Gluten-Free Beer Brands for Beer Lovers- Complete Guide
If you have gluten sensitivities and can no longer drink traditional beer, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of fantastic gluten-free beers to allow you to enjoy a refreshing lager or pale ale without triggering your sensitivities! Gluten-Free Beer Brands for Beer Lovers was written to help you!
Although there are many different types of beer out there, on a basic level, beer is made by fermenting the sugars and starches from barley and hops with yeast. During fermentation, the yeast consumes the sugars and produces alcohol to make the drink alcoholic. People have brewed beer in this way for millennia, but since barley is a gluten-containing grain, it is not safe for people with celiac disease.
If you’ve been missing beer on your gluten-free diet and want to add it back in, you’re in luck! With the demand for gluten-free alternatives increasing, finding delicious and safe alternatives is easier than ever.
What’s Special About Beer?
What is Gluten-Free Beer?
There are two main types of gluten free beers: certified gluten-free beers and gluten-removed beers.
- Certified gluten-free beers are made without gluten, usually using gluten-free grains like quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, oats, millet, sorghum, etc.
- Gluten-removed beers may be made with regular wheat or barley malt, but the gluten is removed to reduce the likelihood of a reaction.
Please know that labeling for gluten-free products varies from country to country. In the US, brands can add a gluten-free label if the final product contains fewer than 20 ppm gluten in the final product.
You may see some products labeled Certified Gluten-Free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization, which offers an extra layer of assurance.
How Is Gluten Removed from Beer?
In gluten-reduced beer, brewers essentially make regular beer with gluten-containing grains. Still, they add different enzymes at the beginning of the brewing process to prevent the gluten proteins from forming. This process is usually referred to as hydrolysis. Many breweries also add silica gel or tannins to reduce the gluten content even more.
Gluten-Free vs Gluten-Reduced Beer
Unfortunately, testing for gluten in beer is surprisingly complex, very expensive, and not always accurate. Even with the gluten removed, gluten-removed beers may still have trace amounts of gluten and trigger a reaction in sensitive people. This means celiacs must opt for certified gluten-free beer instead.
According to this study, the only beers safe for celiacs are “obtained by grains that are naturally free from gluten…because there is no trace of gluten from the beginning to the end of the brewing process.”
It’s also helpful to look for companies that brew out of dedicated gluten-free breweries to avoid cross-contamination.
Gluten-reduced beers can be an acceptable option for people with gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity but not for people with celiac disease. Fortunately, there are quite a few genuinely gluten-free beer options out there that are safe even for people with celiac disease.
Disclaimer – Because everyone has a different threshold for gluten exposure, you can only decide which type of gluten-free beer is best for you!
Overview of Different Types of Gluten-Free Beer
These days, you can find almost any type of beer made without gluten, although it may not always be available in your local stores. Some beers, like pilsners, amber ales, and pale ales, are naturally lower in gluten (>100 ppm of gluten). Other varieties, like wheat ales, are incredibly high in gluten and entirely unsafe for celiacs.
- Gluten-Free Lagers – These pale-colored, fizzy beers are some of the most popular types of beer on the market. For gluten-free options, look for Bard’s or Redbridge, which use sorghum extract or malt for that classic flavor.
- Pilsner– This is a popular type of light lager with a blend of hops and pilsner malt. Gluten-free brands avoid malt using alternative grains like rice or sorghum.
- Pale Ales—These hoppy drinks are trendy, especially in today’s market. IPAs are notoriously bitter due to the high quantity of hops, which add aromatic, floral, and citrus notes. American Pale Ale is known for being more balanced, with less bitterness and intensity than regular IPAs. There are many great gluten-free IPAs, including great options from Ground Breaker, Bierly, Stone, Ghostfish, and many smaller producers.
- Stouts – Stouts or porters are a type of dark ale that is generally thick and flavorful. They often use malt and barley, so finding gluten-free versions can be more challenging. Fortunately, there are some standout options from Holidaily, Ghostfish, and Glutenberg for people who love this brew.
Where To Buy Gluten-Free Beer
Fortunately, buying gluten-free beers at grocery stores, liquor stores, or local breweries is becoming much easier.
- Albertson’s
- Kroger
- Whole Foods
- Safeway
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- Wegmans
- World Market
If you can’t find gluten-free beer locally, look at online retailers like Craftshack, LiquidRails, Bevmo, Total Wine & More, etc.
Most Popular Gluten-Free Beer Brands
These days, many gluten-free beers are available, from the major beer producers to tiny microbreweries. These are some of the very best options you’ll likely find in local stores.
- Anheuser-Busch – Look for Redbridge lager, a sorghum-based beer suitable for gluten-free dieters.
- Bard’s – Bard’s beers were among the first gluten-free beers on the market, and they’re made with malted sorghum instead of barley malt.
- Damm—This Spanish brand is one of the largest gluten-free beer brands. It is easily found in liquor stores and grocery stores. It is gluten-reduced but certified to contain less than 20 ppm gluten.
- Glutenberg—Glutenberg is a fan favorite that uses alternative grains to produce award-winning beer. It also operates out of a gluten-free facility to avoid cross-contamination.
- Green’s – This British brand brews gluten-free beers with the help of Belgian craft brewers using a mixture of ancient grains.
- Ground Breaker—This craft brewery in Portland, Oregon, brews in a dedicated gluten-free facility and offers a wide range of flavorful options, such as fruit ales, dry-hopped pale ales, saisons, tripels, stouts, and more.
- Holidaily—Holidaily is 100% gluten-free and produces several award-winning beers, making it an easy choice for any gluten-free beer lover. They offer six different brews throughout the year, including pumpkin ale, stouts, pale ales, and more.
- Stone—Stone is a big name in craft brewing. They offer a gluten-reduced beer called the Delicious IPA, commonly available in major big box stores.
- Omission Beer – This company is known for producing non-alcoholic beers and some gluten-reduced options.
- Ghostfish Brewing Company—Based in Seattle, Washington, Ghostfish is one of the strongest brands in the gluten-free beer market. Every brew is certified gluten-free and a crowd favorite among people who love craft beers.
Thoughts About Gluten-Free Beer
It’s never been an easier time to be gluten-free. I hope you leave this article feeling excited about all the gluten-free beer you can add to your diet!
