Beck's (U.S. Brewed)

Beer: Beck's (U.S. brewed)

Style: Pilsner/Lager

Brewing location: St. Louis, MO

Originating country: Germany

Alcohol by Volume: 5.0% 

Ingredients: Bremen-brewed Beck's: Two row spring barley from the south of England, yeast, crystal water from the "Rotenburger Rinne" and Hallertau hops from southern Germany. St. Louis-brewed Beck's is unlikely to have the same quality ingredients!

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

Beeradvocate rating: 65/100

Ratebeer rating: 10/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Beck's is the world's best selling German beer, sold in nearly 90 countries.
• Owned by local families until February 2002, the Beck's brewery was then sold to Interbrew (now Anheuser-Busch InBev) for €1.8 billion.
• Beck's logo, a key, is the mirror image of the coat of arms of Bremen.
• Since 2012 Beck's has been brewed in St. Louis for the US market. Sales dropped substantially after that. See this very interesting Business Week article on AB-InBev "The Plot to Destroy American Beer."

Test result photo

Test result

More than 20 parts per million (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 Beck's

I wasn't sure what to expect as I hadn't tried a St. Louis-brewed Beck's before. It's been a long time since I even had a German-brewed Beck's so I it's hard for me to compare. It tasted decent enough but not bursting with flavor. Although it's brewed in St. Louis by Anheuser-Busch, it's still Bremen prices – nice try AB-InBev – but I won't be buying it again. 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 noticeable gluten-type reaction.

Summary of 'Gluten in Beer' Test Results

Beer	Test Results using E-Z Gluten*
Bud Light	Over 20 ppm
Coors Light	Under 10 ppm
Corona Extra	Under 10 ppm
Duvel	Under 20 ppm
Fat Tire	Over 20 ppm
Guinness	Over 20 ppm
Heineken	Over 20 ppm
Heineken Light	Over 20 ppm
Leffe	Over 20 ppm
Modelo Especial	Under 20 ppm
Negro Modelo	Under 20 ppm
Newcastle Brown Ale	Over 20 ppm
Pabst Blue Ribbon	Under 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
Tsingtao	Under 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.

Bud Light

Beer: Bud Light

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: St. Louis, MO

Originating country: USA

Alcohol by Volume: 4.2% 

Ingredients: Brewed with all natural ingredients; water, barely malt, rice, hops, and yeast. 

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

Beeradvocate rating: 47/100

Ratebeer rating: 1/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Bud Light is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is the largest brewing company in the United States, with a market share of 49.2%
• It was introduced in 1982 as Budweiser Light.
• It is now the #2 selling beer in the world, after China's Snow Beer.
• Anheuser-Busch continued to brew Budweiser during the prohibition. The brand was traditionally brewed and aged and then de-alcoholized in accordance to the law.

Test result photo

Test result

More than 20 parts per million (ppm). First, I tested at 10 ppm as I felt sure Bud Light would be very low gluten. Surprisingly the result was a Very High Positive, meaning it was greater than 10 ppm (see left hand side photo above). I then tested at 20 ppm; surely it's got to be under 20 ppm? But no, to my surprise the result was a Positive/Very High Positive, meaning it was more than 20 ppm (see right hand side photo above). 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 Bud Light

America's best-selling beer but not one of my favorites. I'll drink it in a pinch or if there's nothing else. 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 noticeable gluten-type reaction, but will probably avoid it after these results.

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.

Vote for the next beer test

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Voting function is not available on the mobile version - please vote by leaving a comment instead.

We want to hear from visitors to the site. Vote for the beer we should test next. The poll closes on April 21, so hurry up and vote!

This poll features four American Classics: Schlitz, Bud Light, Miller Lite and Busch. 

Stella Artois

Beer: Stella Artois

Style: Pale Lager

Brewing location: Leuven, Belgium

Originating country: Belgium

Alcohol by Volume: 4.8% to 5.2% 

Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops, non-malted grains and Stella Artois’ unique yeast strain

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

Beeradvocate rating: 71/100

Ratebeer rating: 14/100

Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Stella Artois’ roots trace back to the Den Hoorn (literally meaning "the horn" in Dutch/Flemish) brewing enterprise in 1366, in the Belgian city of Leuven.
• It was originally brewed as a special holiday beer and christened Stella, which is Latin for “star.”
• The Stella Artois chalice is designed to ensure that the head foams perfectly and the aroma is preserved.
• It's nickname in the UK is 'wife-beater'.
• In 2012, AB InBev, the makers of Stella Artois, Becks and Budweiser, announced that, for the UK market, they were reducing the alcohol content across their range of beers, from 5% to 4.8%. The original strength of the lager was 5.2%. It was explained away by AB InBev's PR as "evolving UK category trends"; at the time "strong continental lagers" were being blamed for tipping an already-alcoholic country over the edge. In reality it saved AB InBev at least £10 million a year in tax, plus multiples more by watering down their lagers.

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 Stella Artois

It's what Heineken was in the 80s. An OK tasting lager with an enormous marketing and advertising budget. Stella Artois is bent on world domination and with InBev's acquisition of Anheuser Busch it's on course to do so. But I guess if it manages to convert some Bud drinkers along the way then it's got to be a good thing, right? Stella had great UK TV commercials in the 90s - with the tagline "Stella Artois - reassuringly expensive." These days I am more educated about beer and the best compliment I can pay Stella is that it is one of those beers that I am pleased if it's the worst choice in a bar or restaurant. Tasting notes: it has a rather musty sweaty taste to it and always leaves me feeling bloated. 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 feeling no gluten effects.

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.

Vote for the next beer test: Pale Ale

Make your choice in the right column (scroll to top)  >>>>>>
Voting function is not available on the mobile version - please vote by leaving a comment instead

We want to hear from visitors to the site. Vote for the beer we should test next. The poll closes on March 1, so hurry up and vote!

This poll features four American-style Pale Ales. At the moment I think it is fair to say with over 2,500 craft breweries, the United States is experiencing a beer revolution and we want to celebrate Pale Ale because this style signaled the rebirth of American beer as we know it. We have four excellent choices from Sierra Nevada, Firestone, Deschutes and Stone.

Duvel

Beer: Duvel
Style: Belgian Golden Ale
Brewing location: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat, Puurs, Belgium
Originating country: Belgium
Alcohol by Volume: 8.5% 
Ingredients: not published but likely to be malted-barley, yeast, hops, water
Format tested: 11.2 oz bottle purchased in Los Angeles, CA
Beeradvocate rating: 95/100
Ratebeer rating: 99/100
Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Duvel means 'devil' in Flemish, a surprising choice of name in the devoutly Catholic Flanders of 1923. This was a reference to its potent aromas.
• In the 1960s the Duvel glass became the first tulip-shaped beer glass
• During World War One Belgium developed strong ties with England and Albert Moortgat created Duvel based on the English ale model
• in 1918 Albert Moortgat traveled the length of the UK to get the specific yeast strain that Duvel still uses today 

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 Duvel 
What a result! This is one of my favorite beers and I am overjoyed that it tests under 20 ppm gluten. When poured into a tulip glass its yellow hue and large frothy white head resembles a delicious slice of lemon meringue pie. It has mildly citrusy nose. The taste is delicate but sophisticated; just the right amount of hops with a hint of spice. Surprisingly at 8.5% ABV alcohol does not overpower the taste but gives it a certain sweetness. The high carbonation tickles the tongue and gives the ale its perfect roundness. 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 over an hour period (drinking nothing else) and felt no gluten effects. Definitely felt buzzed though!

TTB Updates Ruling...well kind of

Bad news for gluten-removed beers: Omission (Pale Ale, Lager and IPA), Estrella (Damm Daura), Two Brothers (Prairie Path Ale) and Bruneheut (Biere Blonde and Biere Ambree). The TTB (US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) has updated their ruling on the labeling of gluten-removed beers. Gluten-removed beers still cannot be called gluten-free. The TTB may revise this policy after the FDA issues a final rule or other guidance with respect to fermented and hydrolyzed products.

Read the press release here
http://www.ttb.gov/announcements/gluten-announcement.pdf
And the full report here
http://www.ttb.gov/rulings/2014-2.pdf

Sapporo

Beer: Sapporo
Style: Pale Lager
Brewing location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Originating country: Japan
Alcohol by Volume: 5% 
Ingredients: malted barley, water, yeast, hops (website says "Sapporo Premium is not a gluten-free product")
Format tested: 22 oz can purchased in Los Angeles, CA
Beeradvocate rating: 67/100
Ratebeer rating: 8/100
Test kit: E-Z Gluten

Miscellaneous

• Founded in 1876, it is the oldest beer brand in Japan.
• The company has five breweries in Japan as well as the Sleeman brewery in Canada.
• It was first brewed in Sapporo, Japan in 1876 by the German-trained brewer Seibei Nakagawa.

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 Sapporo 
I love this beer. With its elegantly sculpted steel can and enticing malty nose on opening, it speaks quality even before drinking. Sapporo has great body and the taste is perfectly balanced between the maltiness and sharp bitter from the hops. Most lagers fail to meet the mark but to me this is up there with the best that continental Europe has to offer - and this can was brewed in Canada! 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 22 oz can over an hour period (drinking nothing else) and must admit I felt slightly bloated afterwards, but I had had a large dinner and this may have contributed. Feeling bloated is on the milder end of my gluten symptoms and not really what I would consider as being "glutened".