As many of you may have already spotted we switched lots of our core range to Gluten Free. We have been using an enzyme in the brewery for a number of years that reduces chill haze, at the same time it also removes the majority of the Gluten.
The only changes made to now certify these beers as Gluten Free is making sure we schedule GF products together & every batch is tested below the 20ppm GF threshold prior to public release. Our processes have also been audited on behalf of Coeliac UK.
We have had a lot of similar questions on the change so we’ve put together a FAQ of some of the most common GF questions for you here:
WHAT PRODUCTS ARE GLUTEN FREE?
Birds & Bees, Caesar Augustus, Ceilidh Lager, Craft Lager, Che Guava, Chillax, El Perro Negro, Fraoch (Heather Ale), Joker AF, Joker IPA & Seven Giraffes in all can, bottle & keg format are Gluten Free & tested below 20ppm threshold. Eventually all the gluten free stock will say “ Gluten Free” on the artwork. We still have some older can stock that we are using up, in the meantime for these cans we will do our best to print "Gluten Free" on the base of the can with the date. However please note all of these products have been Gluten Free for years now, so if the beer is in date it will be Gluten Free. We have put together a Gluten Free page which is probably the quickest/easiest way to find which product/SKU's are currently Gluten Free, products outside of this page are not gluten free.
ARE YOUR DRAFT BEERS GLUTEN FREE?
We have now transitioned the same products in keg to GF too. We have have put green stickers on the GF stock leaving the brewery to make the venue aware. Birds & Bees, Caesar Augustus, Ceilidh Lager, Craft Lager, Che Guava, Fraoch (Heather Ale), Joker AF, Joker IPA & Seven Giraffes in KEG are all GF. Please note cask beer (on handpull) is not GF confirmed as yet but will hopefully follow suit soon.
YOUR LABELS SAY GLUTEN FREE BUT INGREDIENTS LIST BARLEY, WHEAT, OATS, RYE ETC AS CONTAINING GLUTEN?
Our beer is still made from cereals containing gluten so we must still list these allergens on the label as sources of Gluten, this is as per Coeliac UK / UK Governments legal labelling guidelines. However in our Gluten Free products the Gluten has been removed by enzymatic process & the level has been tested below the 20ppm threshold for Gluten Free classification prior to release. Unfortunately this is a bit confusing but rest assured If we say it's Gluten Free it has been tested below the 20ppm threshold prior to release. We have been audited on behalf of Coeliac UK for our GF processes.
MY APP SAYS YOUR GF BEERS ARE STILL NOT SUITABLE?
There is a bit of an issue with how some of the apps works (we have confirmed & checked this with Coeliac UK). If someone has selected Barley, Wheat, Rye, Oats etc as an allergen in their preferences it will automatically flag anything made with these as unsuitable for them. It does not take into account that the gluten from these beers has been removed and the beer tested below the GF threshold prior to release. If we have stated Gluten Free, it will have been tested below the required legal level prior to release.
ARE THE CANS GLUTEN FREE TOO?
We currently have a lot of printed can stock still to use up, this will transition to include in Gluten Free on the artwork, but in the meantime for these cans we will do our best to print "Gluten Free" on the base of the can with the date. Please note, all of the follwing products have been Gluten Free for years now, so if the can is in date it will be GF; Birds & Bees, Caesar Augustus, Ceilidh Lager, Craft Lager, Che Guava, Chillax, El Perro Negro, Fraoch (Heather Ale), Joker AF, Joker IPA & Seven Giraffes.
I AM COELIAC, CAN I DRINK THESE?
While we know many Coeliacs who say they are able to enjoy our beers, everybody is different & you will know your own level of sensitivity. Our GF products are tested below the 20ppm gluten threshold, usually they fall "less than 10ppm" which is as accurate as tests can measure. This meets GF labelling guidelines set out by Coeliac UK & UK Government on GF labelling. However if you are advised to completely avoid anything made from Barley / Wheat etc, even products with very low levels of gluten you should follow the guidance set out by your healthcare professional.
IS YOUR ONLINE STOCK GLUTEN FREE?
We have listed on the product pages under each product title with an orange symbol products that are Gluten Free. If it does not say “gluten free” on the product page assume it is not GF. We have put together a Gluten Free page which is probably the quickest/easiest way to find which product/SKU's are currently Gluten Free, products outside of this page are not gluten free.