In spite of the rise in availability of gluten free products on supermarket shelves, misconceptions about quality and manufacturing methods still surround the sector.
At Brightside, we’re all about making great tasting gluten free beer. Let’s have a look at some of things we regularly get asked by customers, and comments we see online.
This is probably one of the top assumptions made by drinkers when it comes to gluten free beer and it likely dates back to the early days when brewers were learning how to brew with NGCI (no gluten containing ingredients) and production methods were less advanced than they are now. Additionally, back in the early days of GF beer there was only ever one option (if at all), generally a lager and usually made by a huge company that was box ticking and wasn’t too concerned about taste as the market was so small. Flavour and enjoyment weren’t at the top of the priorities list!
Advances in brewing techniques, and the rise of ingredients such as Brewers Clarex, allow us now to brew exceptional gluten free beers that don’t taste any different to regular beers. Don’t just take our word for it – try a few and taste it for yourself! If you want to learn more about how we make our beer gluten free, take a look here.
There’s no doubt that those with gluten sensitivities are more inclined to try gluten free beer, but it doesn’t mean we brew exclusively for them. Our aim has always been to produce consistently good beer, it’s just that since the start of 2022 we have been making it gluten free too, so more people can enjoy it!
When it comes to brewing gluten free beer, it’s true that more goes into brewing the final product over another style of beer. There are extra ingredient costs to consider (the enzyme we use to remove gluten is eye-wateringly expensive!), and a thorough gluten sampling process. Whilst this does add cost to the beer, we try to remain competitive with our prices to ensure the beer is accessible to all.
Back when we started to trial GF beer, there were very few microbrewers doing the same and therefore not a lot of choice for drinkers, however the availability of gluten free beer has increased significantly in recent years and now our entire range is gluten free!
Many city centre pubs, bars and restaurants are starting to provide at least one gluten free beer to sit alongside their GF food menu options, and if you prefer a drink at home we’re able to distribute our bottled beers nationwide through a next day courier service.
If you manage a pub, bar, or restaurant and are looking for a new gluten free beer to stock on your bar, get in touch with us. Otherwise, if you want to try a few for yourself at home, take a look at our full range.
This can be super confusing for consumers, but it can be really simply explained.
In the UK, there are 2 types of gluten free beer:
NGCI beer is made from ingredients which have never contained gluten, such as millet, rice, sorghum, buckwheat and so on. Gluten removed beer is brewed with gluten containing cereals such as barley & wheat like regular beer, and then has the gluten removed, usually by an enzyme.
NGCI beer, which is less easy to find in the shops, should naturally have no gluten containing ingredients in it, whereas gluten removed beer (which is most GF beer in the UK) has gluten levels which are sub 20ppm and is classed as gluten free as per UK law. 20ppm is the level which is used universally to describe a gluten free food or drink product.
So, on our bottle labels, we indicate that our beers are brewed with barley and wheat, and that the gluten is then removed so that anyone who is highly sensitive to these cereals knows that’s how the beer was made. It’s also there for people who have wheat allergies (which is different to a gluten sensitivity and Coeliac disease).
Ready to give our gluten free beers ago? Visit our brewery or check out our online store to try something new. If you want to stock Brightside on your bar, be sure to get in touch so we can help you pick the right beers for you.