Redbridge Beer

Redbridge Beer is one of the best discoveries I've made since being gluten free. One of the best things about it is that the flavor is so good even my beer aficionado husband likes it, and he's pretty particular about his beer.

Aside from being a great tasting beer, it's made by Anheuser-Busch, the makers of Budweiser, so it's available nationwide.

It actually took me years to realize that the little bit of gluten in beers made with barley was a problem for me, and I was loath to forgo this simple pleasure. Not that I'm much of a drinker, but I just love a good beer now and then. Redbridge is made with sorghum, so it's a gluten and wheat free beer.

Four Things I Like About Redbridge Beer

1. It tastes great. Especially when it's icy cold. I've tried other gluten free beers and many are kind of sweet or heavy tasting, which I don't care for.

In fact, the first version of Redbridge was too sweet, but they have reformulated the beer to expand the market.

2. It's inexpensive. I found another gluten free beer that was pretty good, but it was way more expensive.

3. Available in 12 oz bottles. Since I usually only want one bottle, the liters some gluten-free beers come in don't make sense for me.

4. It's a light beer: the alcohol content is low. But in spite of that it doesn't taste watered down. Since I'm drinking for the flavor and a little relaxation, and I'm a little short on drinking stamina, I appreciate that it's a 3.2 beer. I can always enjoy a second without fear of trashing myself.

5. Did I say 4 things? Here's a fifth: the happy accident that Steve thinks Redbridge Beer is a really good beer. Like I mentioned above, he's very particular about his beer, so this was a surprise. And when he wants something light, there's usually something in the house.

The New Version of Redbridge Beer

I spoke with Anheuser Busch in 2010 about Redbridge, and was told that they reformulated the beer to improve the flavor, and to expand their market.

They added a citrus component, which may be why it tastes less sweet. And because some states have restrictions on alcohol content, reducing the alcohol to 3.2 allows them to make it available to more customers.

I encourage you to give it a try. It's available at Whole Foods Markets, and at many restaurants.