Beer Test Results Summary Chart - through 2015

Beer	Test Results using E-Z Gluten*
Asahi Super Dry	Over 20 ppm
Beck's	Over 20 ppm
Brooklyn Lager	Over 20 ppm
Bud Light	Over 20 ppm
Carlsberg	Under 20 ppm
Chimay Premiere	Over 20 ppm
Coors Light	Under 10 ppm
Corona Extra	Under 10 ppm
Duvel	Under 20 ppm
Fat Tire	Over 20 ppm
Foster's Lager	Over 20 ppm
Guinness	Over 20 ppm
Heineken	Over 20 ppm
Heineken Light	Over 20 ppm
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale	Over 20 ppm
Kirin Light	Under 20 ppm
La Fin du Monde	Over 20 ppm
Leffe	Over 20 ppm
Maudite	Over 20 ppm
Miller High Life	Over 20 ppm
Miller Lite	Over 20 ppm
Modelo Especial	Under 20 ppm
Orval	Over 20 ppm
Negra Modelo	Under 20 ppm
Newcastle Brown Ale	Over 20 ppm
Omission Pale Ale	Under 20 ppm
Pabst Blue Ribbon	Under 20 ppm
Peroni Nastro Azzuro	Over 20 ppm
Pilsner Urquell	Over 20 ppm
Red Stripe	Over 20 ppm
Sapporo	Over 20 ppm
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	Over 20 ppm
Stella Artois	Over 20 ppm
Stone IPA	Over 20 ppm
Tecate	Over 20 ppm
Tsingtao	Under 20 ppm
Yanjing	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 (parts per million) gluten." It is said that products with a gluten content below 20 ppm are suitable for people with celiac disease.
DISCLAIMER: We are testing beers out of our own curiosity at home and sharing the test results with others. We are not medical doctors and our results should not be interpreted as medical advice. We do NOT claim that ANY of these beers are safe to consume if you have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant.

Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

Beer: Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Brewing location: Ibaraki, Japan

Originating country: Japan

Alcohol by Volume: 7% 

Ingredients: red rice, water, yeast, barley and hops

Format tested: 750 ml Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 82/100

Ratebeer rating: 49/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• The Japanese word こだわり KODAWARI means the uncompromising and meticulous engagement of perfection. This is how the brewery, Kiuchi, brews Hitachino Nest.
• They have been brewing beer since 1996.
• Red Rice Ale is brewed with ancient red rice. The ale has complex Sake like flavors with a hint of strawberry in the nose and palate.
• The brewing process starts with the polishing, washing, soaking and steaming of rice (25% of total grain bill) to break down complex type b-starch molecules into short type a ones.
  
  

Test result photo

Test result

High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it 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 Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale

I see this one inaccurately classified as gluten-free in stores. Granted, the labeling is misleading. You are led to believe it is brewed purely with red rice and no barley malts. From the first taste you can tell this is not so. It tastes too good! A great quality beer - could pass as a genuine Belgian ale - but a big shame it is not under 20 ppm. 

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 12oz bottle in 1 hour and felt no gluten effects.

Maudite

Beer: Maudite

Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Brewing location: Chambly, Canada

Originating country: Canada

Alcohol by Volume: 8% 

Ingredients: yeast, water, malts and hops

Format tested: 750 ml Los Angeles, CA

Beeradvocate rating: 93/100

Ratebeer rating: 98/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Maudite has a typically Quebecois name that is reminiscent of the legend of the Chasse-Galerie (the legend of the Flying Canoe). Legend has it that a group of lumberjacks struck a deal with the devil to fly home in their canoes, guided by Satan himself, to make it home in time for Christmas.
• In November 1992, Maudite (the damned one), was the first strong beer to be distributed in Quebec grocery stores.
• Most of Unibroue's beers are bottled "on the lees," or containing yeast sediment (or lees). This practice provides additional fermentation after bottling. The result is a beer which ages well if kept in the dark and unrefrigerated, and allows it to be shipped relatively cheaply to international markets.
• Unibroue was founded by business partners André Dion and Serge Racine who had acquired 75% of La Brasserie Massawippi Inc. of Lennoxville in 1990.
• The brewery was bought by Canadian brewer, Sleeman Breweries Ltd., in 2004. In turn, Sleeman, in turn, was purchased in 2006 by Sapporo.

Test result photo

Test result

High Positive at 20 parts per million (ppm), meaning it 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 Maudite

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 750ml bottle in 2 hours and felt no gluten effects.