Bard's Gold Gluten Free 6Pk

Bard's Gold Gluten Free 6Pk is a gluten-free American lager brewed with 100% malted sorghum, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles at 4.6% ABV. Bard's distinguishes itself as the only beer on the market that malts its sorghum grain rather than using sorghum syrup or unmalted grain, a step that adds complexity more reminiscent of traditional barley-based lagers.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.6%  |  Origin: Edina, Minnesota, USA  |  Style: American Lager  |  Brewery: Bard's Tale Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Bard's Tale Beer Company is based in Edina, Minnesota, and produces Bard's Gold through a contract brewing arrangement. The recipe uses just four ingredients — 100% malted sorghum, hops, water, and yeast — with no barley, wheat, or rye at any stage. The critical difference in Bard's process is the malting of the sorghum itself, a labor-intensive step most gluten-free brewers skip in favor of sorghum syrup. This malting process is intended to develop richer grain character and deliver a flavor profile closer to conventional beer than many gluten-free alternatives achieve.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted grain and malt sweetness lead, followed by a light fruitiness and subtle earthy, floral hop notes. There is a faint caramel quality underneath.

Taste: The entry is crisp with grain sweetness that borders on candy-like, giving way to distinct apple and caramel flavors at mid-palate. A moderate hop bitterness emerges to balance the malt, with a light banana ester and a pleasant tartness adding dimension.

Finish: Dry and sharp with high carbonation, ending mostly balanced between residual sweetness and hop bite. A slight sweet aftertaste lingers briefly before a clean close.

How to Drink Bard's Gold

Serve chilled between 38–45°F in a standard pint glass or pilsner glass to showcase its golden color and carbonation. Bard's Gold works well as a straightforward drinking lager on its own, but its crisp sweetness and fruit character also suit several beer-based mixed drinks. A Shandy made with fresh lemonade complements the apple and caramel notes nicely. A Michelada using Bard's Gold pairs the lager's tartness with lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire for a savory gluten-free brunch option. A Radler blending Bard's Gold with grapefruit juice plays off the beer's natural fruit undertones while keeping things light.

Best For

• Celiac or gluten-intolerant drinkers seeking a true malted-grain beer experience
• Summer cookouts where guests have mixed dietary needs
• Stocking a gluten-free home bar with a versatile everyday lager
• Gifting someone newly diagnosed with gluten sensitivity who misses conventional beer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bard's Gold taste like? Bard's Gold delivers grain sweetness with apple and caramel notes up front, balanced by moderate hop bitterness and a dry, highly carbonated finish. There is a subtle tartness and faint banana ester that give it more character than many gluten-free lagers.

How does Bard's Gold compare to Redbridge? Both Bard's Gold and Anheuser-Busch's Redbridge are sorghum-based gluten-free beers, but Bard's uses 100% malted sorghum while Redbridge uses sorghum syrup, resulting in a more developed grain character in Bard's. Reviewers frequently note that Bard's Gold has a slightly more complex flavor profile, though both share a recognizable sorghum sweetness.

Is Bard's Gold good for gluten-free beginners? Bard's Gold is one of the most accessible gluten-free beers for someone transitioning away from traditional barley lagers, as the malted sorghum delivers a flavor closer to conventional beer than many alternatives. Its 4.6% ABV and lager-style drinkability make it an easy starting point.

Where is Bard's Gold made? Bard's Gold is produced by Bard's Tale Beer Company, headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. The beer is made through a contract brewing arrangement in the United States.

What foods pair well with Bard's Gold? Grilled chicken or pork benefits from the beer's caramel sweetness and carbonation cutting through char. Fish tacos complement the lager's tartness and light fruit notes. Mild cheddar or gouda echo the toasted grain character. Fresh fruit salad mirrors the apple and banana esters in the beer. Gluten-free pizza works as a natural pairing that keeps the entire meal celiac-friendly.

What sizes does Bard's Gold come in? Bard's Gold is commonly available in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles, which is the standard retail format.

Is Bard's Gold worth the price? Bard's Gold positions as a mid-range gluten-free craft beer, sitting slightly above mass-market options like Redbridge. The additional cost reflects the more involved malting process for the sorghum grain, which is a meaningful quality differentiator for drinkers who prioritize flavor fidelity to traditional beer.

Why Bard's Gold?

The single most important thing about Bard's Gold is its use of 100% malted sorghum — no other gluten-free beer on the market takes this step. That malting process develops the toasted grain complexity and hop-balancing sweetness that sorghum-syrup-based beers struggle to replicate. For drinkers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance who refuse to settle for watered-down alternatives, Bard's Gold represents a genuine attempt to bridge the gap between gluten-free necessity and real beer flavor. It is not a perfect stand-in for a craft barley lager, but within its category, the malted sorghum foundation gives it a legitimate claim to being the most beer-like gluten-free option available.