A Gluten-Free Taproom Experience

A Discovery

A departure from my regular musings on beer and testing; I was inspired by a recent visit to Seattle where I came upon Ghostfish Brewing Company 2942 1st Ave South Seattle, WA 98134. Ghostfish Taproom is an entirely gluten-free brew pub. When I found it was within a 10 minute walk from the conference I was attending, I was ecstatic! Speed walking, I could get there in 5.

Did I say Gluten-Free?

When I say Gluten-Free, I mean Gluten-Free (GF) and not -gluten reduced. I’m also talking wheat-free. And when I say an entirely GF brew pub, I mean not only the beer, but the food is also gluten-free. It is a dedicated GF facility.

Ghostfish creates all of their beer from non-gluten grains. Primarily, they use malted millet, as well as malted and unmalted buckwheat, which is not wheat, by the way. Buckwheat is not a grass like wheat, it is more closely related to vegetables. Additionally, they use malted and unmalted brown rice, unmalted white sorghum, and Belgian candi syrup, which is from dates or beets.

The Taproom 

Ghostfish Taproom is located in South Seattle in a fairly industrial area, which is fitting for the architecture choice of the brewery: a modern industrial feel, but welcoming to all with wood accents, high ceilings, exposed beams, and touches of metallurgy.

When I arrived with my crew, we were pleasantly surprised by the live music of a string trio. Lovely, relaxing sounds of cello, violin, and guitar, made the experience whole. It was a sunny day in Seattle, one worthy of opening up the large glass garage doors at the front of the pub that were designed just for days like these. Our table sat in a cool breeze with tall chairs; quickly a friendly server seated us and presented the menu of food and beers to choose from.

Food & Beer

Ghostfish has an extensive taproom offering and I must say, it was hard to choose, but I went with the Meteor Shower, Blond Ale and it was a great choice for a hot day in Seattle: crisp, refreshing, clear. With an ABV of 4.5%, it was a nice, light option. Meteor Shower is one of Ghostfish’s year-round flagship beers, and something lighter made sense to go with the Fish & Chips meal: beer battered Alaskan Cod with French fries and a diary-free slaw. The fish was fresh and tasty with a very light, elegant batter coating. Very satisfying.

Of note, Ghostfish offers an IPA knows as Killer Ale. I love this idea. Ghostfish partnered with Orca Protection & Rescue (OPR) to contribute to protecting wildlife in the Salish Sea from harassment, pollution and help for stranded or entangled wildlife.

If you happened to be in the area, heading to South Seattle to experience this taproom is well worth it. You can also take away your favorite beer in a growler. Also offered are cans and bottles, chilled and ready to go. If you are not near Seattle, you might try ordering direct from their website, if your state allows it, or you can use their on-line locator to find a place near you. BTW, I was not paid or compensated in anyway for this review. If you happen to go there, I would love to hear about your experience, so leave a comment!

Testing Gluten in Beer

This is site is focused on testing gluten in beer. Ghostfish uses no gluten in creating their product, so it is certified GF. If you are interested in beers that are low gluten, <5 part per million, check out the home page or go straight to test results for beers like Guinness, Fat Tire Ale, and more.