Negra Modelo

Beer: Negra Modelo

Style: Vienna Lager/Dark Lager

Brewing location: Cervecería Modelo, Mexico

Originating country: Mexico

Alcohol by Volume: 5.4% 

Ingredients: malt, hops, yeast and water

Format tested: 12 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 77/100

Ratebeer rating: 22/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• First brewed in Mexico by Austrian immigrants, and was introduced as a draft beer in 1926.
• Negra Modelo is Mexico’s top-selling dark beer and the #2 imported dark beer in the U.S. Average growth rate for the last 10 years (1999-2008) is 9.3%.
• To achieve its unique taste, Negra Modelo uses a greater quantity of malt.

Test result photo

Test result

Negative at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is less than 20 ppm. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Negra Modelo

This is not my first experience drinking Negra Modelo. I used to drink it on a regular basis before being diagnosed gluten intolerant. From that point I steered clear of dark beers on the understanding that they were more likely to contain gluten than lagers and other pale beers; I read words to this effect on Heineken's website. Well, this test result is great news for gluten intolerant lovers of dark beer, such as myself. I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum; I am gluten intolerant but not celiac. I definitely know what it feels like to be “glutened” i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I consumed this 12 oz bottle and felt none of my typical gluten effects. I will definitely feel more comfortable having 2 or 3 Negra Modelos in succession now - yes right now!

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Newcastle Brown Ale

Beer: Newcastle Brown Ale
Style: English Brown Ale
Brewing location: Tadcaster, England
Originating country: England
Alcohol by Volume: 4.7% 
Ingredients: not published but rumored to be malt (more likely to be barley than corn-based), yeast, hops, water, artificial caramel coloring (well below the California legal standards, which are the toughest in the US) 
Format tested: 12 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA
Beeradvocate rating: 81/100
Ratebeer rating: 42/100
Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• The blue star logo’s five points represent the five founding breweries of Newcastle.
• By the late 1990s the beer was the most widely distributed alcoholic product in the UK.
• The rudest, crudest, lewdest, drunkest band in Christendom, The Macc Lads recorded a song "Newcy Brown" in honor of the beer

Test Result Photo

Test result
Very High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is well over 20 ppm. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Newcastle Brown Ale 
This was a favorite of mine as a student in London in the 90s - many a great night out on 'Newcy Brown'. People in the UK don't realize it but Newcastle Brown Ale is very popular in the US - it's available literally everywhere. Well, like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, it's much more appreciated in the US than in the UK.  I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum; I am gluten intolerant but not celiac. I definitely know what it feels like to be "glutened" i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. In the past I used to drink this beer regularly but since the gluten intolerance diagnosis I've steered clear - as I have with all darker beers. I consumed this 12 oz bottle over an hour period (drinking nothing else) without experiencing any kind of gluten reaction.

Stone Brewery Creating a Low Gluten Beer

Great news for fans of Stone Brewery beers. It appears that Stone has developed a low gluten IPA called Stripped Away IPA. The beer is a product of Stone Brewing’s Liberty Station, which is Stone’s experimental small batch brewery. Read more of the story at the Beerguyla blog:

http://www.beerguyla.com/reademandweep/stripped-away-ipa-stone-brewing-liberty-station/

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon aka PBR

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Los Angeles, CA

Originating country: USA

Alcohol by Volume: 4.74% 

Ingredients: Corn syrup, water, yeast, hops, only an infusion of barley

Format tested: 24 oz can purchased in Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 69/100

Ratebeer rating: 2/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous 

• In 1844, German immigrant Jacob Best and his sons establish the Empire Brewery in Milwaukee, WI and produce 300 barrels of Best Select lager in their first year. 
• Originally called Best Select, and then Pabst Select, the current name came from the blue ribbons that were tied around the bottle neck, a practice that ran from 1882 until 1916.
• The beer experienced a sales revival in the early 2000s after a two decade-long slump, largely due to its increasing popularity among urban hipsters.

Test results photo

Test result

Negative at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is less than 20 ppm gluten. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking PBR

I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum. I definitely know what it feels like to be “glutened” i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I am not a hipster; neither am I an American over 60 years of age, so I don't really drink PBR on a regular basis. I drank this 24 oz can in about 45 minutes and did not feel any kind of gluten reaction.

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Can These Brewers Cash In on the Gluten-Free Trend?

This story comes from Daily Finance

Can These Brewers Cash In on the Gluten-Free Trend?

by John-Erik Koslosky, The Motley Fool Jan 11th 2014 12:15PM
Updated Jan 11th 2014 12:16PM

Some American brewers are ditching barley -- the foundation of beer for centuries -- for some of their beers in order to capitalize on a fast-growing trend in food and beverages: gluten-free. Instead, they are turning to things like sorghum -- best known as cattle feed -- rice, and other grains that don’t contain the protein some consumers are trying to avoid. READ MORE

Stone IPA

Beer: Stone IPA

Style: American-style India Pale Ale

Brewing location: Escondido, San Diego County, CA

Originating country: USA

Alcohol by Volume: 6.9% 

Ingredients: could not find

Format tested: 12 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 96/100

Ratebeer rating: 100/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, it is the largest brewery in Southern California.
• As of 2012, it was the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States and 17th largest brewery overall, based on sales volume.
• The brewery’s first beer was Stone Pale Ale, which it considers to be its flagship ale.

Test result photo

Test result

Very High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is well over 20 ppm gluten. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Stone IPA

Along with Heineken, there are accounts out there suggesting that Stone IPA is low in gluten, so I was very curious to see this result. My tests have shown they exceed the 20 ppm considered safe for celiacs. I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum. I definitely know what it feels like to be “glutened” i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I have safely consumed 2 x 12 oz bottles of Stone IPA over a 3 hour period (drinking nothing else) without experiencing any kind of gluten reaction. Stone has recently introduced 'Stripped Away IPA' a low gluten (less than 5 ppm) IPA which I look forward to trying. 

Guinness

Beer: Guinness

Style: Irish Dry Stout

Originating country: Ireland

Brewing location: St James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland

Ingredients: Roasted malted-barley, hops, water, Guinness Yeast

Alcohol by volume: 4.2%

Format tested: draught pint purchased in London, England

Beer Advocate Rating: 79/100 (draft)

Ratebeer Rating:  88/100 (can)

Test kit: E-Z- Gluten

Miscellaneous

• The biggest selling markets for Guinness in 2004 were (in order): Great Britain, Ireland, Nigeria, US, Cameroon. 
• It’s not black. Guinness is actually a deep, ruby red, a color the company attributes in part to the roasting of malted barley during the beer’s preparation.
• 40 percent of all Guinness is brewed and sold in Africa
• Nicknames for Guinness: the black stuff, Liffey water, black custard, diesel
• Guinness tastes better in Ireland (I can vouch) and nobody knows why

Test result photo

Test result

Very high positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is well over 20 ppm gluten. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Guinness

I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum. I definitely know what it feels like to be "glutened" i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I have not had anything beyond a sip of Guinness since being diagnosed gluten intolerant.

Modelo Especial

Beer: Modelo Especial
Style: Pale Lager
Brewing location: Cervecería Modelo, Mexico
Originating country: Mexico
Alcohol by Volume: 4.4% 
Ingredients: rice, water, hops, refined corn starch and yeast. Other grain or sugars adjuncts are often used
Format tested: 24 oz can purchased in Los Angeles, CA USA
Beeradvocate rating: 66/100
Ratebeer rating: 4/100
Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• The original recipe was first brewed in Mexico in 1925, under the vision to create a ‘model’ beer.
• After Corona Extra and Heineken, Modelo Especial is the biggest selling imported beer in the US
• The brewing company Grupo Modelo has 37,000 employees and a total annual installed capacity of 70 million hectoliters.

Test results photo

Test result
Negative at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is less than 20 ppm gluten. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Modelo Especial
I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum. I definitely know what it feels like to be "glutened" i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. This is the first time I have ever had Modelo Especial and had no reaction drinking this 24 oz can in around one hour.

Heineken Light

Beer: Heineken Light

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Heineken Brouwerijen B.V., Amsterdam, Holland

Originating country: Holland

Alcohol by Volume: 3.3% 

Ingredients: purified water, malted barley, hops, yeast

Format tested: 12 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 57/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous 

• Heineken Light is produced solely for the US market
• Heineken Light 12 oz bottle has 99 calories and 3.3% ABV. Regular Heineken has 150 calories and 5% ABV.
• Heineken Light US sales declined 36.7% between 2007 and 2012

Test results photo

Test result

Very High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is well over 20 ppm. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Heineken Light

In my opinion this is the best tasting light beer out there, bar none. So I hope it stays on the market despite declining sales. I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum. I definitely know what it feels like to be "glutened" i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I have consumed 3 x 12 oz bottles of Heineken Light over a 3-4 hour period (drinking nothing else) without experiencing any kind of gluten reaction. Failing the 20 ppm test is a disappointing result for celiacs given that most US domestic light beers appear to be well below the tolerated 20 ppm gluten level.

Heineken

Beer: Heineken

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Heineken Brouwerijen B.V., Amsterdam, Holland

Originating country: Holland

Alcohol by Volume: 5% 

Ingredients: purified water, malted barley, hops, and some sources say yeast. Others say only 3 ingredients.

Format tested: 12 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA USA

Beeradvocate rating: 64/100

Ratebeer rating: 6/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous 

• Heineken is one of the ‘big four’ brewers. Along with Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, London-listed SABMiller and Denmark’s Carlsberg they control half of the global beer market.
• Bothered by Heineken bottles contributing to vast amounts of trash, Heineken briefly introduced rectangular bottles that could double as bricks for affordable housing in the Caribbean.
• Heineken recently changed the shape of their bottle. The first redesign since 1946.

Test results photo

Test result
Very High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is well over 20 ppm gluten. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Heineken
I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum. I definitely know what it feels like to be "glutened" i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I have consumed 3 x 12 oz bottles of Heineken over a 3-4 hour period (drinking nothing else) without experiencing any kind of gluten reaction.

Corona Extra

Beer: Corona Extra

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Cervecería Modelo, Mexico

Originating country: Mexico

Alcohol by Volume: 4.6% 

Ingredients: Corona Extra contains barley malt, rice and/or corn, hops, yeast, antioxidants (ascorbic acid), and propylene glycol as a stabilizer

Format tested: 12 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA USA

Beeradvocate rating: 55/100
Ratebeer rating: 1/100
Test kit: E-Z Gluten



Miscellaneous 

• In 1940 Corona Extra was the first beer to print its label directly onto the bottle
• In 2012 Corona Extra was the #6 selling beer overall in the U.S. 
• Drinking and enjoying Corona wouldn’t be complete without a wedge of lime or lemon inserted into the bottle’s mouth, to add extra flavor and tartness. But this was done first in Mexico to keep the flies from getting into their beer. ¡Salud!

Test results photo

Test result
Negative at 10 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is less than 10 ppm gluten. Though standards vary from country to country, according to the FDA, "in order to use the term 'gluten free' on its label a food must meet all the requirements of the definition, including that the food must contain less than 20 ppm gluten". It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.

My experience drinking Corona Extra
A lot better beer than people give it credit for. This is the perfect beer on a summer's day and since I live in Los Angeles I drink this year round. Ever had that feeling when you open a beer and think "wish I had xyz beer instead"? Never with Corona. Absolutely refreshing every time - especially with that slice of lime. I am not sure where I fall in the gluten tolerance spectrum; I am gluten intolerant but not celiac. I definitely know what it feels like to be "glutened" i.e. gluten exposure, but I have not deliberately pushed my gluten consumption limits with any food or beer. I have safely consumed 3 x 12 oz bottles of Corona Extra over a 3-4 hour period (drinking nothing else) without experiencing any kind of gluten reaction.

Work in Progress...

Pilsner Urquell
Kirin Light