Is Guiness Beer Gluten Free?

No, Guinness beer is not gluten-free as it is traditionally brewed with barley, which contains the protein gluten. While Guinness does offer a gluten-free alternative called “Guinness 0.0 Gluten Free,” their standard stout and other traditional varieties contain levels of gluten that exceed the threshold for gluten-free certification.
Is Guiness Beer Gluten Free?

Health Benefits

  • Contains antioxidants that may help reduce cholesterol build-up on artery walls
  • Moderate consumption may reduce risk of blood clots
  • Contains folate, fiber, and ferulic acid which can promote heart health
  • Relatively low in calories compared to other beers (about 125 calories per 12 oz)
  • Contains iron which can help people with iron deficiency
  • May help improve bone density due to its silicon content
  • Lower in alcohol content than many other alcoholic beverages
  • Contains prebiotics that may support gut health
  • Less carbonated, which may cause less digestive discomfort
  • May reduce risk of kidney stones when consumed in moderation
  • Contains B vitamins which support cell metabolism

Who Should Avoid

  • Pregnant individuals due to alcohol content
  • People with alcohol use disorders or dependency
  • Those with liver disease or hepatic conditions
  • Individuals taking medications that interact with alcohol
  • People with pancreatitis
  • Those with certain gastrointestinal conditions
  • Individuals with a history of alcohol-induced health issues
  • People with barley or hops allergies (even if gluten is removed)
  • Those with sulfite sensitivity
  • Individuals on calorie-restricted diets
  • People with diabetes monitoring carbohydrate intake
  • Those with alcohol-induced migraines or headaches

Gluten Free Alternatives

  • New Grist Gluten Free Beer - Crafted from sorghum and rice, offering a crisp and light flavor profile with no gluten
  • Glutenberg Stout - Brewed from millet, buckwheat, and corn, providing a rich and dark beer experience similar to traditional stouts
  • Green's Discovery Amber Ale - Made from millet, sorghum, rice, and buckwheat, delivering a complex and robust amber ale taste
  • Holidaily Brewing Boomer's Chocolate Milk Stout - Produced entirely from gluten free grains, offering a smooth and creamy dark beer experience
  • Ground Breaker Dark Ale No. 5 - Crafted from chestnuts, lentils, and roasted chestnuts, providing a unique and full bodied gluten free alternative with deep flavor notes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Guinness Beer gluten-free?

No, Guinness Beer is not gluten-free as it contains barley which has gluten. Guinness does offer a gluten-free option called “Guinness 0.0” which is their non-alcoholic beer.

Has Guinness developed any gluten-free alternatives to their traditional stout?

Yes, Guinness released a gluten-free variant called “Guinness 0.0” in 2020, which is also alcohol-free. They have not yet released a gluten-free version of their traditional alcoholic stout.

What ingredients in Guinness contain gluten?

Barley malt and barley roasted to create the signature dark color both contain gluten.

Is the gluten content in Guinness lower than in other beers?

Guinness contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten, making it legally “gluten-free” in many countries. Most regular beers contain significantly higher gluten levels, typically ranging from 41-140 ppm.

Are there any brewing processes that Guinness uses to reduce gluten content?

Guinness uses a special filtration process during brewing to reduce gluten content, though it’s not completely gluten-free. The company also introduced Guinness 0.0, which has a lower gluten content due to its unique brewing process.
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Dr. Anne Verstegen

Dr. Anne Verstegen specializes in orthomolecular therapy and nutritional coaching. With a background in public health research and management, she focuses on addressing health concerns through dietary approaches, gut health optimization, and stress reduction strategies. As Glutenfreeda's professional editor, she reviews all content to ensure accuracy, safety, and alignment with current nutritional science.

We Try Our Best

We understand how important it is to have trustworthy information when managing a gluten-free lifestyle, which is why we carefully source all our content from respected health and nutrition experts. You can find these trusted references listed below: 

  1. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  2. Coeliac UK

  3. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

  4. Mayo Clinic

  5. World Health Organization (WHO)

  6. Celiac Disease Foundation

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