Written by The Brew Club is always willing to try new beers and review them for our readers, no matter what they are. Now, going into this latest beer review, there are two things to note about this beer.
- This gluten free beer is from the people who bring you Budweiser. While The Brew Club is not a ‘craft beer only website’, anytime we review something by Anheuser Busch we get some flack. OK, that’s fine, but remember we’re not just a craft beer site!
- More importantly, Redbridge beer is wheat free and gluten free. This is a definite first for me personally, as well as for The Brew Club!
The label reads that the RedBridge beer is “Beer made from Sorghum”, which is a different type of grain that is safe for people to consume who otherwise need to avoid products containing wheat or gluten. I’m really not too sure what to expect! Can this Redbridge beer be good enough to purchase and enjoy voluntarily, rather than only out of necessity due to having a dietary restriction? Will I ever bring a six-pack of this gluten-free beer to a party just because??? Will I ever even be invited to a party? Let’s see!
First, the beer is a very light amber color – very, very very light depite the redness that seems to appear in the picture. It looks very pale to me but reminds me a little of the color of a light Marzen. When poured, Redbridge did create a big foamy head in my glass (root beer float style), but that went down really quick leaving only a slight foam ring around the perimeter of my beer glass. Swirling the beer around in my glass leaves a touch of lacing, but that doesn’t really cling to the glass in any way special. The Redbridge beer is really, really clear as well – nothing floating around in there, and not much in the way of carbonation at all.
The beer smells OK. I’ve never smelled a beer made from Sorghum before, so I don’t have a comparative basis to go on here. I’d say it smells sweet, floral even, and again reminds me a bit of a Marzen type of beer. My nose didn’t seem to miss the gluten! I you didn’t read the label, I don’t think anyone would mistake this beverage as anything but some kind of beer – the point I’m trying to make is that the scent is familiar - It smells like beer.
How does Redbridge gluten free beer taste? Granted, I blasted all of the carbonation out of the beer during my preferred beer pour, but I have to say starting with the mouthfeel that this beer felt like thick water in my mouth. No burn, and no bite except the teeniest tiniest hop bite at the veeeeeerryyy end of the finish. So, the Redbridge beer is smooth, no doubt. Mouthfeel is watery, the body is on the thin side I would say, it certainly is not as satisfying as other beers I’ve had recently, but again I’d love to compare it to another gluten free beer.
The taste overall is plain – as I drink more of it, I keep thinking that people might like this wheat free and barley free beer if they want something without much character I guess. Sometimes, ‘a beer’ will do, and this could fit the bill. It isn’t bad, but as someone who does not have ciliac disease or otherwise have to follow a wheat free or gluten free diet, I am doubtful that I would have this beer again unless I was just craving that ‘beer flavor’ for some reason. Still, if someone bought one for me I’d gladly accept!
That said, I think that this Sorghum beer is perfectly acceptable in how it tastes, and despite its wateriness and lack of character its still a vast improvement over the regular ‘Bud’ if that’s what you’re comparing to. It just isn’t something I would buy for the heck of it. (Liz might though – oh, she DID buy it!) Having later tried the Bard’s Tale Sorghum based beer, I thought it was much better overall than the Redbridge.
On the other hand, if you do follow a restricted diet because of dietary or religious reasons, the Redbridge from Anheuser Busch is not bad at all, and I don’t think anyone will be screaming in horror when they drink it, and even though I’m a little hard on it, I’m actually not screaming in horror as I type this. I think its much better than the regular Bud, and I would venture to say its better than any of the other beers that The Brew Club has ranked below two stars! That’s pretty good – it just isn’t for me! The Redbridge just isn’t interesting enough, or tasty enough for me to get it again.
Rating: 
I’m not trying to steal Redbridge’s thunder here, but we crafted a gluten free beer list that you might want to consider if you are on a wheat-free diet and want to have a beer. Obviously, please check the labels – due diligence applies!
- Bard’s Tale Beer Company – ‘The Original Sorghum Malt Beer’ Their site needs Flash to enter.
- Greens Beer – Made with Millet, Rice, Buckwheat and sorghum.
- Lakefront Brewery – Their website boasts ‘New Grist is the first beer brewed without malted barley or any gluten-containing products to be recognized as beer by the U.S. Government.”
- Ramapo Valley Brewery has a beer that is gluten-free and also cool for Passover.
- Sprecher Brewery has a couple of beers that are gluten-free also.
In addition, the people over at glutenfree.com claim to stock over 650 various gluten-free products. Might be worth checking out.
So there you have it! Do you enjoy a gluten free beer? What is is it? Why not let us know what you think about it by commenting below! Join the conversation!
Hey guys,
I myself do not have celiacs but my cousin’s husband does. He has found that the Japanese beer Sapporo is fine for him to drink. He has never had a bad experience after drinking it. I love beer, and in my opinion, Sapporo is great. I am not saying you should go down a six pack but try it out and see if your system can handle it.
I’m struggling with the idea that I might have to cut gluten from my diet, and wow what a shock it will be to my system to have so few beers available! I’ve tried so far the Redbridge reviewed above, and also the Bards Tale. Between the two, I think I prefer the Redbridge a little more. Thanks for the review and the links.
I’ll look into Chris’ post above about Saporo, but I think it would have to be labeled gluten-free, wouldn’t it? If its brewed with barley or grains, how could it be gluten-free beer?
@L – I’m not sure of the Sapporo either, but perhaps people can be less sensitive to specific beers than others?
Thanks for your opinions on the Redbridge vs. Bards Tale. There are others available too, and I hope you find some that you enjoy!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Booze Zones and Pint Sizes – What do you think =-.
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the write-up of this beer. I’m trying it out myself tonight, after a recent strongly-worded suggestion that I cut wayyy back on the wheat/gluten products in my diet. I’ve got this and another on your list to try tonight, but am starting with the Redbridge.
After having half a bottle, I’m definitely in the “good beer without caveats” camp. I’d drink it again, even if I’m avoiding gluten products. I wrote a bit more here – http://www.barleybuddy.com/89837_By_Region/89491_American/151002_Redbridge – and wanted to ask if you or any other readers here picked up the same vaguely-reminiscent-of-kombucha flavor. I can’t quite pin down what it is. Oh well..whatever it is, count me in the “would drink again” camp.
Hope the Green’s gluten-free beer is as good!
Cheers,
Steve
@Steve – I’m glad you enjoyed it! Personally, its not something I’ve had since I did the review, but maybe someone else will chime in about the “vaguely-reminiscent-of-kombucha flavor” you speak of!
I have been drinking Redbridge for a couple of years (allergic to gluten and wheat). I love it. I always keep some in my fridge. My son-in-laws have discovered it and prefer it to the other gluten beers I keep stocked. I have to start hiding it!!!
@Bobbie – That’s good to hear! It isn’t a bad beer all things considered. I know a lot of people are so happy that its available!
Hi, where can i buy Redbridge Gluten free beer. I have tried many Gluten free beers abroad but can’t seen to find the same beer in London.
@Helen – good luck! Hopefully, some of our British friends will chime in!
I find people’s liking of Redbridge absolutely baffling though lovers of (bland) American lager would probably find it most to their liking. Someone commented that it and others lack the aftertaste of Bard’s. I would argue that this is because they lack taste–period. Bard’s is the best of the GF beers I’ve tried and should be your choice if you like any complexity in beer flavor.
Estrella Daura. Expensive and hard to find but very good.
@Eric – Thanks for the comment. I’d agree, Bards is better if you have to choose. I think its a matter of availability though in many cases. Redbridge is everywhere.
@Joe- Never head of it, but thank you for the suggestion. Again, I think this is where Redbridge shines. Its easy to find.
bought it for my husband on a gluten free diet, tasted and it reminded me of Pacifico Mexican beer.
@Mary – that’s an interesting comparison! Its been awhile since I had a Redbridge, but I don’t think it reminded me of that. Just goes to show how different people can taste different things in the same beer, food – whatever! Makes it all more fun I think!
Besides being allergic to gluten I am allergic to brewers yeast. How do I find out if the gluten free beers have brewers yeast, as most regular beers do. I will not try the gluten free until I’m sure about this. Will the actual website for brand tell me?
@Becky, that’s a good question but I’m almost positive that its the yeast eating the sugar that creates alcohol. I mean, there are different strains of yeast that brewer’s use, but its still yeast. Not sure this is going to work out for you.
I have been gluten free for about 6 months and the only beer I have found that I really like which is gluten free is Estralla Damm (DURRA). It is made in Barcelona and my friends who turned me on to it were drinking it while on vacation. They are not gluten free but liked it very much also. I have been encouraging the pubs I visit to stock it.
Hey Mike, thanks for the comment and I’m happy you’ve found an agreeable beer for yourself!
Buy this beer by the case Three cases at a time. Cant stand regular Bud (Allergic) LOVE Redbridge~~~~~~~~HARD To Find, Have special bar In Osceola Iowa that only serves it too Me (Foxeys Bar Osceola Iowa) 50213
I’m just trying my first redbridge, and like you said, its just …Meh. And the alchahol content is way low at 4.7 percent, the reason why the beer has no legs when swirled in a glass. I wont be buying Redbridge again. I have Celiacs, but I will put up with the tummy ache associated with drinking real beer for now. I dont drink beer very often, but when I do I want it to have mouth feel and flavor. This beer is typical Budweiser. Its not horrific, but its not worth buying either.
@ Mike. I will have to try that! Thanks!
@Lynette – Good for you! Sometimes, ya gotta do whatcha godda do! I guess it depends on which discomfort is worse? So-so beer or a bellyache. If you end up trying and liking other ones, please let us know!