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.