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 are also audited annually 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?
Che Guava, El Perro Negro, Chillax & our new Joker AF have always been Gluten Free. We switched 50cl bottles of: Joker IPA, Caesar Augustus, Birds & Bees, Fraoch (Heather Ale) & Seven Giraffes to Gluten Free too. All gluten free stock will say “ Gluten Free” on the back of the label, please make sure to check the label. We hope to follow suit in the smaller bottles/cans as we use up old stock of labels/can shells, until we do please assume they are not. In the meantime, only cans that state "Gluten Free" on the label/artwork or printed on the base of the can with the date will be confirmed as GF stock.
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. Che Guava, El Perro Negro & Chillax have always been GF on draft however the following keg products are now also GF: Joker IPA, Caesar Augustus, Birds & Bees, Craft Lager, Fraoch - Heather Ale & Seven Giraffes. 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, 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 Governement's 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 our label says Gluten Free it has been tested below the 20ppm threshold prior to release.
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 for Joker, Caesar, Craft Lager & Birds & Bees to use up before we can update the artwork to include "Gluten Free". In the meantime we will print on the base of the cans "Gluten Free" with the date stamp on any GF tested batches. If it does not state Gluten Free please assume it is not.
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.