Tsingtao

Beer: Tsingtao

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Tsingtao Brewery Company, Quingdao, China

Originating country:  China

Alcohol by Volume: 4.8% 

Ingredients: Hops, malt, water and yeast

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

Beeradvocate rating: 65/100

Ratebeer rating: 5/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Tsingtao is produced with spring water from Laoshan, a mountain area famous throughout China for the purity of its water
• China's second largest brewery
• Was founded in 1903 by settlers from Germany and England as the Anglo-German Brewery Co. Ltd., an English-German joint stock company based in Hong Kong
• Tsingtao began exporting in 1954 and first came to the U.S. in 1972
• It is the #1 consumer product exported from China

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 Tsingtao

A crisp, light and refreshing beer. Definitely one of my favorites - a must with Chinese food.  This is what a lager should be - other brewers please take note. Easy to drink and no compromising on flavor; malt and hops in perfect harmony. 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 in 30 minutes and felt no gluten effects.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Style: American-style Pale Ale

Brewing location: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, CA

Originating country: USA

Alcohol by Volume: 5.6% 

Ingredients: Yeast: ale yeast; Hops: Magnum, Perle, Cascade; Malts: two-row Pale, caramel; water

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

Beeradvocate rating: 91/100

Ratebeer rating: 96/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• It is the best selling pale ale in the US, and the second best selling craft beer after Sam Adams Boston Lager
• The brewery is solar-powered with 10,000 photovoltaic modules covering its rooftops and parking lot
• Sierra Nevada is the largest buyer of organic hops in the US

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 Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Like many people, this beer was my first introduction to American craft brews. It was around before all the others, set the benchmark and it still leads the way. I can still remember the first time tasting it. A sticky malty texture, hints of citrus and extreme bitterness in the finish. It was a unique style and I loved it instantly. The prominence of the Cascade hops is what defines this American classic. 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 no gluten effects.

Sierra Nevada on Top of the World

Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll and commented. It was a resounding victory for Sierra Nevada. Please try the other Pale Ales featured in poll if you haven't yet: Stone Pale Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond and Firestone Pale 31 - you will not be disappointed. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale's gluten test results at 20 ppm will be posted imminently.

Fat Tire

Beer: Fat Tire

Style: Amber Ale

Brewing location: New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado

Originating country: USA

Alcohol by Volume: 5.2% 

Ingredients: malted barley, hops, yeast and water

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

Beeradvocate rating: 82/100

Ratebeer rating: 48/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Named in honor of the co-founders' bike trip through Europe, sampling their home-brews to the public.
• Fat Tire is the flagship beer of the New Belgium Brewing.
• Based on 2012 sales figures, New Belgium is the third largest craft brewer in the US. After Boston Beer Co and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

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 Fat Tire

Has toasty biscuit-like malt flavors and a nutty finish. Low carbonation means it's pretty flat. Sweet and a bit light on the hops, in my opinion. Very quaffable but nothing special. Despite New Belgium's claim of it being influenced by Belgian ales (as opposed to English or German beers), it is nothing of the sort. In fact it reminds me of an above average cask-condtioned Bitter served in British pubs. And these beers are best enjoyed at cellar temperature 55F i.e. not how it is typically served in the US. 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.

Leffe

Beer: Leffe

Style: Blonde Belgian Abbey Ale

Brewing location: Leuven, Belgium

Originating country: Belgium

Alcohol by Volume: 6.6% 

Ingredients: pale malt, hops, yeast and water

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

Beeradvocate rating: 80/100

Ratebeer rating: 85/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• The rich brewing tradition of the Leffe beers dates back more than 700 years to the Abbey Notre Dame de Leffe, founded in 1152.
• The Abbey was abolished after the French Revolution, but re-established in 1929.
• In 1952 the Abbey's Abbot, Father Nys, resurrected the Abbey's brewing tradition. Now it's brewed by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Let's hope the quality doesn't suffer.

Test result photo

Test result

Very high positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it is 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 Leffe

Ahhhhhh that unmistakeable taste of Belgium. All Belgian ales have it; apparently it's the yeast. Whatever it is I love them all. It's not often you feel spoiled drinking a beer but Leffe is one of them. I take care opening, pouring slowly into a chalice, natch, and watch orange gold fill my view. Always takes me back to the first time I had this in Bruges. Now compared to the Trappist ales, Leffe doesn't quite pack the same punch but still demands full attention and respect - you must sit down to enjoy and savor. At only 6.6% it's relatively weak by Belgian standards - your everyday beer in Brussels! 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 and felt none of my typical gluten effects. Shame it's over 20 ppm though.