Top 10 Gluten Free Beers brewed in North America
This Top Ten List of Gluten-Free Beers is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. These beers are made from fermentable sugars, grains and converted carbohydrates. Ingredients do not contain gluten, in other words zero gluten (No barley, wheat, spelt, oats, rye, etc). May or may not contain malted grains that do not contain gluten. Brewers typically design and identify these beers along other style guidelines with regard to flavor, aroma and appearance profile.
1. Ghostfish IPA – GhostFish Brewing – Washington
2. Free Saison – The Exchange Brewery – Ontario
3. Dark Ale – Ground Breaker Brewing – Oregon
4. Meteor Shower Blonde Ale – Ghostfish Brewing – Washington
5. Copperhead – Greenview Brewing – Wisconsin
6. Grapefruit IPA – Ghost Fish Brewing – Washington
7. Co-Conspirator Apricot Sour – Revelation Craft Brewing – Delaware
8. When Life Gives You Hops Make Lemons – Oak & Dagger Public House – North Carolina
9. Watchstander Stout – Ghostfish Brewing – Washington
10. Russian Imperial Stout – Ghost Fish Brewing – Washington
History of Gluten Free Beers
The history of gluten free beers began in the early 2000s as awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivities grew. Traditional beer, made from barley, wheat, or rye, contains gluten, making it unsuitable for those with gluten-related disorders. The first commercial gluten-free beers emerged around 2004, with breweries like Green’s in the UK and Lakefront Brewery in the US experimenting with alternative grains such as sorghum, millet, and rice. These early offerings were often criticized for their taste, which lacked the depth of conventional beers, but they marked a significant step toward inclusive brewing. By 2006, Anheuser-Busch introduced Redbridge, one of the first widely distributed gluten-free beers in the US, signaling growing mainstream interest.
Advancements in brewing techniques and ingredient innovation transformed gluten-free beer in the 2010s. Breweries began using gluten-free oats, quinoa, and buckwheat, while others developed enzyme treatments, like Brewers Clarex, to break down gluten in barley-based beers to levels safe for most celiac sufferers (though not universally accepted as “gluten-free”). Craft breweries, such as Glutenberg in Canada and Ghostfish in the US, gained acclaim for producing gluten-free beers that rivaled traditional styles, from IPAs to stouts. By the 2020s, gluten-free beer had carved out a niche in the craft beer scene, with improved flavors and wider availability, catering not only to those with medical needs but also to health-conscious consumers exploring gluten-free lifestyles.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged