Home/Blogs/Popular Gluten-Free Beer Styles Explained
Gluten-free beer options are a rapidly evolving market in alcoholic beverages. This blog post will provide you with a background of this once-niche alternative, a gluten-free beer list to choose from, information on how they are brewed and what flavours you can expect.
Some gluten-free beers are brewed without gluten-containing grains, like barley, rye or wheat. Instead, they are either brewed with naturally gluten-free ingredients like sorghum, millet, rice, corn or buckwheat.
Other gluten-free beers are brewed by traditional means, but have a special enzyme inserted that lowers the gluten content. A fully gluten-free beer should be safe for those with coeliac disease or intense gluten-intolerances, while gluten-reduced may be ok for those with intolerances. To be considered gluten-free, a product must have lower than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.
Gluten-free lager is a light, crisp and clean beverage to enjoy. A lager is the most enjoyed type of beer around the world and tends to appeal to the mainstream of beer drinkers. A Birmingham Brewing Company lager is brewed with British lager malt and German melon hops. Other options tend to be brewed with rice or millet.
Gluten-free pale ales balance the taste of hops with the character of malt. These options tend to invoke notes of citrus or floral flavourings and are a great drink for those entering the world of craft beers. A Birmingham Brewing Company pale ale is brewed with British pale malts and dry hopped with Amarillo, Citra and Ernest hops.
A gluten-free IPA is known as hop-forward and showcases a bold bitterness and almost aromatic fruity or pine taste. To enhance the body, the brewing process is often supplemented with other grains. A Birmingham Brewing Company IPA is brewed with a focus on bitterness and a stronger aroma. A hazy IPA tends to have a softer almost juicy bitterness, while a West Coast IPA is bitter and crisp.
A blonde ale is brewed to be mild, slightly sweet and effortlessly approachable to drinkers looking to expand their palate. Typically brewed from millet, rice or corn, it has a character that lends itself to easy-drinking.
Stout, gluten-free or otherwise, is for a discerning palate and delivers a darker roasted flavour. A rich drink that warms the soul, a gluten-free stout will have tastes of coffee, chocolate and even caramel. A Birmingham Brewing Company stout is brewed with oatmeal. Other options tend to be brewed with buckwheat or roasted millet.
Gluten-free fruit and specialty beers include fruit-infused ales, spiced brews or herb-based creations made with gluten-free grains like sorghum or millet. Theyโre often lower in bitterness, vibrant and refreshing. This style suits adventurous drinkers seeking unique flavors beyond traditional gluten-free beer profiles.
Gluten-free beers often have subtle flavour differences compared to traditionally brewed beers. Barley, for instance, naturally contributes a malty sweetness, bready depth and fuller mouthfeel. In contrast, gluten-free grains like sorghum or millet can produce a lighter body, slightly different sweetness profiles or a crisper finish. Early gluten-free beers were sometimes described as thin or overly sweet, but thatโs changed significantly.
Modern brewing techniques, like improved grain malting methods, refined yeast selection and advanced recipe balancing, have elevated both flavour and texture. Breweries like Birmingham Brewing Company have demonstrated how careful formulation can produce award-winning gluten-free beers with depth and character.
Certain styles translate better than others. Lagers, pale ales and IPAs adapt well because hop-forward or crisp profiles complement gluten-free grains, while heavily malt-driven styles can be more challenging to replicate exactly.
Choosing the right gluten-free beer starts with understanding your favoured flavour profiles. If you enjoy a surprisingly fruity taste that lingers on the tongue, try a gluten-free IPA. Prefer a smoother, malty taste? Then a lager or an ale would match your preference. Then there is bitterness; an IPA will be more bitter than a pilsner or a blonde ale. Also consider sweetness versus dryness, whether you prefer a crisp finish or a full body.
First time gluten-free drinkers should try the gluten-free version of their usual tipple while a first time drinker overall, should try a lighter option with balance.
Ready to discover the refreshingly bold flavours of a gluten-free beer? Browse our selection of gluten-free beers and find your new, go-to beverage today. Have some more questions or would like to ask our recommendations? Call 0121 724 0399 or fill out our contact form and enjoy free delivery on orders over ยฃ40.
