Gluten Free Beer Tasting Notes

This gluten-free beer guide was originally created to help readers find safe and enjoyable gluten-free beer options. Because the gluten-free beer market continues to evolve — with new dedicated gluten-free breweries emerging and some early pioneers discontinuing production — this article was fully reviewed and updated in 2026 to reflect currently available brands.

All breweries listed below are confirmed to be producing gluten-free beer at the time of this update, and discontinued brands have been noted for historical reference.

Beer used to never be gluten free. Luckily, many craft brewers and even big breweries now offer craft brewed gluten free beer.

Most are brewed from alternative grains like rice, sorghum, or millet, so are considered naturally gluten-free beers and safe for celiacs and those on a medically necessitated gluten free diet.

However, there is another category of beer that is called “gluten-removed;” these beers are made from barley in the traditional brew-making style, and are not allowed to be labeled “gluten free” in the U.S., although local state laws may differ when the beers are not crossing state lines. Experts caution against celiacs and those with gluten sensitivity drinking these gluten-removed beers, since it’s unclear whether they are truly gluten free enough to be safe.

These “de-glutenized” or “gluten-reduced” beers are confusing the marketplace — consumers, grocers and bartenders, alike. It’s important to understand the difference between them and how to identify which is which because, as studies have shown, these beers do still contain gluten, it’s just undetermined how much is in each bottle from each batch.

If you’re here for info on gluten free alcohol and wine, hop to my article on those libations instead!

How to shop for gluten-free beers

Thankfully, gluten-free beer options have improved dramatically since I first began reviewing them. Early pioneers helped open the door, but today’s dedicated gluten-free breweries are producing beers that rival — and often surpass — their gluten-containing counterparts. These brewers use naturally gluten-free grains like sorghum, millet, buckwheat, rice, and corn to create true craft beers that are safe for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

Below are my current gluten-free beer recommendations, updated to reflect what’s still available today.

Some of these gluten-free beers are hard to find, others rather pricey, so you may not want to use them in my gluten free fish and chips recipe, but you’ll probably want to drink one with the fish and chips recipe!  

Don’t be afraid to ask your local stores to carry any of these special brews – many are distributed through national distributors, so they should be able to order for you.  

Many states DO allow shipping of gluten-free beers, but some states do not. Companies like Half Time Beverage (note they do not distinguish between naturally gluten-free and gluten-reduced) will ship some gluten free beers to states where it’s permitted. Ghostfish and Green’s Beers are currently available. Check to see if your state will permit shipping, and order naturally gluten-free beer delivered right to your door!

Naturally Gluten Free Beers

American Gluten-Free Breweries (Dedicated Gluten-Free Facilities)

One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the growth of entirely gluten-free breweries. These facilities never use wheat, barley, or rye, eliminating cross-contact concerns and allowing brewers to focus on flavor and creativity.

Naturally gluten-free beers are those made from grains that are gluten-free from the start: grains like sorghum, millet, and rice. No barley is used in manufacturing these beers.

Ghostfish Brewing Company (Seattle, WA)
Ghostfish continues to set the standard for gluten-free craft beer in the U.S. Their Grapefruit IPA is bright and refreshing, while their flagship IPA delivers the bitterness and complexity IPA lovers expect. Their Belgian White and Blonde Ale are also excellent choices. Ghostfish beers are now widely distributed, making them easier to find than ever.

Their Witbier (Belgian White Ale) is truly one of the best beers I’ve ever had.  Others boast combos like passionfruit, mango and pine!

Brewed in Seattle in a dedicated gluten free facility. Their Seattle Taproom and Gastropub with dedicated gluten free kitchen are a destination not to be missed!

Holidaily Brewing Company (Golden, CO)

This woman-owned company began as a way to bring great GF brews to those who, like its founder Karen Hertz, must live an entirely gluten free lifestyle.

Holidaily produces exceptionally clean, balanced beers with a wide variety of offerings. Their Favorite Blonde Ale is approachable and crisp, while Fat Randy IPA offers more hop character without overwhelming bitterness. This brewery has expanded significantly in recent years and is now available in many states. Don’t miss their taproom if you’re ever in Golden!

 

Ground Breaker Brewing (Portland, OR)
Ground Breaker remains a pioneer in gluten-free brewing. Their IPA No. 5 and Blonde Ale are particularly good examples of how complex and satisfying gluten-free beer can be.

They have a pouring room/Gastropub and restaurant if you ever find yourself thirsty in Portland — I highly recommend it! Maybe one of the founders will give you a tour, too!

Burning Brothers Brewing (Saint Paul, MN)
Burning Brothers excels at darker beers, including rich stouts and roasted ales that can be hard to find in gluten-free versions. Their beers offer depth and character often missing from early gluten-free brews.

Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee, WI)

Their New Grist label was a pioneer in the naturally gluten-free beer movement, as the first to gain government approval to label itself “GF,” and is now certified gluten free through the GFCO. 

Lakefront’s New Grist Pilsner remains one of the most widely available gluten-free beers. It’s light, crisp, and refreshing with hints of apple, but finishes surprisingly dry, rather than sweet, as the nose might lead you to expect. 

Alt Brew (Madison, WI)
Alt Brew offers consistently excellent beers, including their Copperhead Copper Ale and Blonde Ale, both of which are smooth and satisfying. Taproom in Madison.

Evasion Brewing (McMinnville, OR)
Evasion produces creative and flavorful beers, including excellent IPAs and lighter styles. Distributed in Oregon, Washington, Colorado and New York. All beers are made with gluten-free grains; when oats are used (not in all beers), they are certified gluten-free, processed in a dedicated gluten-free facility. 

Bierly Brewing (McMinnville, OR)
Bierly focuses on approachable, classic styles like lagers and pale ales. These beers are easy-drinking and well balanced.

NEFF Brewing (Tulsa, OK)
NEFF produces creative craft beers ranging from IPAs to ambers and seasonal offerings. Availability is more regional but worth seeking out.

Other Notable, Regional Gluten-Free Beers

Other regional gluten-free beers are worth looking seeking out.

A Maryland brew with a taproom and dedicated Gluten Free Brewhouse is BCBrewery. They currently ship within the state of Maryland and also to PA and VA. Sour, Blonde, IPA, Stout and Pale Ales made from millet, buckwheat, quinoa, and rice — all naturally gluten free. Something else cool about BC Brewery? They also offer a selection of ciders, seltzers, and a NEW Beer/Wine Hybrid (Ok, THIS I need to try!) that are also naturally gluten free and are available on tap and in cans, crowlers or growlers.

Dos Luces Brewing — Denver Colorado brewery making gluten free beer and soda from corn.

Red Leaf Brewing — Brews made from naturally gluten-free grains such as sorghum, rice and organic oats. Jeffersonville, Vermont.

Rolling Mill Brewing Company – naturally gluten free out of Middletown, Ohio. Ships throughout Ohio. This tagline pretty much says it all: “NEVER GLUTEN REMOVED, DEDICATED EQUIPMENT AND NO SORGHUM! INGREDIENTS INCLUDE RICE, MILLET AND BUCKWHEAT.” Lagers, pilsners, pale ales, stouts and more.

Mutantis Brewing – Portland, Oregon. Dedicated gluten-free brewery and dedicated gluten-free beer bottle shop and taproom.

Low Alcohol Gluten-Free Beer

Freedom Hazy IPA — Brewed from millet, buckwheat, and oats, this full-bodied IPA is made from naturally gluten-free grains AND brewer’s clarex is added to clarify and break down any residual gluten that may be left over since the same equipment is used for all their barley brews. Due to the shared equipment and facility, the brewer does not claim the beer is “gluten-free,” but labels this beer “crafted without gluten.” The beer has .24% ABV and only 81 calories. 

What are your favorite local Gluten Free brews?

Gluten-Reduced / Gluten-Removed Beers

So far, we’ve been toasting to safe, naturally gluten-free beers. But what about “true beers” made from barley that have been treated to remove or reduce the gluten? These gluten-reduced or gluten-removed beers are in a different category and not allowed to be labeled gluten-free in the U.S. Nonetheless, many still confuse them on gluten-free menus or in stores.

Because these beers are made from barley in the traditional brew-making style, and all the gluten cannot be fully removed, experts caution against celiacs and those with gluten sensitivity drinking these gluten-removed beers, since it’s unclear whether they are truly gluten free enough to be safe. 

“The medical and scientific community has not validated or accepted that these low-gluten or gluten-removed beers are safe because available gluten testing methods have not been sufficiently accurate with fermented and hydrolyzed products,” said Cynthia Kupper, CEO of GIG. “That is why we conducted this first-of-its-kind study, because even if one person with celiac reacts to gluten-removed beers, it shows it would not be appropriate to certify this product category according to our standards.”

To hear the podcast interview with two authors of the study to determine the safety of gluten removed beers for celiacs, Cynthia Kupper, CEO of the Gluten Intolerance Group and a registered dietitian diagnosed with celiac disease, and Laura Allred, Ph.D. and GIG’s Regulatory and Standards Manager, click here for free podcast.

For even more on the difference between naturally gluten free beers and “gluten reduced” beers, check out my article, Naturally Gluten Free Beer: a Closer Look. 

Why Gluten-Reduced Beers are Not Safe for Celiacs

In Europe, these types of beers are regarded as “gluten-free,” but in the US, they are referred to as “gluten-reduced,” and by law, they cannot be called “gluten-free” because they are made with gluten-containing barley. Current testing methods are not able to accurately detect hydrolyzed and fermented gluten proteins, so many are cautious about trying these beers, and experts do not recommend this category of beverages for those with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.

While the manufacturers of these beers claim that they test to below 20ppm gluten, no widely available scientifically validated testing exists which can adequately test beverages like fermented beers for gluten, so relying on ineffective testing for gluten results is somewhat disingenuous: “ELISA as it stands cannot measure the gluten [in beer]. Unless they access an alternate technology they can’t know,” says Michelle Colgrave, a researcher with the government-run Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia.

In fact, the FDA’s FALCPA (Food Allergy Labeling Consumer Protection Act) Guidance documents specifically note that

“FDA is aware that sandwich ELISA methods [currently available testing] do not adequately detect gluten in fermented and hydrolyzed foods. Because scientifically valid methods currently are lacking that can do so, we intend to issue a proposed rule on this issue.”

Studies Finding Gluten-Removed Beers Still Contain Detectable Gluten

In fact, a 2017 Australian report found that “[a]cross the range of commercial beers that have been produced using an enzyme, the application of the enzyme appeared to be inconsistent. There were some beers that had very low levels of gluten, barely detectable, while others had as much as an untreated beer,” Colgrave says.  In their paper published in  the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, study authors found gluten in a dozen beers labelled gluten-reduced with a this new test.

More evidence that these gluten-reduced beers are not safe for celiacs came with the 2017 University of Chicago Study conducted in conjunction with the Gluten Intolerance Group which yielded results that show that some celiacs do in fact react to gluten-reduced beers.

“The medical and scientific community has not validated or accepted that these low-gluten or gluten-removed beers are safe because available gluten testing methods have not been sufficiently accurate with fermented and hydrolyzed products,” said Cynthia Kupper, CEO of GIG. “That is why we conducted this first-of-its-kind study, because even if one person with celiac reacts to gluten-removed beers, it shows it would not be appropriate to certify this product category according to our standards.”

To hear the podcast interview with two authors of the study, Cynthia Kupper, CEO of the Gluten Intolerance Group and a registered dietitian diagnosed with celiac disease, and Laura Allred, Ph.D. and GIG’s Regulatory and Standards Manager, click here for free podcast.

Furthermore, tests using a newer test called liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) — scientists believe it is a more accurate way to measure gluten in fermented beers — showed that even though all the tested beers “had been rated by their makers to have gluten levels below 20 mg/kg, according to ELISA”, the new test “found detectable gluten fragments in every sample using LC-MS, and most had much higher levels of gluten than ELISA detected.”

The graphical representation above shows the same gluten-removed beer sample being tested by both ELISA and mass spectrometry, with the latter (bottom) test finding more barley hordein (protein) remaining.

Another 2023 Australian study confirmed these conclusions, finding several so-called “gluten-free beers” made from barley but treated with enzymes which showed equal or even higher hordein (barley protein) content than some of the untreated, control beers.

Said Professor Michelle Colgrave of Edith Cowan University, “In summary, our paper shows that in practice, most low-gluten products have detectable gluten, … To be safe, people with CD should avoid beer made using cereal grains irrespective of the gluten reduction method. Despite the reduced gluten label, there is a risk that it contains gluten protein fragments that can provoke a reaction in their gut.”

 

Gluten Reduced and Gluten Free Beer Labels

This class of beer is regulated in the US by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau), not the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), because they are “true beers” made from barley. Because scientists are not sure that the testing is accurate for these products,  nowhere on the label is “gluten free” allowed to be advertised, but you may find them erroneously shelved in the gluten free beer section or on a gluten free beer menu. Take this opportunity to educate your bartender or local beer vendor on the differences.

Here’s a cheat to find out if a beer is truly gluten-free:  choose only beers with a nutrition label, since that indicates the beer is regulated by the FDA and therefore, does not contain barley.

The TTB regulates “true beers” made from barley and does not require a nutritional label. (For more information listen to the podcast interview with GFCO regarding their study). 

Like the malted beverages described above, these manufacturers are instead only permitted to make certain statements about the fact that their beer is processed/treated/crafted to remove gluten, along with certain qualifying statements indicating that the gluten content is uncertain. 

Why You Can’t Always Trust Beer Companies to Get it Right About Gluten

Here’s an example of one such “de-glutenized” or “gluten-removed” beer which is not adhering to the regulations. They clearly assert that their beer has no gluten (less than 5 ppm) because it was treated with enzymes. However, since we know the ELISA test they are using doesn’t accurately detect remaining gluten, any such assertion is unqualified.

In this case, Duck Foot Beer is falsely asserting that its beer is gluten free because it is treated with enzymes. This is not a claim permitted by the TTB for gluten-reduced beers and the FDA doesn’t regulate barley beers, so any mention of the FDA here is irrelevant and misleading.

If you do not have celiac disease or a medical reason for following a gluten free diet, here are the main “gluten reduced” beers:

Estrella Damm’s Daura  A straw-colored, gluten-reduced Eurolager from Spain, is made with barley and hops. 

Another gluten-reduced beer is Omission Beer out of Oregon. It’s made from traditional beer ingredients. Currently offering lager and American Pale Ale. 

Like Estrella Damm Daura beer, Omission is a “de-glutenized beer” made with low protein barley. Omission has published rare details of its proprietary process to further explain how they believe the barley (gluten) protein is removed in their brew. Although they also offer a way to check the gluten content of every beer by entering the date code stamped on the bottle to view that batch’s R5 competitive ELISA test results, again, experts do not believe that this testing is accurate on fermented beverages.

Brunehaut is another gluten reduced beer readily available in the US. These Belgian ales (Blond and Amber) hail from Brunehaut brewery in Belgium, established in 1890. Both the Blond and the Amber are true Belgian beers. Not recommended for those with celiac disease or a medical condition requiring a gluten free diet.

In the U.S., domestic beer breweries like Stone Brewing Delicious IPA and Two Brothers Prairie Path come from brewers which make loads of barley craft beers, as well as one gluten-reduced beer made from barley.

 

Is Corona Gluten Free? Is Negro Modelo Gluten Free?

There is also an urban myth that Corona and Negro Modelo beers (barley beers) are gluten-free and that they test to less than 20ppm gluten. Corona and Negra Modelo are not safe for celiacs and others who must follow a gluten free diet. They are not gluten-free.

In fact, Negra Modelo’s own website FAQs acknowledge that there is gluten in their beer and that current testing cannot accurately reflect just how much.

Baking with Gluten-Free Beer

Whether or not drinking beer excites you, you should be thrilled that gluten free beers are finally available for us to use as cooking ingredients!

That’s right – beer bread, tempura, beer cake, and the always popular, beer-battered fish and chips – made gluten free! What would these be without beer? Not the same, I assure you! (For beer bread, tempura and beer cake recipes, use the search bar here at gfJules or check out my newest cookbook, Free for All Cooking!)

 

 

Jules’s Favorite Gluten-Free Beers

As far as my preferences go, I tend to use blond ales in my beer bread, tempura and beer batter recipes, and stouts like Green’s Dubbel Dark or Groundbreaker Dark in my chocolate cake (and when I gave this birthday cake to Elisabeth Hasselbeck!), and any lager or ale in my Salted Caramel Cupcakes, soups and soft pretzels.

I prefer to drink the Green’s Amber or Lager, Ghostfish Witbier, Glutenberg White or anything from Groundbreaker or Holidaily, depending on my mood and what foods it needs to complement!

What are your favorites? My friend Jeff SanGeorge has posted tasting notes of his own on his gluten free beer blog. It’s worth checking out!

Have a listen to my friend GlutenDude rail against Gluten Reduced Beers in his popular podcast — quite entertaining and educating!

Cheers!

*Some beers were provided to me for sampling by the breweries directly; others I purchased myself. As always, all opinions are my own. Check my disclosure policy for more information.

I hope you find this information helpful! Remember to Pin it to refer back to later!