Emsworth gluten-free brewers bring home gold, silver medals from U.S. Open Beer Championship
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Some occasions just call for a cold beer.
For Doug Foster, diagnosed with celiac disease at 5 years old, that particular social indulgence was not really possible.
But, for the past decade, Foster and Aurochs Brewing Company co-founder Ryan Bove have been working to brew tasty, gluten-free beers. This summer, the work they put in at their 100% gluten-free brewery in Emsworth was recognized on a national level, when they earned gold and silver medals from the annual U.S. Open Beer Championship.
“There was really no supply chain or road-map for brewing entirely gluten-free when Ryan and I both started brewing at home in the fall of 2011,” Foster said. “It’s been a long journey of ups and downs.”
Aurochs’ Hazy India Pale Ale won a gold medal in the “Gluten-Free IPA” category, and its Amber Ale took second place in the overall “Gluten-Free Beer” category.
“We had submitted a handful of beers over the last four or five years to this, as well as the Great American Beer Festival,” Foster said. “We’d won six medals between the two competitions, but this is the first time we’ve ever won gold, and certainly we were thrilled about it.”
Using gluten-free brewing materials like millet, quinoa and buckwheat, Foster said his goal is for Aurochs’ offerings to be all but indistinguishable from beer made with more traditional glutinous grains.
“We’ve brewed countless different styles of beer, and some of them definitely lend themselves better to a gluten-free brew,” he said. “But, over the years, our methods have improved, our staff has grown and we want to brew some kick-ass beer that anyone can take part in.”
Today there are more than 30 breweries producing gluten-free beer in the U.S., according to BestGlutenFreeBeers.com. As of 2019, a dozen of those breweries were 100% dedicated gluten-free.
Other Pennsylvania breweries to come away with U.S. Open medals include Desperate Times Brewery and Wolf Brewing near Harrisburg, along with Bru Daddy’s Brewing, ShawneeCraft Brewery and Wallenpaupack Brewing on the eastern side of the state.
Foster said anytime someone enjoys his beer, it’s flattering.
“But to be able to be recognized on a national level for something we put so much of ourselves into, it’s great,” he said.
For more, see AurochsBrewing.com and USOpenBeer.com.