can be exhausting. And if you’re gluten free, it can also be a bit daunting. Luckily, celebrating the holidays while being gluten-free or gluten-sensitive can co-exist!

At New Planet Beer, we’re all about education, and we believe that the holiday season is a wonderful time of year to get together with friends, family, and coworkers to celebrate and look forward to the new year. With that spirit in mind, we’d like to share our Top 5 Guide to Surviving the Holidays!

Host When you Can

When you’re gluten-free or gluten-sensitive (or someone in your family is), you know the ins and outs of preparing food that agrees with their bodies. From having the right ingredients to knowing how to avoid cross-contamination, you’ve likely got it down to a science!

So naturally, when you host a holiday party, you can easily parlay these habits and skills into full-on party mode. When you’re in control of the menu, it makes life infinitely easier when you know exactly what is in each dish.

If You’re Out, Serve Yourself First

We know…serving yourself can be taboo, and it can make some people uncomfortable. But think back to when you host parties: the food is laid out, it smells and looks delicious, and no one is digging in!

Serving yourself first may seem a bit taboo, but your host will probably thank you for getting the food-train started.

The other added benefit of serving yourself first? You get first crack at every dish. This means that if there is a gluten-free option, you’re sure to get some before it’s gone. Secondly, when you serve yourself first, you can feel better knowing that serving utensils haven’t been used across a variety of dishes yet, which would otherwise increase the chances of getting gluten in a non-gluten dish.

Bring a (big) Dish

Lots of parties encourage people to contribute dishes for a potluck-style get together. This makes it easier on the hosts and is a fun way for people to share some of their favorite recipes.

When you’re gluten-free or gluten-sensitive, bringing a big dish to share is also a great way to make sure that you’ll get enough to eat that won’t upset your system.

We always recommend bringing enough of a dish so that it could serve as your only food in case no other foods are gluten-free.

Not sure what to bring? Salads are always a safe bet (as long as you like salad!). Salads are a nice item to contribute to a potluck, because it gives a nice break from some of the richer, heavier foods that are popular this time of year.

When Planning Isn’t Possible

While we think the first few tips generally work, we also live in the real world: We get that it isn’t always possible to plan ahead to bring your own gluten-free dish or you may need to arrive late, and cross-contamination may have already happened.

Worry not! With enough searching, chances are pretty good that you’ll still be able to find a gluten-free offering. When in doubt, feel free to ask your host if they know if any dishes are gluten-free. If the don’t know (or if there aren’t any options), remember that hosts want everyone to have a good time, so they will probably find something to satisfy without being pulled away from the party for long.

Celebrate with New Planet

We’re a little biased about our beer (duh), but we love bringing it to any and every holiday party we can. Not only do people enjoy a cold one, but we’ve found that it provides a great opportunity to talk to others about gluten-free diets.

Regardless of where you celebrate this year, we hope that you are surrounded by family and friends. We’re thankful for all of our beer-loving friends this year, and we’re looking forward to celebrating with you in 2019!

Thank goodness it’s gluten free

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There are many reasons to be thankful this season and for those of us that are gluten-free, having food you can eat without getting sick is one of them. We’ve put together some original gluten-free recipes that are bound to become a tradition at your table, including a gluten-free cake that New Planet founder, Pedro Gonzalez says, “is way beyond anything I ever expected.”

Gluten Free Butternut Squash Pale Ale Soup

Soup is a warm hug for your belly. This classic beer cheese soup has a fall twist with butternut squash, tart apples, and New Planet Pale Ale. This soup is very versatile and can be altered to meet different dietary needs. It’s the perfect starter to your meal and can be made a couple days in advance and rewarmed on the stove. Pair this soup with the Pale Ale or Seclusion IPA.

Soup base:
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cups butternut squash (thaw frozen precut or roast your own) 
1 medium Granny Smith apple, chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 ½ cups chicken stock
1 can (12 oz.) New Planet Pale Ale
½ tsp. paprika
¼ tsp. nutmeg
Ground pepper to taste

Cheese sauce:
½ cup half and half
½ cup chicken stock
1 tbsp. white rice flour
1 tbsp. tapioca starch
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt to taste

Make the soup base:
Heat oil in a dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion until translucent (not brown), about 5 – 8 minutes. Add the butternut squash and apple to the pan, cook until softened, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in paprika, nutmeg, and ground pepper. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Pour in New Planet Pale Ale and 1 ½ cups chicken stock. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cover the pot and reduce to a simmer, cook 10 – 15 minutes until cooked through. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.

Make the cheese sauce:
While the contents are in the blender, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in the pot on medium heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, white rice flour, and tapioca starch to the pan. Stir constantly until paste forms and the flour is cooked, about 1 -2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the half and half and the chicken stock, whisking vigorously to eliminate any lumps until the mixture thickens about 3 minutes. Add in the cheese in small handfuls, whisking after each addition until melted. Once cheese sauce is smooth, whisk in the contents of the blender. Salt to taste.

Serve the soup hot. Garnish as desired. Suggested garnishes—parsley, chives, bacon, more cheese, or pumpkin seeds. Mix and match to suit your tastes.

Yield: 6 – 8 servings

Variations: For vegans, make only the soup base and use a vegetable stock, garnish with parsley, vegan cheese, or a scoop of vegan sour cream. For dairy-free, make only the soup base and garnish with parsley, chives, or your favorite dairy-free cheese.

Gluten Free Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Cranberries and roasted pecans add a Thanksgiving twist in this classic appetizer. Easy to prepare a day in advance, these crowd pleasing appetizers are sure to wow your guests. As a bonus, these are safe for those who eat dairy free too. These pair great with the Blonde Ale or Tread Lightly Ale.

Stuffed mushrooms:
18 medium to large cremini or button mushrooms, caps and stems separated
½ lb. Italian sausage, mild or hot
2 tbsp. cornmeal
2 tbsp. pecans, roasted and finely minced
2 tbsp. dried cranberries, finely minced
1 egg white
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. olive oil

Preheat over to 325 degrees.

Put minced garlic and olive oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
Clean the and dry the mushrooms. Trim the mushroom stems and finely chop. Set aside. Hollow out each mushroom scrap, taking care to keep the cap intact. Reserve the scrapings with the mushroom stems.

Heat skillet over medium heat. Cook the sausage and reserved mushroom stems and scrapings until sausage is browned and cooked through, 6 -8 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Place sausage mixture
in a bowl. Stir in pecans, cranberries, and cornmeal. Stir in egg white until thoroughly combined.

Brush each mushroom cap with garlic and olive oil mixture. Stuff each cap with a generous spoonful of
sausage mixture. Place in baking pan or on cookie sheet.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes until mushrooms are cooked through and stuffing is golden
brown.

Serve with parsley garnish or sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Yield: 18 mushrooms, plan about 2 per person

Maya’s Gluten Free Apple Upside Down Cake

Turning the apple dessert upside down may become a new tradition at the table. At a party, New Planet founder
, Pedro Gonzalez, savored this cake made by a family friend, Maya.

In his words, “Maya is the maker of the best apple upside down gluten free cake. I paired it with the Blonde Ale, and wow! It was way beyond anything I expected.”

Maya advice, “the pan is the most important part, I have a wonderful old seasoned cast iron skillet.” She was generous enough to share her recipe with us. As Pedro recommends, pair this with the Blonde Ale.

Apples:
6 tbsp. butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups apple, packed, chopped small

Cake batter:
4 eggs
½ tsp. vanilla
¾ cup sugar
1 heaping cup Pamela’s baking mix
2 tbsp. water

Heat butter and brown sugar together in a heavy skillet until sugar is all melted. Cool. Arrange apple slices over the surface of the mixture. Beat eggs until very light. Beat in sugar gradually – add alternately the water and dry ingredients. Pour batter over apples.

Bake in 350 degree over about 40 minutes until cake is set. Turn out of skillet while hot.

Yield: 10 – 12 servings
Try one or all of these recipes and surprise your guests when you tell them it’s gluten free. You might just start
some new traditions at your table. And remember to stock up on your favorite New Planet beer to pair with
your meal. After all that cooking, you deserve a cold beer.

At New Planet, you, our uncompromising and discerning beer fans, are one of the reasons we are thankful.
Cheers to you and those you cherish!

Happy Thanksgiving!

About the author:
April DeMincoApril DeMinco Serves cold New Planet with a smile at events. Gluten-free since 2007. Best beer friend is New Planet Pale Ale. Superpower is baking gluten-free treats and cupcakes. In constant pursuit of the perfect gluten-free donut.

The Gluten Free Beer Holiday Guide

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Well, here we are. Thanksgiving 2017 is in the history books. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday (what, no love for the rest of the week!?) broke all sorts of records, and the rest of the holidays are right around the corner!

For people who have Celiac or a gluten sensitivity, the holiday season can be extra stressful. After all, travelling, family gatherings, and holiday meals aren’t always conducive to a solid gluten free diet. This year, though, you don’t need to worry about any of that, because you’re going to plan ahead and include some tasty selections from New Planet Beer in your holiday plans! Whether you or someone you know has Celiac or a gluten sensitivity, taking along some New Planet Beer is sure to raise your holiday spirits.

So, while Grandpa overindulges on eggnog (not recommended), you and yours can sit back, relax, and responsibly enjoy one of our great beers, knowing that it won’t leave your gut in agony when Kris Kringle makes his way down your chimney.

New Planet: Gluten Free Beer

At New Planet, we take pride in crafting both gluten free and gluten-reduced ales. For our gluten free line, we’ve got something for everyone, and let’s be honest: a beer always sounds great.

Our flagship Blonde Ale is as delicious as it is approachable. Whether you’re new to craft beer or you’re well-versed in the difference between Sterling, Galaxy, and Cascade hops, the Blonde Ale is light and refreshing, while staying crisp and clear…and gluten free. Over the holidays, this beer, which is brewed with grain-alternative millet and blue corn, pairs best with lighter foods, like white meat turkey, fish, and cheese.

If you’re looking for something a little bit more robust this holiday season, give the New Planet Pale Ale a whirl. A multiple gold medal winner (and not just in a gluten free category), this beer has a killer hop profile courtesy of the Sterling and Cascade hops, and when paired with some smokey foods like steak or ribs, the bitterness balances out the smokey for a party for your tastebuds.

New Planet: Gluten Reduced Beer

For you hop heads out there, New Planet’s Seclusion IPA is bold and begging to be imbibed this holiday season. Brewed with grains and then specially treated to remove gluten, Seclusion IPA is great whether you’re reducing gluten in your diet or just love a solidly brewed beer. If your holidays are warm like Colorado’s sometime are, hit the trail with this canned brew and enjoy the fresh air. Or, if your in-laws are visiting and you just need some “you” time, the aptly-named Seclusion IPA will keep you company while Aunt Mildred finds someone else to massage her feet.

When it is time to unwind and kick back, crack open the gluten reduced, awesomely drinkable Tread Lightly Ale. Easy drinking and supremely refreshing, this year-round staple delights around the holidays. It has an approachable ABV of 4.9% and just enough of a hop character to satisfy the “I only drink IPAs” guy while being inviting enough for those who are new to the wonderful world of beer. Perfect for an apres ski or night by the fire, wherever you find yourself this holiday season, don’t leave home without a six pack of these delightful cans.

As 2017 comes to a close, the team at New Planet Beer has so much to be thankful for this year. Namely, you, our customer and and good health and happiness. So, whether you’re traveling this holiday season or find yourself at home, we send you our warmest wishes for the same: health, happiness, and a wonderful holiday and New Year.

Cheers!

New Planet Beer’s Thanksgiving Guide

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We know! We know! You still probably have leftover Halloween candy in the house, and here we are at New Planet Beer, already talking about Thanksgiving! But we’re doing it for you! If you’re anything like us, the holidays seem so far away and then BAM! your mother-in-law is ringing the doorbell with her “World Famous” fruitcake.

Take it from us: It is never too early to start planning for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving can be a tough holiday for folks with Celiac or who have a gluten sensitivity. There is so much excitement around classic family dishes and traditional staples that it is easy to forget that a friend or loved one might have a sensitivity or allergy. So, be the favorite person at the Thanksgiving Table this year, and follow the New Planet Beer guide to a gluten-aware meal!

Let’s Get it Started

Thanksgiving is a time to surround yourself with family and friends. Hopefully, you can spend the holiday with people you love. And if you’re travelling, well, we hope it is quick and painless! And if you’re the one doing the hosting this year, make sure that your road-weary travellers are taken care of when they step into your home!

For Thanksgiving, this means appetizers. Before you stuff yourself with turkey and pumpkin pie, get your guests primed and ready to go with some amazing apps. One of our personal favorites is shrimp cocktail. Not only is it delicious (because, shrimp!) but it is also a gluten-free solution that everyone can love. Pair it with a tasty cocktail dipping sauce and a spritz of lemon, and it’ll be gone before you know it.

Another great gluten-free Turkey Day appetizer is bacon-wrapped potatoes. Using small potatoes (think fingerling or golden potatoes), wrap them in a slice of bacon and bake until the potatoes are soft and the bacon is done. For the full recipe and cooking instructions, click here.

Side Dishes to Wow

Is it just us or should there be specialized “oversized plates” for Thanksgiving? After all, by the time the turkey comes around the table, you’re lucky if you can squeeze any on your plate with the abundance of amazing side dishes.

Here’s a side dish idea that is on the lighter side, which everyone will appreciate in between bites of mashed potatoes and gravy.

Arugula salad with peach and avocado. This one is simple, and the beauty of it is that not only is it gluten free, but it doesn’t require the stovetop or oven, which means you don’t need to sweat over a hot stove to make this delicious dish.

Take 2-3 ripe peaches and (optionally) remove the skin. Slice them up into crescents and set them aside. Next, take 1-2 ripe avocados and slice them into crescents, as well. Set aside. Slice one red onion into thin slivers, and also set aside. In a large bowl, add your arugula. Then, toss all ingredients together in the bowl with a light dressing (try olive oil, cracked pepper, and lemon juice for a light, refreshing dressing). This simple salad will be a hit and leave everyone feeling a little less full (maybe).

Imbibing and Feasting

Before we make it to the main course (the bird), chances are there will be plenty of wine, spirits, and beer at your Thanksgiving table. The words “Eat, drink, and be merry” come to mind! New Planet Beer is proud to be a staple at many Thanksgiving feasts, and the good news is that our gluten free and gluten-reduced beers pair great with a variety of dishes and meats.

Even if you aren’t Celiac or don’t have a gluten sensitivity, it is always nice to have a non-gluten beer on hand in case any of your guests are. They’ll be happy that they aren’t “left out” of the toasts, and it will make your event that much more seamless. Pick up our popular Pale Ale or Blonde Ale.

The Bird is the Word

Okay…now that you’ve got a New Planet Beer in hand at the table, it’s time to talk turkey!

Thankfully (pun very, very much intended), turkey is by its very nature gluten free. But depending on how you prepare it, you may introduce gluten to the mix. We’re huge fans of this recipe from the folks over at Food & Wine. Its straightforward (meaning you probably have most of the spices already, and the other ingredients are easily picked up at the supermarket), and it leaves the turkey with a just-crispy-enough skin and a tender, juicy inside.

It only takes about 4 hours, which includes time to let the meat rest, and needs just occasional basting. While that beauty is roasting, chow down on those appetizers, catch up with loved ones, enjoy the extra days off from work, and soak it all in.

No matter where you find yourself this Thanksgiving, we hope you have a wonderful holiday.

At New Planet Beer, we are truly thankful to have such a wonderful community of people who enjoy good beer and good company. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for joining us as we do what we love!

Cheers!

The Truth is Out There! Demystifying Gluten-Free and Gluten-Reduced Beers

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While it may not be an age-old question, it is certainly one that we at New Planet Beer get a lot: What is the difference between gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer?

Grab a pint and let’s dive in! Also, be sure to check out our sweet new infographic at the bottom of this article. Whether you’re Celiac or unsure if you have a gluten intolerance, the infographic is designed to help you understand a bit more whether gluten-free or gluten-reduced is the right choice for you!

Gluten-free beer is brewed with ingredients that are naturally gluten-free, such as millet, sorghum, rice, corn, quinoa, gluten-free oats, and cane sugar. If you’re not sure if a beer is truly gluten-free or not, know that all gluten-free beer labels must adhere to specific FDA standards.

Gluten-reduced beer is brewed with traditional ingredients such as barley and rye, which is then given an enzyme that specializes in breaking down the gluten-containing proteins. Gluten-reduced beers are technically called “crafted to remove gluten” and, similar to gluten-free beer’s need to adhere to FDA standards, must adhere to the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) standards. To obtain a “crafted to remove gluten” label the TTB requires that the beers pass a laboratory test at less than 10 ppm (parts per million) of gluten. When choosing a “crafted to remove gluten” beer, be sure to look for the TTB language on the package (the can or bottle) as there are many breweries that claim their beer is crafted to remove gluten despite it never being tested to TTB standards.

The key to brewing gluten-free beers is to start with 100% gluten-free ingredients and to develop a consistent process to eliminate cross contamination. As far as the actual brewing process is concerned, ensuring that your equipment is absolutely clean is an essential step for creating gluten-free beers. Cross contamination from gluten grains can completely ruin a gluten-free batch. That’s why at New Planet we only brew gluten-free beers after a scheduled CIP (clean in place) of the equipment and a deep clean of the surrounding areas. This way, we can ensure our equipment is 100% clean and free from possible gluten contaminants.

When brewing “crafted to remove gluten” beers, it is best to incorporate friendly grains like oats, non-gmo blue corn, and cane sugar into the grain build and start the brewing process with less gluten than a traditional barley craft beer. Also, we have tested and calibrated the enzymatic process over the last three years and have developed a proprietary process in dosing the enzymes to ensure the best possible outcome. (If you can’t tell, we nerd out about this, because we love making beers for everyone!)

No matter where you fall on the gluten-free or gluten-reduced spectrum, there is promising news: more and more breweries are seeing the opportunity that these beers present. As more people begin to ask about what’s in their beer, breweries are adapting and making tasty brews with this market in mind. For you, this means more choices will be available for you to drink gluten-free or gluten-reduced beers.

Below, explore our helpful new infographic to get a better understanding of whether gluten-free or gluten-reduced beer is best for you.

If you’ve already been diagnosed Celiac, the answer for you is simple: Drink gluten-free beer!

For those of you who haven’t been diagnosed Celiac, a few options exist for you. If you have already tried gluten-reduced beer and you still react to it, it is best that you stick to gluten-free beer altogether. Afterall, a beer is only good if you enjoy it during and after!

Lastly, if you’ve had both gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer, and the gluten-reduced beer doesn’t seem to give you any issues, we’ve got good news for you: drink both gluten-free and gluten-reduced brews!

At New Planet Beer, we’re proud to be brewing gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer. Not a group to settle, we continually improve our recipes to give you the highest quality beer that fits your dietary needs and your wallet.

So, next time you’re in your local liquor store and reach for a gluten-free or gluten-reduced beer, check the packaging so you see what we’re talking about…and keep supporting your local brewers by picking up a New Planet six pack for your next adventure.

Cheers!

Summer Getaways with New Planet Beer

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Waiting for summer is always bittersweet. Here in Colorado, a late-May snowstorm was quickly followed by 90°+ heat and before we knew it, the kids were out of school! And here we are, just days away from the beginning of July, figuring out how to best spend those precious days and weekends of warm weather. At New Planet Beer, we love the outdoors, and in that spirit, we’ve compiled a list of outdoor themed activities for you and yours to tackle in the last few months of summer.

Camping

Everyone has a different definition of camping. To some hardcore enthusiasts, it isn’t “camping” unless you’re backpacking 10+ miles into the wilderness with nothing but dried beans and a water filter for survival. If that’s your MO: good for you! We’d just encourage you to pack in an extra 12 ounces of our mountain-ready Seclusion IPA to keep you company and reward you once you set up camp!

For others, it isn’t camping unless it is “glamping.” That’s right: the combination of glamour and camping. Why leave behind the comforts of showers and running water if you don’t have to? For those of you who prefer the RV, bring the whole family with you to our amazing National and State Parks. These gems are perfect for families to explore the best of what mother nature has to offer.

Lastly, you may be an inbetweener, and you don’t mind sleeping on the ground in your tent, but you don’t want to hike for miles and miles to get there. Many weekend warriors are more than happy to car camp: break out the tent, sleeping bag, and lantern, and just sit by a campfire telling stories with friends as you listen to the nearby water and look up at the cloudless, star filled night.

Fishing

Another summertime favorite, fishing is a great way to while away the summertime hours. Bait fishing or fly fishing? People swear by both, so we’re not going to choose sides here! Whatever your passion, grab your rod and reel or pole and tackle box and hit the rivers and lakes near your home.

If you’ve got kids, fishing is a great way to teach them about local ecosystems, aquatic animal life, and (if you dare!) the peace and quiet that comes with being silent trying not to “scare the fish.” (Author’s note: I’m a lot older now, and I still don’t know if noises actually do scare fish away or if I just talked too much as a kid and it was a trick my dad invented to get some silence out of me…)

Water Parks

Getting away for a night or two or even a long day to fish or camp isn’t always feasible for everyone, so on those hot days, find a local swimming pool or water park. With waterslides and  rides, kids of all ages can cool down and have a ball splashing through the parks. Before you go, call ahead and ask if they have group discounts or see if local grocery stores offer any coupons for the parks. You’d be surprised how many offer deals to families in the summer time. Most places also let you bring in food for snacks and lunches, but be sure to leave those glass bottles at home!

Craft Brew Festivals

It wouldn’t be summer (at least in our minds) without one or two craft beer festivals! Summertime offers an endless array of brew fests, both large and small. We’ve seen advertisements for Belgian Beer Fests, festivals for breweries 5 years old or younger, local neighborhood fests, the list goes on.

Why do we love them so much? It combines two of our favorite things: beer and being outside in the sunshine. There is something really fun and unique about walking around from tent to tent with a small tasting glass and shooting the breeze with brewers and festival attendees. Friendships are made, people have smiles on their faces, and the beers are flowing! So hitch a ride and find a beer fest that interests you this summer!

No matter what you decide to do with your summertime hours, we hope that you enjoy the most of it with the people you love and with a cold beer in hand. And if you do find yourself in the Great Outdoors this summer, don’t forget New Planet Beer’s insanely portable six-packs of Seclusion IPA and Tread Lightly Ale!

New Planet Beer summertime getaways

Schoolin’ Lesson 2: Gluten Free vs Gluten Reduced Beers

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In the immortal words of Matthew McConaughey, “Alright alright alright.”

School’s back in session! Last month, we started class with some “Lesson Plans” to educate you, our beloved beer drinkers, on matters relating to how we do things at New Planet Beer. Today, we continue the lesson plans!  

New Planet Beer Schoolin 2

Are there any styles of beer that are harder to make gluten-free or gluten-reduced?

Not so much. Just about every style you can think of is brewable whether it is crafted to be gluten-free or to remove gluten. In other words, there isn’t much standing in our way when it comes to making the best beer styles accessible to our hop-head, gluten-conscious consumer. If you truly want a wheat beer…you are out of luck.

Speaking of hops…What’s the difference between adding hops to traditional brews and gluten-free or gluten-reduced ones?

Great question, Grasshopper. Hop utilization (how well the hops have imparted their taste and aroma into the beer) is different in gluten-free grain (what we use) versus barley grain (traditional beer grain). What this means for New Planet Beer is that managing bitterness in gluten-free is a harder task than in conventional beer. Our beers that are brewed with gluten-free grain take on bitterness at a higher level than those of traditional grains, so we need to be really careful when adding hops to get it just right.

Do you feel that there is a stigma around gluten-free or gluten-reduced beers?

Definitely. But like many things in life, the best way to cure stigma is through education, and we’re happy to be educating the masses on just how awesome gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers (especially ours!) are. Luckily, though, we at New Planet see a positive shift in perception as gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers keep getting better and better.

We still believe that the best education is to sample the beers at craft beer festivals, local liquor stores, and restaurants. We know that when folks get a chance to taste the beers themselves, a lot of those preconceived notions melt away, and they’re walking away with a new six pack in tow!

What are you brewing right now?

Right now, we’re brewing our new Blonde Ale that just won Gold Medal at the Denver International Competition ( April 2017) made from Colorado Millet, 100% gluten-free grain. This is a recipe that we’ve been refining and perfecting for a while now. This marks our third batch, and we’re excited for everyone to try it!

Without sounding braggadocious (not something Matthew McConaughey is known to say!), we really believe that this is a game-changer. As we mentioned before, there is still a stigma around gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers, and if education is the best cure for that, then this is our PhD thesis…thought, time, care, and passion has gone into this beer, and we see it competing with traditional craft beers like no other gluten-free or gluten-reduced beer has ever done before.

Alright. Great. But how much is this game-changer gonna cost me?

Ha! Fair question. Let us put it this way: when we set out to craft New Planet’s Blonde Ale, we wanted to create a beer that reminded us of the beers we were loving before our Celiac diagnosis. In other words, we wanted a beer that had character, flavor, and personality in spades. A true craft beer. With our Blonde Ale, we’ve got it dialed in. We also wanted to make it affordable, so we’ve priced it competitively in our home market for just $8.99 per six pack. Good beer does not need to cost $16.99 a four pack if you know what I mean.

That concludes class for another day. Please recycle your New Planet Beer homework bottles. Track down our Blonde Ale or Seclusion IPA for your next take-home exam!  

An Interview with Pedro Gonzalez

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Every so often, people ask me, “How did you get into brewing?”

It seems like a simple enough question right? I always thought of myself holding a sign that said, “Will brew for beer” or something like that.

But like many things that are special about this industry, I didn’t go about this alone. When my wife, Seneca Murley, and I opened New Planet Beer in 2009, craft beer was seemingly everywhere we looked. From our homebase in Boulder, Colorado, there were dozens of craft breweries within biking distance, and even more within a 30 mile radius.

interview with pedro gonzalez of new planet beer

As we were getting started, we had a helping hand from some great people at amazing breweries. These folks not only helped us accomplish our dream by being invaluable resources, but some, like John Legnard at Blue Moon, even lent me equipment “back in the day.” Thankfully, Mike Bristol from Bristol Brewing, Tom Hennessey at Colorado Boy, and Bob Baile at Twisted Pine were there to get us through some of the more difficult aspects of opening a brewery, too.

One thing Seneca and I noticed when we looked around our fellow breweries, though, was a lack of gluten-free beers.

Since I was diagnosed Celiac, I’ve been a Gluten Free Advocate. That means I work to spread awareness around Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. So when we started brewing, it was a natural fit for us to aim to craft delicious ales that everyone could enjoy. We settled on the name New Planet Beer, because for many, when they’re diagnosed with a gluten allergy, it’s like they’re living in a new world. We also feel strongly about supporting Mother Earth…and New Planet Beer was born!

Of course, brewing without “traditional” grains provides its challenges, as you can imagine! Early on, our biggest challenge was working with non-traditional grains like sorghum. We were convinced we could concoct craft beer with traditional character without the “usual grain suspects.” After some tweaking and countless “Quality Assurance” taste tests, we felt we’d made some beers that would stake our ground.

Now that our Flagship beers (Tread Lightly Ale and Seclusion IPA) seem to be hitting their stride, our current challenge is growing our company responsibly and sustainably so that we can share our beer with even more people. After 8 years in business we’re also facing more competition in the gluten-free and gluten-reduced space. But as the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all ships.” We see this competition as a good, healthy thing. It means we’re doing something right. It also pushes us to make sure we don’t get complacent. It reminds us that we’re in this for the long-haul.

New Planet Beer New gluten Free Blonde Ale RecipeThe other most-asked question I get is, “What are you brewing now?”

Right now, we’re brewing our reformulated Blonde Ale. I’m a tinkerer by nature, and until something is just right, I’m not satisfied. This is a recipe that I have played around with quite a bit over the years, but I can say now that if I didn’t tell you, you’d have no idea it was gluten-free. This new combination takes advantage of a different millet, and it really complements the Blonde’s already-notable characteristics. A light lemon-grass color with a crisp, clean taste, this Blonde Ale is it! I’m excited to share it with you, so make sure to look for it in your local liquor store. And, if you don’t see it, be sure to ask them to reach out so we can stock their shelves!

That’s a long-winded answer to why we started New Planet Beer, but I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoy brewing beer for you.

-Pedro Gonzalez, Founder