Wondering what you can drink when you’re gluten-free? When I first went gluten-free, there was only one big-brand bottled beer available in supermarkets. Now there’s so much choice that I’m writing an entire guide to beer, wine, cider, spirits, liqueurs and more!
This is my UK guide to picking a drink you can actually buy or order, whether you’re shopping for yourself or for a gluten-free guest. You can jump straight to beer and stout (with ten supermarket picks), wine and cider, spirits and liqueurs, or mixers and cocktails. There’s also a quick guide to labels, what I ask at the bar and an FAQ at the end.
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Reading alcohol labels in the UK
In the UK, drinks above 1.2% alcohol by volume (ABV) can be sold without a full ingredients list. Coeliac UK explains that allergens that need declaring still have to appear. If there’s no list, look for a statement such as ‘contains barley’ or ‘contains wheat’ in the small print. At 1.2% ABV or less, you’ll generally find the full ingredients list with allergens highlighted.
Gluten-free beer, lager, ale and stout
Ordinary beer, including lager, ale and stout, is usually brewed with barley or wheat. Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the exact beer you’re buying. In a supermarket I check the regular beer shelves as well as the free from aisle. A brand can sell a gluten-free beer alongside its regular version, so I go by the full name on the packaging.
Naturally gluten-free beer and gluten-removed beer
Naturally gluten-free beer is brewed from the start with ingredients such as millet, rice, sorghum or buckwheat. The grains give the beer its own flavour. For example, AltGrain brews its Random Pale Ale with malted millet, buckwheat and quinoa in a dedicated gluten-free brewhouse.
Gluten-removed beer starts with a grain such as barley. Brewers can use an enzyme to break down the gluten during production. The barley still gives the beer its familiar malt flavour. Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free is a good example to look up if you like that style of lager.
In the UK and EU, a beer sold as gluten-free must contain 20 parts per million (20 mg/kg) of gluten or less. Coeliac UK includes both types of gluten-free beer in its guidance for people with coeliac disease. A beer made with barley still has to declare it on the label. If you prefer a beer brewed entirely with gluten-free grains, check the ingredients and the brewer’s description.
Certified gluten-free beers to look for
The Crossed Grain symbol is one way to spot certified products. The scheme includes checks on gluten analysis and independent audits of how the product is made. Certification applies to the specific beer and pack, so look for the full name when you shop.
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free (Tesco, Asda)
- Stella Artois Gluten Free Lager (Tesco, Sainsbury’s)
- Daura Damm Gluten Free Lager (Tesco)
- Skinny Premium Lager (Tesco)
- BrewDog Gluten Free Punk IPA (Sainsbury’s, Asda)
- Greene King Gluten Free IPA (Tesco, Ocado)
- Adnams Ease Up Gluten Free IPA (Sainsbury’s)
- Old Speckled Hen Gluten Free Pale Ale (Tesco, Sainsbury’s)
- JUBEL Beer Cut with Peach (Sainsbury’s, Ocado)
- Daura Damm 0.0% Gluten Free (Ocado, Sainsbury’s)
Campervan Extra Black for a creamy, dark pour
If you miss a dark pint with a creamy head, look for Campervan Extra Black Nitro Porter. The Leith brewery makes it with roasted malt that gives it coffee and chocolate notes. The gluten-free 4.5% porter comes in a widget can, which gives it that nitro pour at home.
Buying gluten-free beer abroad
Check the label in the country you’re buying in, even if you recognise the beer from a UK shop.
- US. For beer fermented from gluten-containing grains, the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau allows a qualified ‘processed to remove gluten’ claim. It comes with a statement that the gluten content can’t be verified and that gluten may be present.
- Australia. Under the Australian labelling rules, a gluten-free claim requires no detectable gluten. The standard also excludes oats, malted gluten-containing cereals and products made from them. ‘Low gluten’ is a separate claim, so look for the local gluten-free wording when you’re shopping there.
Wine, cider, sherry and port
Plain wine, cider, sherry and port are generally gluten-free. That gives you plenty to choose from, whether you fancy a glass of sparkling wine or a bottled cider. If you’re after a supermarket cider, Thatchers Gold is gluten-free.
For a flavoured version or a blend, check what’s been added. At a bar, I ask what goes into a cider cocktail or a ready-made spritz so I can check the other ingredients too.
Spirits and liqueurs
Plain distilled spirits are gluten-free. That includes gin, vodka, whisky, rum, brandy and tequila. As Coeliac UK explains, distillation leaves gluten proteins behind, even when a spirit was made from a grain such as wheat or barley.
Liqueurs are generally gluten-free too. For a flavoured spirit or liqueur, check the producer’s information for the exact bottle, as ingredients can be added after distillation. If you’re after an orange liqueur, Cointreau confirms its original liqueur is gluten-free.
Mixers, cocktails and ordering at the pub
Mixers are the non-alcoholic parts of a drink, like tonic, cola, juice or syrup. Many are gluten-free, but cola is one I check – may contain barley. The UK ingredients for Coca-Cola list no gluten-containing cereals. If you’re ordering a rum and cola, it’s worth asking which cola they use.
With a canned cocktail, check the base and any added flavours. For a cocktail made to order, ask about the mixer, syrups and garnishes too. Beer in the mix or biscuit crumbs on the rim can change what you’re able to order.
What I’d ask at the bar
- For draught beer: ‘Which beer is on that tap? Is it the gluten-free one?’ If the line previously carried ordinary beer, ask how it was cleaned. A sealed bottle or can with a gluten-free label is an easy option if the staff can’t confirm the draught.
- For a rum and coke: ‘Which cola is on the drinks gun?’ More often than not, you’ll find it to be Coca-Cola but it doesn’t hurt to check if you’re not sure.
Gluten-free Christmas drinks
If you’re putting drinks out at Christmas, a bottle of wine or cider, a labelled gluten-free beer and a mixer you’ve checked cover a lot of ground. A 0.0% gluten-free beer or spiced apple juice gives guests an easy alcohol-free option. Leave the bottles and cans handy so people can check the labels for themselves.
For mulled wine, you can warm plain red wine with orange, cinnamon, cloves and a little sugar. You can use those same spices in plain apple juice too. For a ready-made mulled wine or cider, check the bottle for the ingredients or allergy advice. If you’re serving a cream liqueur, check the exact flavour on the bottle or with the maker.
Gluten-free alcohol FAQs
Can you drink alcohol if you have coeliac disease?
Yes. Coeliac UK lists wine, cider, sherry, port and distilled spirits as gluten-free. Choose a beer labelled gluten-free and check the added ingredients in flavoured drinks and cocktails.
Is whisky gluten-free if it’s made from barley?
Yes. Plain malt whisky is gluten-free because distillation leaves the gluten behind. For a whisky-based liqueur or a ready-made whisky cocktail, check any ingredients added afterwards.
Why does gluten-free beer say ‘contains barley’?
Barley was used to brew it, so it still has to appear in the allergen information. For the finished beer to carry a gluten-free claim in the UK, it has to meet the limit of 20 ppm or less.
Is Guinness gluten-free, including Guinness 0.0?
Guinness Draught and Guinness 0.0 both contain gluten from barley. If you’re after a dark beer with a gluten-free claim, look for St Peter’s Gluten Free Cream Stout or Campervan Extra Black Nitro Porter.
Is alcohol-free beer gluten-free?
It depends on the beer. Check for the gluten-free claim as well as the ABV. Daura Damm 0.0% is one option if you want both.
Is Baileys gluten-free?
Baileys UK says it uses ingredients with no gluten and gives no gluten-free guarantee for the finished drink. If you’re buying a cream liqueur for someone with coeliac disease, check the exact bottle and ask which one they’re happy with.
Please drink responsibly.
Becky x