Asahi Beer: Wheat-Free Or Not?

Asahi is a globally popular Japanese beer brand, with Asahi Super Dry being its most popular product. Asahi Super Dry is a Japanese rice lager, made with rice and malted barley, resulting in a light-coloured beer with a light flavour profile. However, it is not gluten-free, as barley contains gluten. Asahi does offer gluten-free options, such as Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Gluten Free) and Asahi Dry Zero, a non-alcoholic beer.

Asahi Super Dry is a rice lager

Asahi Super Dry is a direct result of extensive market research, which indicated a consumer preference for a more palatable beer with less maltiness, a relatively high alcohol content, and a light aftertaste. With this insight, Asahi used its brewing knowledge to develop a beer with a crisp bite, refreshing taste, and clear finish.

The special yeast used in Asahi Super Dry, known as Asahi #318, is a proprietary ingredient that gives the beer its "dryness". This special strand of yeast produces high attenuation during fermentation, along with the choice of grains. Asahi selects the finest ingredients, sourcing grains and hops worldwide based on strict criteria to maintain flavor consistency and promote sustainability.

Asahi Super Dry is known for its unique, subtle flavor, which does not go too heavy on the malt flavors compared to its competitors. It pairs well with various cuisines and is an excellent choice for those who enjoy lighter beers.

Asahi's gluten-free beers

Asahi is a globally popular brand of Japanese beer. It is known for its lager beer, Super Dry, which is made using barley malt and yeast, along with other ingredients. This is not a gluten-free option. However, Asahi does offer gluten-free beers in its range.

Asahi's Peroni Nastro Azzurro (Gluten Free) is a gluten-removed beer. It is made from barley, but an enzyme is added at the end of the brewing process to reduce the size of gluten particles. The Italian Coeliac Association endorses this beer as gluten-free, although it is technically gluten-reduced.

Asahi Dry Zero is a non-alcoholic beer that is made from naturally gluten-free ingredients. It is made with soybean peptide and no gluten grains are listed on the product's container. Tests show that it contains less than the permitted gluten level.

In addition to these gluten-free options, Asahi Super Dry is considered to be very low in gluten. One source states that it is "probably less than 1ppm", which is lower than the 20ppm required for a beer to be labelled as gluten-free. However, this is not a guarantee, and those with severe gluten allergies are advised to opt for a beer that is brewed with naturally gluten-free ingredients.

Asahi's non-alcoholic beers

Asahi, a Japanese beer giant, offers a range of non-alcoholic beers that cater to those who enjoy the taste of beer but prefer to avoid alcohol. One of their non-alcoholic offerings is the Asahi Super Dry Zero, which is a typical de-alcoholised lager. It has similar calories and ingredients to other commercial beers on the market. The beer has a shimmering golden hue, a delicate frothy head, and a gentle aroma of malt and hops. On the palate, it delivers a crisp, clean maltiness balanced by a soft hop bitterness, culminating in the signature dry finish.

Another non-alcoholic option from Asahi is the Asahi Dry Zero, which is gluten-free and made from naturally gluten-free ingredients. It is crafted with soybean peptide, and no gluten grains like barley or wheat are listed on the product's container. While it may not have the same body and taste as a regular beer, it is a good option for those seeking gluten-free alternatives.

In addition to these, Asahi also offers the Asahi Dry Black and Asahi Brewmaster's Select in the United States. These non-alcoholic beers provide a great choice for those who want to enjoy the taste and sophistication of beer without the alcohol content.

Asahi's other beer varieties

Asahi Super Dry is a highly successful Japanese beer that is also popular in Australia. It is a dry, light-coloured lager with a light flavour profile. However, Asahi has many other beer varieties.

Asahi Dry Zero is a non-alcoholic beer made from gluten-free ingredients. Asahi Dry Black and Asahi Brewmaster's Select are also available in the US. Asahi Super Dry - Dry Crystal is a lower-alcohol version of Asahi Super Dry, available in Japan. Asahi Z is another dry lager, and Asahi Black is a 5% ABV dark lager. Asahi Prime Time is a German Pilsener-style lager only available in Japan. Asahi Draft is a lager that was the company's first primary beer, from 1957 until the late 1980s. Asahi Gold was the company's former flagship product, first produced in 1957.

Asahi also owns several other breweries, including Peroni Brewery in Italy, Grolsch Brewery in the Netherlands, and Cricketers Arms and Mountain Goat Brewery in Australia.

Asahi's history

Asahi is a Japanese beer giant and one of the four major brewers in Japan. It is headquartered in Sumida, Tokyo, and was founded in 1889 as the Osaka Beer Company with the purpose of producing a world-class beer for Japan. The company debuted its Suitamura Brewery, Japan’s first modern brewery, in 1891, and Asahi Beer was launched the following year. Asahi Beer is therefore older than Asahi Breweries, having been launched 74 years before the latter. Asahi Breweries, Ltd. was established in 1966, marking the start of mass production of Asahi Beer.

In 1987, Asahi Group Holdings introduced a new beer, Asahi Super Dry, which became the company's flagship brand. Asahi Super Dry is Japan’s most popular beer, with more than 100 million cases sold every year since its release. Asahi Super Dry is a highly attenuated lager without the heavier malt flavours of its competitors' products, with a crisp, dry taste reminiscent of some northern German beers. Asahi Super Dry's launch led to a significant rise in consumer demand for dry beer and a dramatic turnaround in Asahi's business performance, surpassing Kirin in terms of both sales and profitability.

Asahi has continued to innovate, introducing special "draft" versions of its packaged Asahi Super Dry beer in 2021, with a pull tab and tiny bumps on the inside of the can to create more head on the beer. Asahi has also released a supersized 25.4-ounce can of Asahi Super Dry, more than double the size of its usual 11.2-ounce can. Asahi has also expanded its business portfolio through the acquisition of coveted beer businesses in Western Europe and Central Eastern Europe, resulting in a large market share in many European countries.

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