For those following or just starting out on a gluten-free diet, it may be swapping your favourite post-work pint that’s proving to be the most challenging aspect. Wine results in the hangover from hell, while spirits are sure to make a “quick one” escalate into an all-out night out.
But you need not be wary of drinking beer or eliminating it entirely from your social scene. Gluten-free alternatives are rising in popularity with the biggest names in brewing adapting their recipes with specialised ingredients or enzymes to make them free-from and enjoyed by everyone.
In the UK, it estimated that 8.5 million people in the UK have now gone “gluten-free”. This is an ever-expanding sector with a matching supermaket aisle is becoming more and more densely populated, and of course, the wider booze industry is following suit. According to Coeliac UK, the gluten-free food sector is currently worth an estimated £835 million per year, with numbers on an upward trajectory.
There are different levels of intolerances, from those looking to counteract bloatedness with sensitivities to coeliac disease where an estimated 10 per cent of UK consumers are foregoing the protein all together.
Typically found in wheat, barley and rye, one may wonder how it is even possible to brew beer (famously made from four key ingredients; grains, hops, yeast and water) without the all-important grains element.
Hops is to thanks for the true flavour profile, bringing bitterness to an otherwise overly sweet concocotion. Barley is for germination and the malting stage, but these specialised brews either incorporate an enzyme to counteract the gluten content or replace it entirely with the likes of corn, rice, buckwheat, quinoa or gluten-free oats.
If that sounds a bit strange, just think of Japanese brews that often make rice the star of the show.
To help you find your next signature beer, we’ve put the gluten-free varieties to the test to find the one set to be your pint of preference.
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San Miguel Gluten Free Lager Beer Bottles
You’ll be ordering “una mas cervesa por favor” content with knowing beer won’t flare up your gluten allergies. San Miguel, the premium Spanish lager, is loved for its rich cirtus flavour and golden hue, and these are elements you need not sacrifice for gluten-free sipping.
The colour is slightly lighter than usual but it retains its signature creamy foam as well as notes of white bread, fruit and honey. Naturally, it’s best paired with tapas dishes: think jamón ibérico, croquetas, patatas bravas and tortilla Española. The more flavoured and the spicier, the better to wash down with this serve.
Buy now £6.50, Ocado
Beer Hunter Gluten Free & Vegan Craft Beer Case Gift Set - 12 pack
To see you through your journey of gluten-free beer discovery, this bumper pack will serve you well in finding your new signature beverage. The collection of pale ales, lagers and IPA’s will delight the experimental drinkers as tastebuds journey around the world, venturing from the more established (Brewdog, Green, Daura) into lesser-known, smaller breweries (Brightside Brewing Company, Northern Monk) and finishing up with beloved brands for beer enthusiasts (First Chop Brewing Arm).
Note: some of these beers contain a very small amount of gluten and so are better suited for the gluten-sensitive rather that the fully gluten-intolerant.
Buy now £36.95, Amazon
Peroni Nastro Azzurro Lager Beer Gluten Free 4X330ml
Carlsberg may claim to be ‘the best lager in the world’ but there’s a reason many people would reach for a Peroni over its Dutch counterpart. Dubbed the Italian Stallion by fans of the beer, it has a distinctive flavour that is simply refreshing and comparable to Prosecco in its hue and slight citrus aroma.
The brew master has reformulated the classic for that crisp taste - senza gluten. It is almost exactly the same process to create it with barley and all, but at the very end, an enzyme is added to remove the gluten. Endorsed by the Italian Coeliac Association.
Buy now £7.00, Tesco
Skinny Lager Gluten FREE Beer
If switching your beer is as much about cutting calories as it is adhering to allergen-directed dietary requirements, Skinny Lager is the brand to know. While maintaining the standard 4 per cent ABV, it manages to only have around 89 calories per bottle. We know what you may be thinking: it must taste disguisting. But that’s actually not the case. Even with the diabetic-friendly 0.4 per cent sugar content, the flavour is good (albeit thinner and slightly weaker), comparable to Cobra in its notes. It’s also a good choice for keto diet followers.
Buy now £15.00, Amazon
Daura Damm Gluten Free 4 Pack X 330Ml
This gluten-free brand may not be instantly recognisable, but the notes of the beverage inside just might. You see this fresh-tasting favourite is made from the same malt as Estrella Damm. It’s not the same brand, but makes a great substitute with seemingly endless awards for its premium taste.
It is brewed with barley but then a specialised enzyme creates a process of hydrolysation and protein precipitation (gluten being the protein in question) so that anyone can enjoy its fresh, sparkling flavour. It’s an acidic one with a slight green hue that has a bitter, drawn out finish.
Buy now £6.00, Tesco
Greene King Ipa Gluten Free 500ml
Dry and herbaceous, this IPA is one of those ultra-drinkable combinations that go down a treat - and is made all the more so by its gluten free formula. This makes for a lighter beverage than its gluten predecessor but retains the bitterness and citrus notes. Give it a go.
Buy now £2.00, Tesco
Stella Artois Gluten Free Lager 4X330ml
From now on, we’ll be taking our Stella Artois gluten-free, s'il vous plaît. If you’re a fan of strong lager, you may find that some of the other options on this list take a light approach to their taste - but you can always count on this brand for its dry finish and balance of sweetness and bitterness.
Buy now £5.75, Tesco
Brewdog Punk Ipa Gluten Free 4 X 330ml
You may previously know this beer as Vagabond but back in 2021, it was replaced by Punk IPA, a drink that is full of contradictions that just work. There’s fruity sweet elements paired with a bitter finish with such a small amount of gluten included that it is safe for those to drink, no matter your level of intolerance. Bonus points to Brewdog for its carbon negative brewery.
Buy now £6.00, Tesco
Free From Beer Co Pilsner
This pilsner will not be mistaken for an ordinary gluten-filled beer - and that could be a positive. For one, no one will be digging into your supply. However, if you want to make a subtle swap of your favourite beverage for one that looks exactly the same, the packaging is a reminder that this is Free From - the clue is very much in the name. It has a clean, fresh taste with early and light floral notes.
Buy now £2.20, Ocado
