Submitted by Val Vaartnou – Interview with Ashok Fogla, founder of TruCraft Beverages, BC Distributor of Ghostfish 2021
Ghostfish may be a gluten-free craft beer, but it competes with all beers and is enjoyed by coeliacs and craft beer aficionados alike! “At Ghostfish we love craft beer and we challenge the tradition of barely-based brewing by pushing boundaries - and perception! We are on a mission to show the world that 100% gluten free beers can lead the beer industry in flavor, quality, and innovation. We love to brew beer that pays tribute to classic styles but also expands your expectations of what gluten free beer can be. That’s why you see a variety of styles from a light Lager or refreshing IPAs to a spicy Saison or rich chocolate/coffee inspired Stout. And at the end of the day, no matter what, Ghostfish can be enjoyed by everyone - gluten free or gluten full.”
Ghostfish Brewing was an early pioneer of brewing with malted and unmalted grains that are 100% gluten free by nature - grains like millet, buckwheat, and rice. Malting is the process of sprouting grains (or seeds) under carefully controlled conditions, and then drying in a kiln at specific temperatures. From the onset, Ghostfish has operated an entirely dedicated gluten-free facility that today houses a large Taproom and restaurant. Ghostfish is the only 100% dedicated gluten-free brewery in Washington state.
Ghostfish Brewing Company was established in February of 2015 and is located in the historical district of SODO in Seattle, Washington. Co-owner and co-founder Brian Thiel was the driving force in establishing Ghostfish as a gluten-free brewery, having family members suffering with celiac disease. For 25 years, Brian had worked in the aluminum can industry and witnessed the rise of craft brewing, trying the home brewing experience himself. His wife had been diagnosed as celiac and longed for a good beer. Attending the Great American Beer Festival in 2013, Brian sampled all of that year’s award-winning gluten-free beers, but was underwhelmed by their quality and variety. With this information and renewed purpose, Brian, along with the other founding members of Ghostfish, set off with a vision to produce the highest quality gluten-free beer that could be enjoyed by all beer drinkers, gluten-free or not.
Today, Ghostfish is marketed to everyone, and the gluten-free label does not stand in their way as the flavor of the beer speaks for itself. Ghostfish has become one of the most acclaimed gluten-free breweries in the world, with five Great American Beer Festival medals and numerous additional awards and accolades both in and out of the gluten-free category. All the flagship beers have won at least one major award, and the Grapefruit IPA received a judged score of 93. Anything over 90 is exceptional.
By September 2021, the following Ghostfish beers will be available in specialty liquor stores across BC:
Initial stores carrying Ghostfish beer are Cask and Barrel (West Kelowna), Legacy (Vancouver), Stag Head (Kamloops) and Chef and Grape (Maple Ridge). This list will expand over time and information on availability can be attained by contacting exim@aficgroup.com
After being in business for over six years, Brian Thiel likes to think of all the wonderful celiac customers he’s met along the way as being part of the Ghostfish family. For more information on Ghostfish Brewing Company, visit their website at www.ghostfishbrewing.com.
Ghostfish Brewing Company
2942 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
206-397-3898
Ghostfish Brewing was an early pioneer of brewing with malted and unmalted grains that are 100% gluten free by nature - grains like millet, buckwheat, and rice. Malting is the process of sprouting grains (or seeds) under carefully controlled conditions, and then drying in a kiln at specific temperatures. From the onset, Ghostfish has operated an entirely dedicated gluten-free facility that today houses a large Taproom and restaurant. Ghostfish is the only 100% dedicated gluten-free brewery in Washington state.
Ghostfish Brewing Company was established in February of 2015 and is located in the historical district of SODO in Seattle, Washington. Co-owner and co-founder Brian Thiel was the driving force in establishing Ghostfish as a gluten-free brewery, having family members suffering with celiac disease. For 25 years, Brian had worked in the aluminum can industry and witnessed the rise of craft brewing, trying the home brewing experience himself. His wife had been diagnosed as celiac and longed for a good beer. Attending the Great American Beer Festival in 2013, Brian sampled all of that year’s award-winning gluten-free beers, but was underwhelmed by their quality and variety. With this information and renewed purpose, Brian, along with the other founding members of Ghostfish, set off with a vision to produce the highest quality gluten-free beer that could be enjoyed by all beer drinkers, gluten-free or not.
Today, Ghostfish is marketed to everyone, and the gluten-free label does not stand in their way as the flavor of the beer speaks for itself. Ghostfish has become one of the most acclaimed gluten-free breweries in the world, with five Great American Beer Festival medals and numerous additional awards and accolades both in and out of the gluten-free category. All the flagship beers have won at least one major award, and the Grapefruit IPA received a judged score of 93. Anything over 90 is exceptional.
By September 2021, the following Ghostfish beers will be available in specialty liquor stores across BC:
- Grapefruit IPA – bracing and bright with a pungent grapefruit aroma and powerful citrusy bitterness. A real hop bomb.
- Meteor Shower Blonde Ale - light-bodied and malt-forward, with notes of honey, sweet rice, corn, and honeydew melon. Easy drinkin’!
- Shrouded Summit Belgian White Ale - bursting with classic Belgian-style aromatics and banana, clove, and sweet orange, you won’t believe there’s no wheat!
- Watchstander Stout – a dark beer with flavors of rich chocolate, coffee, plum and a campfire marshmallow.
Initial stores carrying Ghostfish beer are Cask and Barrel (West Kelowna), Legacy (Vancouver), Stag Head (Kamloops) and Chef and Grape (Maple Ridge). This list will expand over time and information on availability can be attained by contacting exim@aficgroup.com
After being in business for over six years, Brian Thiel likes to think of all the wonderful celiac customers he’s met along the way as being part of the Ghostfish family. For more information on Ghostfish Brewing Company, visit their website at www.ghostfishbrewing.com.
Ghostfish Brewing Company
2942 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
206-397-3898
