Gluten-free beers have become increasingly popular as more people adopt gluten-free diets. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, gluten-free beers provide a tasty alternative to enjoy a cold one without the gluten. There are quite a few gluten-free beer options on the market today, ranging from large domestic brands to small craft breweries. Here’s an overview of some of the top gluten-free beer brands and options currently available.
What makes a beer gluten-free?
For a beer to be considered gluten-free, it must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Most beers contain gluten from the malted barley used in the brewing process. Gluten-free beers are made by substituting the barley with gluten-free grains like sorghum, buckwheat, rice, millet, or corn. Many also ensure the avoidance of gluten during processing and fermentation. This results in a beer that contains negligible or no detectable gluten content.
Large domestic gluten-free beer brands
Some of the largest beer companies in the U.S. have started offering gluten-free beer options:
- Anheuser-Busch – Budweiser Prohibition Brew Non-Alcoholic Beer
- MillerCoors – Coors Peak Copper Lager
- Omission Beer – A craft beer brand focused on gluten-reduced beer styles like IPA, lager, and wheat beer. Omission beers are brewed from barley but use an enzyme process to remove gluten.
These mass-market gluten-free brands are widely available at most major grocery chains and beer/liquor stores. They provide an accessible option for those looking for a typical domestic lager-style gluten-free beer.
Gluten-free craft and microbrews
In addition to the major beer companies, many small independent and craft breweries are offering gluten-free beers. Here are some of the most popular gluten-free craft beer brands:
- Ghostfish Brewing Company – Specializes exclusively in gluten-free beers like Grapefruit IPA, Vanishing Point Pale Ale, and Kick Step IPA.
- Glutenberg – Canadian brewery with a line of gluten-free beers including American Pale Ale, Red Ale, Blonde Ale, and a rotating seasonal.
- Ground Breaker Brewing – 100% gluten-free brewery based in Portland, OR. Known for IPAs like Dark Cherry Cocoa Nib and Fresh Hop IPA.
- Green’s Brewery – One of the first gluten-free breweries, founded in Belgium. Beers include a blonde ale, amber ale, and Dubbel dark ale.
The gluten-free craft beer market continues to grow as more small brewers experiment with sorghum, buckwheat, and other gluten-free grains. This provides increased variety and options for those seeking bolder, more unique gluten-free beer flavors.
Other common gluten-free beer brands
In addition to the breweries mentioned above, here are some other reputable gluten-free beer brands that are commonly found in stores and restaurants:
- Redbridge (by Anheuser-Busch) – One of the first widely available gluten-free beers in the U.S., Redbridge offers a light lager style.
- Bard’s Tale Beer – This gluten-free craft brewery offers a pale ale, IPA, and lager made from sorghum and rice.
- Dogfish Head Brewery – Maker of Tweason’ale, a gluten-free beer brewed with strawberries and buckwheat honey.
- New Planet Beer Company – Specializes in gluten-free craft beers with options like a blonde ale, pale ale, and Belgian-style ales.
- Stone Brewing – Offers the Delicious IPA, a gluten-reduced India pale ale.
Gluten-free beer classifications
When shopping for gluten-free beer, it can be helpful to understand the different designations for gluten content:
- Gluten-free – Contains less than 20 ppm of gluten. Safe for celiacs.
- Gluten-removed – Gluten is removed after the brewing process to reduce gluten levels. May still contain trace amounts.
- Crafted to remove gluten – Steps are taken during the brewing process to remove gluten. Gluten levels are not tested.
- Gluten-reduced – Gluten levels are significantly reduced but not fully eliminated.
Those with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance need to stick with beers certified as gluten-free to ensure safety. Individual tolerances vary, so those less sensitive may be able to handle beers with reduced or removed gluten. When in doubt, it’s best to contact the brewer directly to learn more about their specific gluten-free practices.
Considerations when selecting gluten-free beer
When evaluating different gluten-free beer options, here are some factors to consider:
- Ingredients – Look for beers made with gluten-free grains like sorghum, rice, buckwheat, millet, and corn.
- Gluten certification – Seek third-party certification to verify the beer tests below 20ppm gluten.
- Flavor – Gluten-free beer flavors range from light lagers to full-bodied IPAs. Select your favorites.
- Availability – Check your local stores, bars, and restaurants for gluten-free beer options.
- Price – Gluten-free specialty beers tend to cost more than conventional beers.
- Brand reputation – Stick to reputable brands with transparent processes.
Testing out a variety of styles and brands can help identify the ideal gluten-free beers for your taste preferences and needs.
Gluten-free beer recipes to brew at home
With some basic homebrewing equipment, you can also easily brew your own custom gluten-free beers at home. Here are a couple beginner gluten-free beer recipes to try:
Gluten-Free Belgian Witbier
- Grains – 50% sorghum, 45% millet, 5% rice
- Hops – Nugget and Willamette
- Yeast – Belgian Witbier yeast
- Spices – Bitter orange peel, coriander
This recipe uses a blend of gluten-free grains and traditional Belgian witbier spices for a refreshing unfiltered wheat beer style.
Gluten-Free Brown Ale
- Grains – 60% sorghum, 40% buckwheat
- Hops – Fuggles, Willamette
- Yeast – English ale yeast
With rich nutty buckwheat malt and earthy English hops, this recipe makes for a flavorful gluten-free brown ale.
Brewing your own beer allows complete control over ingredients and processes to ensure a gluten-free result. For those new to homebrewing, start with a simple extract-based recipe before advancing to all-grain brewing.
Places to enjoy gluten-free beer
Thanks to growing demand, gluten-free beers are getting much easier to find when dining and drinking out:
- Restaurants – Many restaurants now list gluten-free beers on menus or offer a dedicated gluten-free menu.
- Breweries – Look for small craft breweries offering dedicated gluten-free beer options. May require checking directly with the brewery.
- Beer gardens – Outdoor beer gardens often serve a selection of bottled gluten-free beers.
- Bars – Specialty beer bars with large selections are more likely to have gluten-free beers on tap or in bottles.
- Beer festivals – Craft beer festivals increasingly offer gluten-free beer options, sometimes even a dedicated gluten-free booth.
- Liquor stores – Bottle shops with wide beer selections will often carry several gluten-free brands.
Don’t be shy about asking servers and bartenders about available gluten-free beer options when out. With greater awareness, more establishments continue to expand their gluten-free offerings.
Tips for maximizing enjoyment of gluten-free beer
Here are some tips for getting the most satisfaction and flavor from your gluten-free beer:
- Pour in a glass – Drinking from the bottle or can detracts from the aroma and flavor. Use a pint glass if possible.
- Check the date – Gluten-free beers are best consumed fresh before the flavors start to fade.
- Serve proper temperature – Colder for light lagers, warmer for ales to accentuate flavors.
- Pair with food – Complementary pairings like burgers, pizza, seafood, and chicken wings.
- Try different styles – Expand your palate with a range of lagers, ales, IPAs, stouts, and seasonal offerings.
- Drink slowly – Sip and savor each flavor note. Gluten-free beers should be enjoyed, not pounded.
- Ask for recommendations – Tell staff about your taste preferences to get spot-on suggestions.
Following these tips will help you get the best possible experience from whichever gluten-free beer you choose to sip and savor.
The future of gluten-free beer
The gluten-free beer market shows no signs of slowing down. As demand increases, expect to see:
- More styles and variety – Hoppy IPAs, rich stouts, unique seasonals, and specialty beers.
- Improved quality and consistency – Brewing processes continue to progress.
- Expanded availability – On tap at more bars, restaurants, and other venues.
- Increased affordability – As production scales up, costs should decrease.
- Hybrid beers – Offering reduced gluten options for less sensitive drinkers.
- Novel ingredients – New alternative gluten-free grains like millet, buckwheat, quinoa.
- New startups – Continued growth in dedicated gluten-free breweries.
While already much improved, gluten-free beer options are on track to get even more exciting, diverse, and widely accessible in the coming years.
Conclusion
When shopping for gluten-free beer, some of the top brands to look for include Omission, Ghostfish, Glutenberg, Ground Breaker, Green’s, Redbridge, Bard’s, Dogfish Head, and New Planet. Consider the ingredients, certification level, flavors, availability, and price when selecting your beer. Brewing gluten-free beer at home is also an option with recipes based on sorghum, millet, buckwheat and other grains. Bars, breweries, beer gardens, and festivals are increasingly offering gluten-free beers. Follow proper tasting techniques to maximize enjoyment. With growing demand, the future looks bright for improved quality, variety, and accessibility of gluten-free beer.
