What on earth would inspire someone to put lentils in beer? Who would do such a crazy thing? It turns out Regina’s Rebellion Brewing, that’s who.

When I first heard about their lentil beer I was instantly curious. Lentils seems like such an unusual option for an adjunct. First, it is not a grain! It is a legume, for goodness sake. (Actually, more accurately it is a pulse, which is the seed of a legume). Second, what kind of flavour impact will it have? I was struck.

A few weeks ago Rebellion finally shipped some beer to Alberta, for which Alberta craft beer drinkers are eternally grateful. It included their Lentil Beer. So, naturally, I quickly scooped some up. And, again naturally, decided to make it a topic of my CBC column, which you can listen to here.

The beer has a fabulous backstory. It started as a dare between owner Mark Heise and his cousin who works a pulse distributor. As it turns out – I did not know this – Saskatchewan is the world’s largest producer of pulses, so Heise thought it would be a perfect ingredient to experiment with. They even used a variety that had been developed at the University of Saskatchewan. And as it turned out, their customers loved the beer, so they kept making it. Dare victory to Heise!

I can sense people’s noses crinkling at the thought of a beer with lentils. Lentils in beer? Who would want a beer that tastes like peas?

It is not that at all. Keep in mind your brewing science. The lentils go in the mash. As a pulse they are relatively low in starch but high in protein, meaning they are not going to contribute to alcohol production and won’t ferment out. The expected result is more likely a boost in the overall body and maybe an added earthy character.

That is what comes through. Rebellion crafted a base style similar to a cream ale – easy drinking with a light palate. They added 20% lentils to create some flavour and body effect without being overpowering.

When I taste the beer I first notice a gentle graininess with a lemon accent. The aroma is fairly subdued. This is a VERY quaffable beer. Clean with just a touch of fruitiness and ripe grain stalk. The lentils add a touch of body, preventing the beer from presenting too thin. I also pick up a light earthiness in the linger which may or may not be the lentils.

The effect of the lentils themselves are subtle, but I am pretty certain I would notice their absence.The beer has a slightly more complex profile without being heavier or sweeter. The lentils add a touch of oomph to a beer designed to be light and accessible. It doesn’t hurt the base beer is well executed.

Who woulda thunk it? Not me. I love me some lentils but before Rebellion I would have never contemplated putting them in my beer.

Now? I am contemplating experimenting with them in a future batch of homebrew. I wonder what French lentils (my personal favourite) would do? (Curse you, Mark Heise!!)