Red Stripe

Beer: Red Stripe

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Latrobe, PA

Originating country: Jamaica

Alcohol by Volume: 4.7% 

Ingredients: Hops, malt, water and yeast

Format tested: 11.2oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 70/100

Ratebeer rating: 7/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Red Stripe has been the intermittent sponsor of the Jamaican bobsled team.
• In the U.S. in 2010, the bottling size was reduced from a typical 12 oz. per serving to 11.2 oz. per serving.
• In 1993, 51 percent ownership in Desnoes & Geddes Limited was purchased by Guinness Brewing Worldwide, now Diageo.
• Recently Red Stripe began sponsoring the International Festival of Thumb Wrestling held annually in Mason City, Iowa. Red Stripe Vice President of Marketing Randolph Samuelson II was the first black man to win this festival, and it has held a special place in his heart since he broke the colour barrier and won the championship in 1971.
• The US market version has been brewed in Latrobe, PA since 2012. D&G still makes Red Stripe for Jamaica, Brazil, Canada and Europe.

Test result photo

Test result

Very High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is more 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 Red Stripe

Calypso, reggae, cricket, good times. I hadn't had Red Stripe in a while so was really looking forward to this. Hmmmm what a disappointment; this was not what I remember it to be. Used to be pretty decent; this was definitely lackluster. What's going on here? Let's take a look at the label. On the front it doesn't say "Imported Jamaican Lager" any more, just "Jamaican Style Lager." OK not a good sign. Where's it brewed? Ahhhh Latrobe, PA. So now Red Stripe is about as Jamaican as Rolling Rock i.e. not very much. 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 11.2 oz. bottle in 30 minutes and felt no gluten-type reaction.