Most beers are not gluten free because they’re brewed with barley and sometimes wheat, which naturally contain gluten. People who need to avoid gluten should look for beers that are clearly labeled “gluten free” and understand the difference between truly gluten free and “gluten reduced.”

Gluten free vs gluten reduced

  • Gluten free beer is brewed from grains that do not contain gluten (like sorghum, rice, millet, buckwheat), so gluten is avoided from the start.
  • Gluten reduced (or “crafted to remove gluten”) beers start with barley or wheat, then use enzymes to break down gluten to below a certain threshold, but they may still contain trace gluten and are controversial for people with celiac disease.
  • For strict medical gluten avoidance (celiac, wheat allergy), many experts recommend sticking to beers made only from naturally gluten free grains instead of gluten reduced options.

Examples of gluten free beer brands

These are examples of beers brewed from gluten free grains or by dedicated gluten free breweries. Availability varies by country and region.

  • Redbridge Lager (Anheuser‑Busch, USA) – sorghum‑based lager widely distributed in the U.S.
  • Buck Wild Pale Ale (Alpenglow Beer Company, California, USA) – gluten free pale ale.
  • Copperhead Copper Ale (Alt Brew, Wisconsin, USA) – gluten free amber/copper style ale.
  • Felix Pilsner (Bierly Brewing, Oregon, USA) – gluten free pilsner from a gluten free brewery.
  • Pyro American Pale Ale (Burning Brothers Brewing, Minnesota, USA) – gluten free pale ale.
  • Beers from 100% gluten free breweries like Holidaily Brewing (Colorado), Moonshrimp Brewing (Oregon), Eckert Malting & Brewing (California), and Two Bays Brewing (Australia) are brewed only with gluten free grains in dedicated facilities.

Popular gluten reduced beers (not safe for everyone)

These often show up in “gluten free” searches but are technically gluten reduced and may not be safe for celiac.

  • BrewDog Vagabond Pale Ale – marketed as gluten reduced, brewed with barley.
  • Celia Lager and similar lagers labeled as “gluten removed” or “crafted to remove gluten”.
  • Various UK and European brands labeling some bottled beers as gluten free while using special processes on barley (for example, some Hepworth or Mongozo products), which some regulators allow to be called “gluten free” but remain controversial among celiac groups.

Quick safety tips before you buy

  • Always look for a clear “gluten free” label and then check the ingredients; ideally choose beers brewed from sorghum, rice, millet, buckwheat, or other non‑gluten grains.
  • If you have celiac disease, many advocacy and testing groups recommend avoiding gluten reduced beers entirely, even if labeled to meet a numeric gluten threshold.
  • When in doubt at a bar or restaurant, ask which beers are brewed from gluten free grains rather than relying solely on tap handles or casual staff assurances.

TL;DR: Truly gluten free beers are made from gluten free grains (sorghum, rice, millet, buckwheat) and often come from dedicated gluten free breweries, while “gluten reduced” barley beers may still pose a risk for anyone with celiac or serious gluten sensitivity.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.