Ruqayyah Snyder
With a growing number of Australians adopting a gluten-free diet, the demand for gluten-free beer options has increased. While Australia may not have as many gluten-free beer brands as other countries, there are several solid options available, including locally produced and imported beers. These beers are crafted using alternative gluten-free grains like rice, sorghum, millet, corn, and buckwheat, offering unique flavour profiles. In this article, we will explore the best gluten-free beers in Australia, endorsed by Coeliac Australia, and discuss the dedicated gluten-free breweries that ensure a safe drinking experience for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
Characteristics and values of gluten-free beer in Australia
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Availability | Several solid options are available, including locally produced and imported beers. |
| Endorsements | Some beers are endorsed by Coeliac Australia, ensuring they are safe for those with coeliac disease. |
| Ingredients | Gluten-free grains such as rice, sorghum, millet, corn, buckwheat, oats, and spelt are used instead of gluten-containing grains. |
| Taste | While gluten-free beers may have a unique taste, they offer refreshing, mild, fruity, and smooth options. |
| Alcohol Content | Alcohol levels vary, ranging from 3.5% to 6%. |
| Brewery | Dedicated gluten-free breweries exist to prevent cross-contamination. |
| Varieties | Options include pale ales, IPAs, and low-gluten beers. |
| Consumer Demand | The rising number of Australians adopting a gluten-free diet has increased the demand for gluten-free beer options. |
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What You'll Learn
Gluten-free beer options in Australia
Australia has several gluten-free beer options, which is good news for coeliacs and those with gluten intolerance. While the country may not have as many gluten-free beer brands as some other places, there are still some solid choices.
Hahn Ultra Crisp is a gluten-free beer endorsed by Coeliac Australia. It is a low-carb lager brewed with rice, giving it a clean, crisp taste. It is described as refreshing, mild, and shandy-esque.
Two Bays offers a gluten-free XPA with dominant hops, positioning it between a Pale Ale and an IPA. It also has Coeliac Australia's endorsement and is described as tart, sweet, and heavy.
O'Brien offers a gluten-free Pale Ale, which has a distinctive character and is endorsed by Coeliac Australia.
Wilde produces the only gluten-free mid-strength Pale Ale on the market, which is also endorsed by Coeliac Australia. It has a citrus and pine character with floral hints and a bitter but clean finish.
In addition to these, there are other gluten-free options available in Australia, such as Black Duck Brewery's Gluten-Free Ginger Beer. Some breweries also offer gluten-reduced beers, where an enzyme is used to break down the gluten to below 5 parts per million. These breweries include Bentspoke and Wayward Brewing.
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Coeliac Australia-endorsed beers
Australia has strict legislation regarding 'gluten-free' claims, with no detectable gluten being the only acceptable result. This means that for a product to be labelled 'gluten-free', it must contain no detectable gluten. This differs from the standards in other countries, such as the USA, the UK, and the EU, where gluten-free products are allowed to contain up to 20ppm of gluten.
Coeliac Australia has endorsed several beers that are genuinely gluten-free, providing relief and optimism to those who have had to give up traditional beers due to health requirements. Here are some Coeliac Australia-endorsed beers:
Two Bays Brewing
Two Bays Brewing was founded by Richard Jeffares, a craft beer enthusiast who was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2015. After noticing a lack of quality and variety in the Australian market for gluten-free craft beer, he launched Two Bays Brewing Co. in 2017. Their XPA (Extra Pale Ale) is endorsed by Coeliac Australia and features dominant hops, positioning it between a Pale Ale and an IPA. It has a refreshing, light yellow appearance with a sour initial taste and a pleasantly sweet aftertaste. It feels somewhat heavy and has an IPA-like character.
Hahn Super Dry
Hahn Super Dry is a gluten-free beer that has been crafted over five years. It is a low-carb lager brewed with rice, giving it a clean and crisp taste. It is completely free from gluten-containing ingredients and is endorsed by Coeliac Australia, making it a popular choice for those following a gluten-free diet.
Wilde Pale Ale
Wilde Pale Ale is the only gluten-free mid-strength Pale Ale on the market and is endorsed by Coeliac Australia. It is crafted with carefully selected hop varieties, resulting in a citrus and pine aroma with floral hints. The beer has a bitter yet clean and flavoursome finish, with a slight tartness from the malt that balances well with the bitterness. Wilde Pale Ale contains no added sugar, colour, or preservatives.
O'Brien Beer (Rebellion Brewing)
O'Brien Beer, also known as Rebellion Brewing, is an award-winning brewery for their gluten-free offerings. Their Belgian Ale, made with pale, lightly roasted sorghum malt, millet malt, and Belgian candy sugar, won a Gold Medal at the Australian International Beer Awards in 2013. Founded by John O'Brien, who was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 1998, O'Brien Beer aims to create gluten-free beers that taste just as good as traditional beers.
These beers showcase the growing range of gluten-free options available in Australia, ensuring that those with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance can still enjoy a delicious, refreshing beer.
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Australian breweries with gluten-free options
With a rising number of Australians adopting a gluten-free diet, breweries have stepped up to the plate, offering a range of gluten-free options. While the taste may differ from traditional beers, these gluten-free alternatives provide an excellent option for those with gluten intolerance or Coeliac disease. Here are some Australian breweries with gluten-free beers:
Black Duck Brewery
Based in Port Macquarie, Black Duck Brewery offers a delicious gluten-free ginger beer. While their other beers contain gluten, the brewery caters to gluten-free diets with their food options as well.
Two Bays
Two Bays offers an endorsed gluten-free XPA, a Pale Ale, and an India Pale Ale (IPA). Their beers are described as refreshing, crisp, and summery, with subtle citrus aromas and a pleasantly surprising sweet aftertaste.
Hahn
Hahn's gluten-free beer is crafted without gluten-containing ingredients and is endorsed by Coeliac Australia. It is described as refreshing, mild, and smooth, resembling a casual summer drink.
Wilde
Wilde's Pale Ale is the only gluten-free mid-strength Pale Ale on the market, endorsed by Coeliac Australia and approved as FODMAP friendly. It presents as a golden Pale Ale with a citrus and pine aroma and a bitter yet clean finish.
O'Brien
O'Brien offers a gluten-free beer option, although some reviewers note a mouldy taste.
In addition to these breweries, Australia has several solid gluten-free beer options, with new breweries entering the market regularly. While the exact number of gluten-free breweries in Australia is unclear, the increasing demand for gluten-free options has encouraged innovation in the beer industry.
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Gluten-free beer ingredients
Traditional beers contain gluten in the form of wheat, barley, or rye. However, gluten-free beers are made with alternative gluten-free grains such as:
- Quinoa
- Millet
- Buckwheat
- Gluten-free oats
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Corn
Some gluten-free beers are also made with ingredients like:
- Yeast
- Hops
- Honey
For example, the gluten-free beer by Hahns is a low-carb lager brewed with rice for a clean, crisp taste. It is completely free from gluten-containing ingredients and is endorsed by Coeliac Australia.
It is important to note that some companies brew with gluten-containing ingredients and then add a clarity enzyme to the beer, calling it "gluten-free". This practice is illegal in the USA but legal in the UK, and the definition of "gluten-free" differs between countries. In the USA, a beer must be brewed with 100% gluten-free ingredients to be considered gluten-free.
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Gluten-free beer reviews
Australia has a wide range of gluten-free beers, which is good news for beer lovers with coeliac disease. However, gluten-free beers have not always been well-reviewed. Now, modern gluten-free brewers are reshaping the beer narrative by using alternative gluten-free grains, introducing unique and fresh flavour profiles.
Two Bays XPA
This beer has been described as tart, sweet, and heavy, with an IPA-like character. It has a refreshing, light yellow colour and a pleasantly surprising sweet aftertaste. It is endorsed by Coeliac Australia.
Hahns
Hahns is a low-carb lager brewed with rice for a clean, crisp taste. It is completely free from gluten-containing ingredients and is endorsed by Coeliac Australia. It has been described as refreshing, mild, and shandy-esque, with a surprising fizzy apple juice feel.
Wilde Pale Ale
The only gluten-free mid-strength pale ale on the market, Wilde is endorsed by Coeliac Australia and approved as FODMAP-friendly. It has a citrus and pine character in the aroma with floral hints, which rounds out the beer with a bitter but clean, flavoursome finish. A slight tartness from the malt balances nicely with the bitterness.
O'Brien
O'Brien now offers a gluten-free stout, which has received positive reviews. However, one reviewer found that their gluten-free beer tasted mouldy.
SOBAH
SOBAH brewing in Australia offers a non-alcoholic and gluten-free beer called Davidson Plum Gluten-Free Ale. It is a seasonal brew, so it may not be available year-round.
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Frequently asked questions
Some gluten-free beers in Australia include Hahn Ultra Crisp, O’Brien Pale Ale, Wilde Pale Ale, and Two Bays XPA.
In Australia, the food standard does not permit beer containing malt barley to be labelled as gluten-free due to the inability to accurately measure gluten content in fermented products. A ''low gluten' claim is permitted on beer.
Some breweries in Australia offer gluten-free alternatives such as Black Duck Brewery's gluten-free ginger beer and SOBAH Brewing's non-alcoholic and gluten-free beer.
Yes, gluten-free beers in Australia that are brewed with gluten-free ingredients are safe for people with Celiac Disease. However, ''gluten-reduced' beers may contain trace amounts of gluten and are not recommended for those with high sensitivities.
