Does Beer Have Gluten? Plus a Gluten-free Beer List

Find out if beer has gluten, if it’s safe for a gluten-free diet, if your favorites are gluten-free, and what brands to look for.

Are you a beer lover? Are you getting started on a gluten-free diet and not sure what alcoholic drinks are safe yet? Find out everything you need to know about beer and your gluten-free diet as we answer the question: “does beer have gluten?”

We’re going to dive into what beer is made from, if there’s gluten in beer, what kinds of beer are safe for your gluten-free diet, and answer some questions related to your favorite beer brands. Let’s dive in, shall we?

This post is part of the Gluten-free Alcohol Series, where we’re going to discuss different types of alcoholic drinks and how they fit into a gluten-free diet.

What is beer made from?

Let’s get on the same page when it comes to beer and understand first where beer comes from and what ingredients are used to make it.

Beer is made from hops, malted barley, yeast, and water. Other flavorings, fruits, and spices can be added to give a unique flavor profile, but at its most basic, these are the only ingredients you need to make beer.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in most wheat products, and acts as the “glue” that helps to hold wheat, barley, kamut, spelt, farro, durum, bulgur, rye, and semolina together to maintain their shape.

Gluten is naturally occurring, and therefore is impossible to strip away from the grain. If a grain naturally has gluten in it, there’s no way to make that food gluten-free.

Is there gluten in beer?

The short answer is YES. Most beer is made with malted barley – and sometimes with wheat. Barley and wheat are both gluten-containing grains.

In the process of making beer, the gluten remains in the drink, as opposed to distilled drinks, such as whiskey that uses malted barley but the gluten is distilled out of the final product.

Read on: Is barley gluten-free?

Read on: Is malt gluten-free?

Are hops gluten-free? Do hops have gluten?

Hops are actually a flower and are not a grain at all. Since we know that gluten comes in the form of wheat-related grains, we know that hops are naturally gluten-free.

Hops are safe to enjoy on a gluten-free diet when you find them on ingredient labels or if you were to make your own beer at home.

How much gluten is in beer?

According to Healthline, different types of beer generally contain differing levels of gluten:

Lager: 63 ppm
Stout: 361 ppm
Ales: 3,120 ppm
Wheat beer: 25,920 ppm

This means that lagers have less gluten content than wheat beers, however both contain gluten. If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you’ll want to avoid all conventionally made beers.

Gluten-free Beer

So if most beer has gluten, what can you drink on a gluten-free diet?

Luckily, there ARE gluten-free beers available and on the market. You can look for bottles and brands with a gluten-free label to know for sure that they are safe for you to enjoy.

According to the FDA, in order to have a gluten-free label on a product, the product has to contain less than 20 ppm in one serving. Again, this is much less than what’s in most lagers even.

Gluten Removed Beer vs Gluten-free Beer

Many beers that are considered “gluten-free beer” are really and truly gluten-removed beer. That means that after the beer has been brewed, an enzyme has been added to it to break down the gluten and make the ppm a smaller quantity.

Once the beer has reached less than 20 ppm, it can be considered gluten-free. If you are Celiac, you may not be able to enjoy gluten-removed beer so be sure to look for brands that are gluten-free by brewing process and not by removal.

Beer that is made gluten-free from the beginning of its process is made using gluten-free grains, and therefore no worries of gluten or cross contamination are needed. These gluten-free beers are made using sorghum, buckwheat, or rice. All of these grains are naturally gluten-free, and can make a delicious gluten-free beer.

Gluten-free Beer Brands

Here are some great gluten-free beer brands and gluten-removed beer brands you can look for next time you head out to the store:

Alpenglow Beer Company

Buck Wild Pale Ale

Alley Kat (gluten removed)

Scona Gold Kolsch

Allendale Brewery (gluten removed)

GFPA

Alt Brew

Rustic Badger Belgian Ale
Hollywood Nights Blonde IPA
Copperhead Copper Ale
Kickback Kolsch
1808 Robust Porter
Holy Hop Grenade Double IPA
Sunset Belgian Tripel

Anheuser-Busch

Redbridge Lager

Autumn Brewing Co.

Alt Brew No.01 Bavarian Style Pilsner
Alt Brew No.02 English Pale Ale
Alt Brew No.03 Dark Roast Stout

Aurochs Brewing Company

Amber ale
Blonde ale
Brown ale
Cascading Dark Ale
Hefeweizen
Nitro porter
Porter
Session IPA
White IPA

Bard’s Tale Beer

Bard’s Gold Lager

Bellfield Brewery (gluten removed)

Session Ale
Lawless Village IPA
Bohemian Pilsner
Craft Lager

Bierly Brewing

Felix Pilsner
Amber IPA
Blackbird Stout
Baker Street Porter

Billabong Brewing

Australia’s Pale Ale
Blonde Low Carb Lager Style
Ginger Beer

Black Isle Organic (gluten removed)

Goldfinch

Brewdog (gluten removed)

Vagabond gluten free

Brewery Rickoli (gluten removed)

M.E.H Cream Ale
Quicker Bichen
Enormous Richard
Aldo’s Red
Elke Brown
Social Lubricant
Mango Hop Session
Totally Eye P.A.
The Authoritah
Disturbed Reflection
Black Pline
Black Lupulin
STATIK
Vanilla in “yo Rye”

Burning Brothers Brewing

Auntie M’s Irish Red Ale
Parched Lime Shandy
Most Coast India Pale Ale
Midway American Lager
Pyro American Pale Ale
Roasted Coffee Strong Ale

Brunehaut Brewery

Triple Organic
Organic Amber
Organic White
Organic Saison

Celia Lager (gluten removed)

Premium Czech Lager
Dark Craft Czech Lager

Damm

Estrella Damm Laura
Laura Marzen

Departed Soles Brewing Company

GoodbIPA
A Dark Night
Go Big Or Go Home
None Shall P.A.T.H.
Rick Rolled-Oat Coffee Stout
Ghost of Pumpkins Passed
Brrr-Berry
Bumper Hops
Senses Pail
New Jersey Ninja
All Together

Divine Science Brewing

Third Contact IPA
Event Horizon Blonde

Duck Foot (gluten removed)

The Looker Blonde Ale
Drink This or The Bees Die Honey Ale
Hop ‘Em Sock ‘Em West Coast Style IPA
Coconut IPA West Coast IPA with Toasted Coconut
Duckzilla Double White IPA

Evasion Brewing

Horphoria IPA
Blonde Ale
Tantamount Stout
Evasion Light
This is My Party Shirt
Blood Orange IPA

First Chop Brewing (gluten removed)

Syl Black Jaggery IPA
Ava Happy Blonde Ale
Hop Ultra Pale Ale
Sup Session IPA
Pop Citrus IPA
Pod Classic Vanilla Oatmeal Stout
Red Salford Red
Jam Mango Pale
MCR Modern Manchester Bitter

Ghostfish Brewing

Grapefruit IPA
Vanishing Point Pale Ale
Shrouded Summit Belgian White Ale
Meteor Shower Blonde Ale
Kick Step IPA
Peak Buster Double IPA
Anniversary Release
It Came From The Haze
Gosefish Hibiscus-Cranberry Rose
Ghost Pepper Saison
Fresh Hop Release
Lunar Harvest Pumpkin Ale
Watchstander Stout

Glutenberg

Blonde
IPA
American Pale Ale
Red
White
Stout
Session IPA
Gose
Double IPA

Green’s

Discovery
Premium Pilsner
Golden Ale
Blonde
Dark Ale
Hefe Weissbier
Amber
Dry Hopped Lager
India Pale Ale
Tripel Ale
Dubbel Ale

Ground Breaker Brewing

Pale Ale
Dark Ale
IPA No. 5
Olallie

Hambleton Ales

Stud Blonde
Pink Grapefruit Ale
GFA
GFL

Holidaily Brewing Co.

Favorite Blonde Ale
Fat Randy’s IPA
Buckwheat Belgian
Riva Stout
Patchy Waters
Bulah Red Ale

Ipswich Ale Brewery

Celia Saison

James Page Brewery

Foxtail gluten free ale

Lakefront Brewery

New Grist
New Grist Gose with Lime

Legal Draft (gluten removed)

Free & Clear Lager

Microbrasserie Nouvelle France

Messagere Blonde
Messagere Rousse
Messagere Light
Messagere Fruits

Mikkeller

Zero-G
Space Race Gluten-free

Minhas Brewery

Boxer Gluten Free

Moonshrimp Brewing

Negative Space: Dark Pale Ale
Starlight White: White Ale
One Small Step: IPA

New Belgium (gluten removed)

Glutiny Pale Ale

New Planet (gluten removed)

Blonde Ale (gluten-free)
Pale Ale (gluten-free)
Tread Lightly Ale (gluten removed)
Seclusion IPA (gluten removed)

Omission (gluten removed)

Ultimate Light
IPA
Pale Ale
Lager

Scott’s Brewing Company

Gluten-Free Pale Ale

Sprecher Brewery

Shakparo

Steadfast Beer Co

Pale Ale
Oatmeal Cream Stout
Blonde Ale
IPA

Stone Brewing (gluten removed)

Stone Delicious IPA

Two Bays Brewing Co

Pale Ale
Red Rocks Red Ale
Extra Pale Ale
India Pale Ale

Whistler Brewing Company

Forager Amber Pale Ale

Wild Ohio Brewing

Black Cherry Bourbon Barrel Tea Beer
Blueberry Tea Beer
Mango Tea Beer
Peach Tea Beer
Blood Orange Tangerine
Dalypalmer
Dark Berry
Mango Passionfruit

Wild Polly Brewing Co.

Pale Ale
IPA

Wold Top Brewery (gluten removed)

Against The Grain
Scarborough Fair IPA
Marmalade Porter
Landmark Lager

Are there any brands of gluten-free non-alcoholic beer?

There are a few brands of low or no-alcohol beer that are safe for a gluten-free diet. Some brands to look for are: Athletic, Big Drop, Bravus, Brew Dog, Jump Ship, and a number of others. For a full list of brands and options, read this post: Gluten-free non-alcoholic beer

Are my favorite beer brands gluten-free?

So many people have asked about specific brands of beer and if they are gluten-free, so I thought I’d go over a few of those in detail below.

Is Budweiser gluten-free?

Budweiser beer is not gluten-free as it is made with barley, a gluten-containing grain. All varieties of Budweiser’s beer products contain gluten.

Read on: Is Budweiser gluten-free?

Is Bud Light gluten-free?

Bud Light is Budweiser’s “light” beer. It comes in different flavors and options just like normal Budweiser. Bud Light, Bud Light Platinum, Bud Light Peels, and Bud Light Chelada all contain gluten in the form of barley. These should be avoided on a gluten-free diet.

Read on: Is Bud Light gluten-free?

Is Busch Light gluten-free?

Busch Light is not considered a gluten-free product, because it contains barley. Barley is a gluten-containing grain that is not removed from the final product during manufacturing.

This brand of beer should be avoided on a gluten-free diet.

Read on: Is Busch Light gluten-free?

Is Corona gluten-free? Is Corona Light gluten-free?

There’s been quite a bit of buzz on this topic online and I’ve found conflicting information on the topic of Corona being a gluten-free beer.

The reality is that NO, Corona is not a gluten-free beer and is not marketing as such by the brand itself. Even their website says their beer contains gluten in the FAQ section.

However, many people who follow a gluten-free diet DO drink it, because as some have suggested that it has been shown to have less than 20 ppm per serving.

Should you drink it if you’re gluten-free? The answer is it depends on your sensitivity, your willingness to go to a little extra effort to find a truly gluten-free beer or gluten-removed beer, and if you can or cannot live without Corona in your life.

Do your own research and make the call for yourself, so you can feel good about it.

Read on: Is Corona gluten-free?

Is Coors Light gluten-free?

Coors Light has been shown to have less than 20 ppm of gluten in a serving, however it is NOT considered gluten-free according to the brand itself.

Their response to meeting the gluten-free market? A dedicated gluten-free just for us. Check out Coors Peak for a gluten-free beer you can feel good about adding to your shopping list. I believe this option has been discontinued, but if you happen to find it locally, know that this is gluten-free!

Read on: Is Coors Light gluten-free?

Is Guinness gluten-free?

Guinness beer is not considered gluten-free, because it is made with roasted barley and malted barley. Barley is a gluten-containing grain, and the gluten is not removed during the manufacturing process of beer.

Read on: Is Guinness gluten-free?

Is Michelob Ultra gluten-free?

Michelob Ultra beers are not gluten-free as they contain barley malt. Barley is a gluten-containing grain that cannot be removed entirely from the final product during manufacturing.

If you’re looking for a gluten-free beer you will want to find a different product and brand that works for your gluten-free diet.

Read on: Is Michelob Ultra gluten-free?

Is Miller Lite gluten-free?

Unfortunately, Miller Lite is not gluten-free, because it contains barley malt. Barley is a gluten-containing grain, and the gluten is not removed during the manufacturing process of beer.

Choose a different gluten-free beer option instead of Miller Lite.

Read on: Is Miller Lite gluten-free?

Is Modelo gluten-free?

Unfortunately, Modelo beer contains gluten from the barley malt and likely the non-malted cereals used in its recipe. If you enjoy beer, but are bummed to see that Modelo contains gluten, know that there are loads of other gluten-free beers available.

Read on: Is Modelo gluten-free?

Is Redd’s apple ale gluten-free?

According to the Redd’s Hard Apple website, “Redd’s Hard Apple is not gluten-free, but it is delicious.”

If you follow a gluten-free diet, opt for a different type of beer that is gluten-free or better yet, choose a gluten-free hard cider that’s made with no gluten ingredients.

Read on: Is Redd’s apple ale gluten-free?

If you love beer and have been on the hunt for a great gluten-free beer brand to include in your diet, I hope this post has been informative and useful for you.

Remember you don’t have to give up your occasional beer in order to stay gluten-free. Find a brand you love that you can find locally and feel free to kick back and relax!

Love this post? Check out more from the Gluten-free Alcohol Series.

Wondering which alcohol is safe for a gluten-free diet? Find out in the Gluten-free Alcohol series!

Comments

Audrey says
October 14, 2020 at 9:48 am
Thanks so much for this info and the extensive list of GF beers. I can now make a better choice, and enjoy a drink.
- Rachael Roehmholdt says
  October 18, 2020 at 10:36 am
  You’re welcome! I hope you find some of these locally so you can enjoy them. Please come back and share if you find a new favorite!
James says
March 2, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Nice post! Thanks for figuring out the relation between gluten and beer. I think this post is very helpful for all people, especially for celiacs.
Also, mentioning the gluten-free beer brands will help folks to choose the appropriate brand for them.
Brittney says
October 6, 2022 at 1:04 pm
Is Dogfish Head gluten free? It says it is but not only box.
- Rachael Roehmholdt says
  October 6, 2022 at 1:09 pm
  Their website doesn’t come out directly and say that it is gluten-free, so I’d assume that it is not. Unless you find a variety that has a gluten-free label, I’d probably skip this brand.
  https://www.dogfish.com/brewery/faqs

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