Author: Steffen Page 6 of 11

Firestone Walker’s Pale 31 is a Californian craft beer coming from a brewery which uses a re-circulating fermentation system known as the Burton Union. I am not a huge fan of Ales but I quite liked the fruity smell and taste of Pale 31. It is hoppy and has a lingering bitter aftertaste. Carbonation is good, maybe a bit too fruity for me but generally enjoyable. And gluten is proofed very low, see below.

Beer: Pale 31
Producer: Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Originating country: USA
Brewing location: USA
Bottle size: 12 oz = 0.355 l
Alcohol by volume: 4.9%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops
Miscellaneous: translated from German listing the different malts and hops used

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: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 5 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. Please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – see my facts page.

This is my first ‘double feature’. I present you today two test results – both from the famous Augustiner brewery in Munich. Augustiner is actually the oldest brewery in Munich and always when I am in Munich I visit the famous Augustiner Keller which has delicious food and excellent beer. My favourite beer is the ‘Edelstoff’ (freely translated with precious stuff) with an ABV of 5.6%. Of course they sell the draught version in the restaurant but anyway I wanted to test the gluten content as there should be no difference to the bottled beer. In parallel I tested the Helles (classic Lager), which has less alcohol. Both are excellent in taste, quaffable and with a very good score on Beeradvocate: Helles, Edelstoff

Beer: Augustiner Helles / Augustiner Edelstoff
Producer: Augustiner Bräu
Originating country: Germany
Brewing location: Germany
Bottle size: 0.5 l = approx. 16 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 5.2% / 5.6%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops
Miscellaneous: –

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: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 5 ppm in both samples. 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. Please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – see my facts page.

*Helles on the left, Edelstoff right. Please note I had much better light conditions when I tested Edelstoff. Hence, the difference in the picture quality.

Newcastle Brown Ale is one of the most popular Ales available. In the US it is among the Top 10 of the imported beer brands and #3 of the best selling bottled Ales in the UK. Well, I am not a big fan of Ales but I gave it a try again. And again I realised I prefer Lager or Pilsener style beers. Anyway, there are many Ale lovers out there and those who are sensitive to gluten might appreciate the gluten test result below.

Beer: Newcastle Brown Ale
Producer: John Smith’s Brewery
Originating country: UK
Brewing location: UK
Bottle size: 0.55 l = approx. 19 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 4.7%
Ingredients: water, malted barley, glucose syrup, torrefied wheat, colour: caramel, hops
Miscellaneous: –

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 clearly visible red line appears on the right of the test stick ( T ). This 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.

Bitburger Pilsner is another famous German beer – at least here in Germany. It is a decent beer and due to smart marketing amongst the Top 3 best selling brands in Germany. Because of the partnership with the German Football Association it could increase sales last year. The colour of Bitburger Premium Pils is pale yellow, it has low carbonation, a light taste and a nice bitter aftertaste. In general good and quaffable.

Beer: Bitburger Premium Pils
Producer: Bitburger Brauerei
Originating country: Germany
Brewing location: Germany
Bottle size: 0.5 l = approx. 16 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 4.8%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, hops extract
Miscellaneous: –

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: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 5 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. Please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – see my facts page.

During my recent trip to Spain I had the chance to purchase Quilmes, the most famous beer from Argentina. Quilmes is a decent beer, fresh with good aftertaste. And here is the result of the gluten test.

Beer: Quilmes
Producer: Cerveceria y malteria Quilmes
Originating country: Argentina
Brewing location: Argentina
Bottle size: 340 ml = approx. 12 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 4.9%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, corn, hops, E224
Miscellaneous: –

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: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 5 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. Again please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – please see my facts page.

Winner of the recent poll was La Chouffe, a famous Belgian Trappist beer in a little fancy bottle. In comparison to Duvel (click here for the test result) I liked La Chouffe more, very good smell and taste. However, I can not cope with the strong alcohol. In summer times I like to enjoy a cold beer with low alcohol. Maybe I try La Chouffe again in winter.

Beer: La Chouffe Blonde
Producer: Brasserie d’Achouffe
Originating country: Belgium
Brewing location: Belgium
Bottle size: 330 ml = approx. 12 Oz..
Alcohol by volume: 8%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, yeast, invert sugar, coriander
Miscellaneous: –

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: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 5 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. Again please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – please see my facts page.

Pilsner beer style is the most common in Germany. Around 50% of the beer lovers prefer Pilsner rather than the many other styles like Weissbier (wheat beer), Lager, Helles etc.

Krombacher is the second best selling beer in Germany. It is actually quite good, nothing special but not bad at all. Due to smart marketing e.g. in football, handball, hockey and basketball it is one of the few brands which grow.

Beer: Krombacher Pils
Producer: Krombacher Brauerei
Originating country: Germany
Brewing location: Germany
Bottle size: 0.5 l = approx. 16 Oz.
Alcohol by volume: 4.8%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, hops extract
Miscellaneous: –

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: There is no indication of the presence of gluten above 5 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. Again please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – please see my facts page.

You have voted for Heineken in the recent poll. After I tested Heineken already on a 40 ppm threshold a while ago here is the test result with a more useful 5 ppm threshold. And because of the result I tested Heineken a third time – on 20 ppm. Please see below what happened and my conclusion.

Beer: Heineken
Producer: Heineken Brouwerijen
Originating country: Netherlands
Brewing location: Netherlands
Bottle size: 0.4 l
Alcohol by volume: 5.0%
Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops extract (translated from German)
Miscellaneous:  –

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 barely visible red line appears on the right of the test stick ( T ). The red line is quite weak however, it 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.

From my first Heineken test in 2013 we already know that the level is below 40 ppm. The second test now shows that the 5 ppm threshold has just breached. So we are getting closer to a result but we are still not there. Hence I tested again and this time on the 20 ppm threshold.

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. Again please don’t take any of my test results as a medical advice – please see my facts page.

Conclusion: The gluten level in Heineken is somewhere between 5 and 20 ppm. Because of the very weak red test line after the 5 ppm test I would say that Heineken is closer to 5 than to 20 ppm.

Test on 40 ppm = negative
Test on 20 ppm = negative
Test on 5 ppm = positive

Please note the different picture colours are due to the fact I wanted to visualize the test results better and used image editing software. As explained the red line on the 5 ppm test was barely visible but it was there. But on the original picture (taken with my smartphone camera) it was not really visible, hence I used the software to enhance the picture quality.