Rye River "Bidin' Time" Gluten Free Lager

German inspiration. Irish craft. A clean, crisp lager made for easy drinking.
Rye River Bidin’ Time is a beer that proves gluten-free brewing does not have to mean compromising on the character of a proper craft lager. Brewed in County Kildare by Rye River Brewing Company, this is a German-inspired Irish lager built around clean fermentation, carefully selected malt, traditional lager hops, and — importantly — plenty of time. The result is crisp, refreshing, and beautifully balanced, with enough depth to satisfy beer lovers while remaining wonderfully approachable.

The philosophy behind Bidin’ Time is right there in the name. Rye River deliberately gives this lager a longer maturation period than most modern commercial lagers, allowing the flavours to develop naturally and the beer to achieve the clean, polished character associated with great German lager brewing. It is brewed with German hops, German-inspired malt character, and Rye River's own house German lager yeast, bringing together traditional influences with the brewery's distinctly Irish approach to craft brewing.

In the glass, Bidin’ Time is bright golden and inviting, with a delicate floral and bready aroma. The palate is clean and crisp, with subtle malt sweetness giving way to gentle hop bitterness. Herkules, Saaz and Tradition hops bring a restrained herbal and floral character without overpowering the beer, while the Munich II, Pilsner and Carapils malts provide a little more body and depth than you might expect from a standard lager.

And then there is the gluten-free element. Bidin’ Time has been specifically produced as a gluten-free beer, making it an excellent option for customers looking for a proper Irish craft lager within that category. Rye River's commitment to gluten-free production has continued to develop, with the brewery recently achieving AOECS gluten-free certification for a second consecutive year.

At 4.5% ABV, this is very much an everyday-strength lager rather than a specialist or heavy craft beer. Its appeal lies in precision and drinkability: cold, crisp, clean, gently bitter, and refreshingly uncomplicated. It is exactly the sort of beer that can work equally well as an aperitif, alongside food, or simply as the first bottle opened after a long day.

For beer lovers in Ireland, Bidin’ Time is a particularly good example of what Rye River does best — taking a familiar international beer style, giving it the attention and technical precision of a craft brewery, and producing it locally in County Kildare.

Why we love it:
Bidin’ Time is refreshingly uncomplicated in the best possible way. The longer lagering gives it a wonderfully clean character, while German hops add subtle floral and herbal notes over a crisp malt base. It has enough flavour to keep craft beer drinkers interested, but the light body and restrained bitterness make it incredibly easy to enjoy. And as a genuinely gluten-free Irish craft lager, it gives customers looking for that option something much more interesting than simply settling for an ordinary commercial lager.