I spent my last holiday on the island of Crete. Crete is the biggest of the Greek islands and fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. As usual I take the chance to test some local beers. But Greece is very much influenced by Dutch breweries. You get Heineken, Amstel and other Dutch brands easily and also some local brands like Alfa are owned by Heineken. So I decided to first test Amstel as I was currious but don’t worry I also tested a Greek beer called Mythos and will post the result soon.

In my hotel a cheap mass-produced beer called ‘Cretan Beer’ was served which tasted horrible. The barrel though was labelled with ‘Heineken’ so it seems the god and the rubbish beer is produced in the same brewery and all its somehow Dutch. But the bottled Amstel tasted quite OK – crisp and refreshing, good carbonation.

Beer: Amstel
Producer: Amstel Brouwerij/Heineken
Originating country: Netherlands
Brewing location: Greece
Bottle size: 0.33 l
Alcohol by volume: 5.0%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops (internet research as ingredients are listed in Greek on the bottle)
Miscellaneous: –

Test Kit: Imutest Gluten-in-Food Kit

Test result: The test result is negative. According to the instructions there should appear a clearly visible pink test spot on the left of the test area ( T ) to indicate the presence of gluten. The pink spot on the right test area ( C ) is a control spot and indicates that the extract/sample is suitable, the test has been performed correctly and all reagents are active. Even though the detection limit in this kit is very low (1-2 ppm) and the test is negative please note this is not a medical advice – please see also my facts page.

Zwickelbier or Kellerbier is a special type of beer which is unfiltered/naturally cloudy and not pasteurised. The term Zwickl or Zwickel comes from the sample of the beer the brewmaster was taken from the barrel with a special tap in earlier times. Zwicklbier is refreshing, less bitter and very quaffable. It’s a seasonal beer and best enjoyed in summer fresh from the barrel in a German Biergarten.

As the beer is not filtered I assumed already that it could contain higher gluten concentration than filtered beers and yes the gluten test was positive. Low positive but still positive. Although the beer was quite  nice.

Beer: Hofbrau Sommerzwickl
Producer: Hofbrau Munich
Originating country: Germany
Brewing location: Germany
Bottle size: 0.5 l
Alcohol by volume: 5.1%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, yeast
Miscellaneous: –

Test Kit: Imutest Gluten-in-Food Kit

Test result: There is a visible pink test spot on the left of the test area ( T ) which indicates the presence of gluten. According to the instructions a “very low gluten” level of 20 to 100 ppm should give a test spot which is weaker or similar in intensity to that of the control spot ( C ). Please find some more information here. The test spot is quite faint.

On a scale from 1 to 20 I would rate the test spot intensity 1/2 so in this test the level is below 20 ppm. Even though this test is positive please note it is not a medical advice – see my facts page.

I know this is a test many visitors waited long for. Stella Artois is probably the most famous Belgian beer and available almost worldwide. Almost – in Germany for example Stella is almost not to get. Belgium is close to Germany but actually there is no reason to import Belgian beers as there are hundreds of breweries in Germany and beer quality is generally high.

When I used to live in the UK Stella was always my favourite beer in the pubs. I don’t know how often I said “Two pints of Stella’s please” for me and my mate. I bought this bottle of Stella during my recent trip to Greece and here is the gluten test result.

Beer: Stella Artois
Producer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Originating country: Belgium
Brewing location: Belgium
Bottle size: 0.33 l
Alcohol by volume: 5.0%
Ingredients: brewing water, malted barley
Miscellaneous: bought in Greece

Test Kit: Imutest Gluten-in-Food Kit

Test result: The test result is negative. According to the instructions there should appear a clearly visible pink test spot on the left of the test area ( T ) to indicate the presence of gluten. The pink spot on the right test area ( C ) is a control spot and indicates that the extract/sample is suitable, the test has been performed correctly and all reagents are active. Even though the detection limit in this kit is very low (1-2 ppm) and the test is negative please note this is not a medical advice – please see also my facts page.

San Miguel is the winner of the recent beer poll. It is probably the most famous Spanish beer beside Estrella. And here is the test result.

Beer: San Miguel Especial
Producer: Mahou-San Miguel
Originating country: Spain/Philippines
Brewing location: EU according to label (Spain most likely)
Bottle size: 330 ml = approx. 12 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 5.4%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, hops extract
Miscellaneous: This is the European version, not the one from the Philippines

Test Kit: GlutenTox Home Kit

I tested with a threshold of 5 ppm. The limit of detection depends on the number of drops taken from the extraction solution, please find some more information here.

Test result: A red line appears on the right of the test stick ( T ). The red line indicates the presence of gluten equal to or above 5 ppm. The blue line on the left test area ( C ) is a control line and indicates that the extract/sample is suitable, the test has been performed correctly and all reagents are active. Even though this test is positive please note it is not a medical advice – see my facts page.

Tuborg Julebryg (Tuborg Christmasbeer) is a beer with a special tradition. It is released each year on the first friday in november at 8:59 pm.

Beer: Tuborg Julebryg
Producer: Carlsberg
Originating country: Denmark
Brewing location: Denmark
Bottle size: 330 ml
Alcohol by volume: 5,6%
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, barley, licorice and hops
Miscellaneous: 

Test kit: Gluten Tox Home Kit

I did the test with a threshold of 5 ppm.

Test result: The test is negative.

Test provided by Adam from Adelaide/Australia

Another beer from my home state of South Australia.  The “Vale” is in reference to McLaren Vale, our second most famous wine producing area after the Barossa Valley, of course.  Mind you the beer is made in Willunga which I think isn’t technically McLaren Vale.  Anyway that’s not important.  What is important is that it was another pass, under 20ppm.  And it was quite a nice beer too.

Beer: Vale Lager
Producer: Vale Brewing
Originating country: Australia
Brewing location: Australia
Bottle size: 330 ml = approx. 12 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 4.5%
Ingredients: not stated on label
Miscellaneous: Thanks for test, Adam!

Test Kit: GlutenTox Home Kit

Adam tested with a threshold of 20 ppm. The limit of detection depends on the number of drops taken from the extraction solution, please find some more information here.

Test result: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 20 ppm. According to the instructions there should appear a clearly visible red test line on the right of the test area ( T ) to indicate the presence of gluten. The blue line on the left test area ( C ) is a control line and indicates that the extract/sample is suitable, the test has been performed correctly and all reagents are active. Even though this test is negative please note it is not a medical advice – see my facts page.