GLUTEN FREE, WORLD CLASS BEER, NO COMPROMISES.

IF BEER CONTAINS WHEAT AND BARLEY, HOW CAN IT BE GLUTEN FREE?

This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions here at BBF! In 2021, we broke it down with a brewer and a scientist.

The short answer is this: to make beer gluten free, good and thorough brewing is key. And Clarex, an enzyme that breaks down the structure of gluten so the finished beer has below 20 parts per million (a very small amount that means we can officially label it as gluten free). The beer is then tested in an independent laboratory to prove it falls well below this line. Sounds easy, right?

Like many things in life, the answer to the question on everyone’s GF lips isn’t as simple as a social media hot take; it’s a subject we want to dive into with the maestro himself. “We don’t ‘just’ add Clarex” explains Head Brewer, Tristan, “we carry out consistent good brewing practices to reduce gluten levels with the addition of an enzyme. It’s a credit to the brewers!”

To make gluten free beer, Tristan goes on to suggest recipe alterations like excluding or reducing wheat, rye, or oats, and using brewing sugars and syrups. Combine that with a mashing regime that increases the breakdown of proteins, and the correct finings regime, with an extended conditioning time, and your GF brew is on the right track. You’ll probably want to leave all that to us, mind.

If you’re thinking, why don’t more breweries do this? it’s because all this takes effort, skill, patience, and it costs money! You’ve got to spend on testing, and you’ve got to invest the right team, and of course, buy the right ingredients.

IF IT TAKES SO MUCH EFFORT, WHY IS ALL BRISTOL BEER FACTORY BEER GLUTEN FREE?

One of the core principles we have here at BBF is making beer for all, without compromising quality. We felt a completely gluten free range is the most inclusive option, but it takes understanding how many people benefit. According to Coeliac UK, “Around 1 in 100 people have coeliac disease, but many other conditions including non-coeliac gluten sensitivity also need a gluten free diet and it is now estimated that at least 10% of UK consumers are following this diet.”

Since we made all our beer in keg and can gluten free in 2020, we’ve been touched by the feedback from our GF consumers. They’re buzzing to have a beer made available to them to enjoy.

The next question has always been this: what about cask? Cask is king, it’s what Team BBF love to drink themselves and, in many parts, it’s what we are known for. We’ve been having the chat, with each other, and with our local independent suppliers, for years! Ultimately, there were people who could not enjoy our cask beers who wanted to, and there were people it made no difference to.

To be completely frank with you, we wondered how many people would even notice that our cask was gluten free if we didn’t tell them? To reassure the percentage of drinkers who felt nervous of change, we’ve done what we do best: quality control. Yep, we went down the pub.

Tom, Head of Sales and cask beer enthusiast, took this challenge on personally (it’s a hard job). He says “Making a beer gluten free makes zero difference to flavour, body… anything. If it worsened the product an iota, we wouldn’t do it. With the help of our trusted team, we’ve made every pint we brew, in every format, gluten free. I can confirm BBF beer is GF and is as epic as it ever was!”

Head to your local BBF venue or independent pub to enjoy your next pint of BBF’s beer for all.