Category 12 Brewing in Victoria, British Columbia (B.C.) is proving that giving up gluten does not mean sacrificing the taste of craft beer. After a rigorous testing process, the brand is launching a new series of gluten-removed beers called Breakthru. The lineup of brews hits the shelves today and includes classic beer styles — Pilsner, India Pale Ale and Pale Ale.
Category 12 is known for intersecting old-world brewing methods and scientific ingenuity to craft exceptionally complex flavours that challenge perceptions of what beer can be — Breakthru is no exception. Named for those eureka moments that change the game, the new lineup is crafted using fine-tuned traditional recipes, treated to remove the gluten and uphold the taste.
With a doctorate in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Victoria paired with over 25 years of brewing experience, co-founder and brewmaster Michael Kuzyk sought to develop a product that would make authentic, bold-flavoured beer accessible to everyone, despite dietary restrictions.
“Our Breakthru beers are breaking food myths that giving up gluten comes with compromising taste and quality,” explains Michael Kuzyk. “There is a fundamental basis of biology and chemistry with brewing that guides the fermentation process and enables the creation of consistently great-tasting beers. We take this classic method one step further by exposing each batch of beer to a gluten-destructing enzyme during fermentation. The result? All the taste of a true beer with the gluten removed.”
Breakthru caters to the gluten-avoidant customer through a testing method defined by the Codex Alimentarius, a classification system created by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. This classification system outlines that gluten-safe products may not exceed levels of 20 parts per million (p.p.m.). To exercise caution, each Breakthru beer batch is tested by an independent, certified laboratory to ensure less than 10 p.p.m. of gluten remains.
Category 12 is inviting everyone to be part of the science by providing access to lab analysis results from the exact beer batch they are drinking from. Customers are invited to test their brew on the Category 12 website.
Beers
Breakthru India Pale Ale is robust and hop-forward while balanced and rich in resinous flavour. Expect to taste notes of pine and citrus with a crisp body that makes for a satisfying drinking experience.
6.9% alc/vol | 68 IBU
Breakthru Pale Ale is a full-flavoured beer without the bitterness. In the classic Pale Ale floral hop complexity melds with rich malts to create a stellar drinking experience.
4.9 alc/vol | 35 IBU
Breakthru Pilsner. Crisp and clean, this brew will quench thirst like nothing else. With high carbonation and refined malt flavour, fans of classic lagers will be impressed by its complexity and refinement.
4.9% alc/vol | 26 IBU
In addition to the three gluten-removed beers, Category 12 is continually expanding their line of seasonal releases, including those that pay homage to their favourite big Belgians and hoppy Northwestern ales.
Breakthru, with all Category 12 beer styles, are available for purchase at craft beer friendly B.C. retailers and some specialty retailers in Alberta. Only an eight-minute drive from Butchart Gardens and a 15-minute drive from downtown Victoria, tourists and locals can visit the taproom for a bite and a pint – a perfect spot to enjoy a cold one after a long bike ride or a day of taking in the sights.
For more information, visit category12beer.com.
