The market for gluten free beers is growing, however, not all beer labeled “gluten free” is actually safe for those with celiac disease! Here’s a quick guide to the differences in types of gluten free beers.
Why is Beer Normally Not Gluten Free?
Beer is typically using a combination of hops, grains, malt extracts, water, and yeast. Many commercially available beers use gluten-containing grains that make these beers unsafe for anyone on a gluten free diet.
What’s the Difference Between “Gluten Removed” and “Gluten Free” Beers?
Gluten-Removed Beers
These beers are brewed with gluten (like a normal beer) and then enzymes are used to break down and remove most of the gluten in the beer. Many times these products are labeled as “gluten free” but this can be misleading.
Gluten removed beers are not safe for people with celiac disease because they may still contain protein fragments that cause reactions. Learn more about FDA Issues Final Rule on Gluten-Free Labeling of Fermented and Hydrolyzed Foods
Examples of gluten removed beers include Omission, Corona, and Stone IPA.
Gluten Free Beer
Gluten Free beers are the safest option for those with celiac and are the gold standard because they can only be made using 100% gluten free ingredients. These breweries tend to be 100% dedicated gluten free facilities and substitute traditional ingredients (wheat and barley) with gluten free ingredients (buckwheat, lentils, millet rice).
Most dedicated gluten free beers will list the beer’s ingredients on the label, so be sure to look for it and note that 100% of the grains used are indeed gluten free!
Dedicated Gluten Free Breweries
West Coast
Evasion Brewing
McMinville, Oregon
Mountain States
Mid-West
East Coast
Blueprint Brewing Company
Pennsylvania, USA
Canada
Glutenberg Brewery
Montreal, Canada
Other Gluten Free Beers
- Armored Cow
- Whole Lotta Rosie
- Blue Punch
- Bard’s – Tale Beer
- Bradley Brew Project – It’s My Pleasure
- Lakefront Brewery – New Grist
- Redbridge – Gluten Free Beer
All photos used from each brewery’s respective website
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