The Central Texas Source for Craft Beer News

Gluten Free Beer Choices In Austin Texas

Whether you have sensitivities to gluten, gluten intolerance or celiac disease, there are many gluten free beer choices in Austin Texas. I have put together a list of gluten free beers that I have seen in Austin. If you see a gluten free beer in Austin that is not on the list feel free to leave a comment and I will add it on. When I mention gluten free beers, please note that some may actually be gluten reduced.

Pinthouse Pizza– is a local BrewPub in Austin. Currently, they have two in-house brews that are gluten reduced beers: Burro’s Breakfast and Luscious. Both were tested below the 10 ppm threshold, which by FDA standards means they could both be deemed “no gluten,” “free of gluten,” and “without gluten.” However, the only one currently on tap is Luscious. Below are brief descriptions of each beer.

Luscious – Cream Ale

Light, crisp and refreshing for those with lighter palates… or those who simply enjoy a nice, refreshing, handcrafted beer at the beginning or end of a long day, 5% ABV.

Debuted: November 5, 2014

Available: Now

Burro’s Breakfast – Mexican Lager

A craft Mexican Lager calling on the tradition of German influenced Mexican brewing, Burros Breakfast adds an American craft twist, producing a refreshing lager with just a bit more punch at 5.6% ABV. Features: the characteristic corn sweetness in the nose, a light but full body, and a tart dry finish with just a touch of sweetness and a soft balanced bitterness.

Debuted: May 2013

Available: Summer

Brunehaut Brewery is located in Belgium. They have developed a range of organic and gluten free beers, produced with barley grown by them.

They have developed a UNIQUE and NATURAL method to remove the gluten from the beer during brewing (< 5ppm).

Credit: Brunehaut

Credit: Brunehaut

Credit: Brunehaut

Credit: Brunehaut

Brunehaut Bio Triple

Look: A more coppery appearance and maintained, antique or light with a good persistent head.

Nose: The nose is relatively discreet and elegant with fermented touches and fine yeasts. Quite fresh.

Mouth: The flavour is full of freshness despite the alcohol content. Then there is the strong side, it is full, fat and long. Nevertheless elegance remains at the end. Neither too sugary nor excessive caramel. A beer to drink with some hard cheeses, a young Comté with a fruity balance.

Brunehaut  Bio Amber

Look: A pretty red beer with an old Tawny colour, delicate amber with cognac accents.

Nose: The first scent makes me think of a sauté of slightly caramelised pine nuts, then fresh yeast.

Mouth: The first flavour fits well with the nose. The tested and concrete aromas are delicately maintains through a strong edge, masculine and without too much sugar. A beer to accompany a variety of dishes cooked in the great stewing tradition. Best enjoyed in the more “Belgian” seasons, with stewed and cooked dishes.

Brunehaut Bio Blond

Look: Very light golden with a delicate and persistent mousse, lovely in the glass.

Nose: In addition to the yeast it has a scent of acacia, even of small white flowers. The aromas stay well.

Mouth: The first flavour, balanced supple almost round, a little marked by its touch of beeswax, or even pollen. Very pleasant beer as an aperitif for amateur beer enthusiasts not too marked by bitterness, which does not stop it from being thirst-quenching. An aperitif beer to accompany all kinds of vegetable-based and soft vinaigrette tapas.

Brunehaut White Beer

Look: It has a slightly stronger colour than white beers usually have, certainly pale but with the typical look of the house. Light, fine head with average maintenance. Delicate

Nose: A lovely fresh nose, entirely in the yeast, even slightly floral. The freshness seems to be its main quality.

Mouth: The first supple flavour without being too bitter, almost round in the mouth. Plays the role of a light and refreshing beer. Average persistence and fresh in the mouth at the end. Although thirst-quenching, the drink still suits a spray of hop topped with a poached egg and a white beer mousseline (the same as is in your glass).

Green’s Gluten Free Beers-Green’s are dedicated producers of gluten free beers, craft brewed in Belgium, and that means Quality without Compromise.

There is a growing population around the World who live with Coeliac (Celiac) disease or are just sensitive to the gluten contained in barley and wheat, but still want to enjoy quality beers!

Greens have beers ranging from crisp and light lagers or rich dark ales to wonderful hoppy beers, making Green’s one of the biggest original producers of gluten & wheat free beers.

Green’s Premium Pils

A ‘classic’ Belgian pilsner brewed from natural spring water, de-glutenised barley malt, and selected hops. 4.5% abv, serve chilled.

Tasting notes: Golden straw in colour, the refreshing citrus aroma of the hop dominates. Hints of vanilla are followed by a hop taste that holds some slight bitterness.

Green’s Golden Ale

A top fermented ale brewed to an aged old recipe with natural spring water and selected hops. 4.8% abv, serve at cellar temperature.

Tasting notes: Light amber colour with tight head. Creamy with a dry caramel background, refreshing and clean.

Green’s Blond

Bottle re-fermented to capture all the flavour and aroma of this Belgian classic style. 5.8% abv, serve at cellar temperature.

Tasting Notes: Golden honey colour, tight foaming head. Soft, spicy, rich in flavour, strength on nose. Complex bitter/sweet finish.

Green’s Discovery Amber Ale

Bottle re-fermented and naturally gluten free, the ‘Original’ and first beer produced by Greens. 6.0% abv, serve at cellar temperature.

Tasting Notes: A medium-bodied amber ale with subtle caramel and nut flavour nuances. Refined, herbal hop aroma and finish.

Green’s Endeavour Dark Ale

A bottle re-fermented ale, complex and warming, ideal for the fireside. 5.8% abv, serve at cellar temperature.

Tasting Notes: Pronounced chocolate flavor with sour cherries and burned sugars, has a rich and complex mouthfeel.

BARD’S America’s first gluten-free sorghum beer and the only beer brewed with 100% malted sorghum.

Style: American Lager

Ingredients: Sorghum, yeast, hops and water—contains no wheat, barley, rye or oats and is naturally gluten-free

Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, some of which are raised for grain that can be used in the production of beer. Sorghum has been used in making beer for centuries in other parts of the world and is naturally gluten-free.

Bitterness: Low (20.5 IBUs)
Color: Amber (SRM 11)

Estrella Damn Durra

100% natural ingredients. They work with the farmers in the Ebro basin to obtain barley of the characteristics that our Master Brewers need.

They continue to malt in their own Bell-Lloc (Lleida) malthouse, making us one of the few brewery in Spain and in the world, that still produces all of its malt barley in its own malthouse. Likewise, they continue to use their original recipe as their basis, including pearl rice, a very Mediterranean ingredient that characterises Estrella’s flavor.

Tasting notes: Golden with amber tones and a few green highlights. It is clean, bright. It’s nose of fresh spices is enveloping. Dark-roasted notes give it personality and it’s final flavor. It is smooth in the mouth given that it’s carbonic is integrated and it fills the palate with dense notes of toasted cereals. The bitter tone at the back of the mouth gives it a long aftertaste.

About Estrella Damm:

Escaping from war and starting over in the spring of 1872, August Kuentzmann Damm and his wife Melanie left their native Alsace because of the Franco-Prussian war.

Like many immigrants of their time, they chose Barcelona. In Alsace, towards the end of the 18th Century, people were already talking of the opportunities offered by Mediterranean countries. Their climate. Their food. Their quality of life. A group of countries which, at that time, were living the giddy days of modernism.

In 1876, August founded his beer company in order to continue doing what he had always done: produce beer, which is exactly what his children and grandchildren after him continued to do. Right up to the present day, eleven generations of Master Brewers.

Golden with amber tones and a few green highlights. Clean & bright. The head has an ecru color and is long lasting. It bubbles, which are fast-flowing, small and abundant. It’s nose of fresh spices.

After more than 130 years and eleven generations of Master Brewers, we continue to produce our beer with the same excitement as we did the first time Estrella left our factory.

Foret Libre Saison Ale.

The first Saison crafted to remove gluten to be imported from Belgium.

The result is a delicious beer that can be enjoyed by anyone seeking an extra crisp and refreshing classic Saison Ale from Belgium.

Bottle-conditioned. Deliciously smooth bread and clove and pepper kick, bold, dry and herbal.

Omission Beer Omission is the first craft beer brand in the united States focused exclusively on brewing great tasting craft beers with traditional beer ingredients, including malted barley, specially crafted to remove gluten.

Omission GF IPA

65 IBU, 6.7 % ABV

Omission IPA is a bright, hop forward Northwest Style IPA produced in the spirit of the original IPAs shipped from the UK to India in the late 1800’s. The heavy-handed use of Cascade and Summit hops give it notable pine, citrus, and grapefruit aromas and flavors. The bitterness is what you would expect of a NW IPA but this beer is balanced and smooth due to the perfect level of malt sweetness. The finish is crisp, clean, and refreshing – it’s a true IPA lover’s IPA.

Omission GF Lager

20 IBU, 4.6 % ABV

Omission Lager is a refreshing and crisp beer, brewed in the traditional lager style. Perfect for a variety of beer drinking occasions, Omission Lager’s aromatic hop profile offers a unique, easy-drinking beer for those looking for a lighter and approachable beer style.

Omission GF Pale Ale

33 IBU, 5.8% ABV

Bold and hoppy, Omission Pale Ale is a hop-forward American Pale Ale, brewed to showcase the Cascade hop profile. Amber in color, Omission Pale Ale’s floral aroma is complimented by caramel malt body, making for a delicious craft beer.

New Planet-When the founder, Pedro Gonzalez, first discovered he was Celiac, he thought his craft beer drinking days were over. What started as a personal quest quickly turned into the launch of New Planet – a business founded on brewing great tasting gluten-free beer that is crafted for you. New Planet Beer is amongst a few companies worldwide – and the only one in Colorado – dedicated to brewing guaranteed gluten-free craft beer for the growing community of people being diagnosed with Celiac Disease (CD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), gluten intolerance, or for those that are choosing a gluten-free lifestyle for health or athletic performance reasons.

Raspberry Ale-Ingredients: Sorghum, Brown Rice, Natural Raspberry Puree, Orange Peel, Hops, and Yeast. ABV: 5.0%, IBU 15.

Blonde Ale-Ingredients: Sorghum, Brown Rice, Orange Peel, Hops, and Yeast. ABV: 6%, IBU 15.

Stone Brewing – Delicious IPA Gluten Reduced Beer

ABV 7.7%, IBU 80
Appearance: Pours deep gold with a white-colored head.
Aroma: Spicy, herbal and citrusy hop aromatics balanced with light-toasted malt. The spiciness is reminiscent of lemongrass.
Taste: The hop flavors really explode with a dominant flavor that reminds many on the brewing team of a lemon Starburst candy!
Palate: Medium body with a bitter, dry finish.
Overall: Stone went through several iterations of this beer at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station restaurant brewery, using several hop recipes until we had that “Aha!” moment tasting a beer that they had asked Liberty Station Brewing Manager Kris Ketcham to brew. It was a single-hop beer called the Lost City of Liquid Gold, using 100 percent El Dorado, the new hop from Yakima, Washington. This beer gave us the last piece to the puzzle on the formulation for Stone Delicious IPA. Stone changed the dry hop to 100 percent El Dorado, and they achieved magnificent lemon candy and spicy hop flavors that are fun and unique.

Dogfish Head – Tweason’ale Gluten Free Beer, ABV 6%

They replaced the classic barley foundation of beer with a mild sorghum base. The hints of molasses and pit-fruit are balanced by vibrant strawberry notes and a unique complexity that comes with the addition of a malty buckwheat honey.

4th Tap-Sun Eater Texas Ale- 4th Tap is a worker-owned cooperative that focuses on brewing beers that both excite and elevate the culinary status of beer. The Sun Eater is a perfect example of that focus as is brewed with ingredients that are local or emblematic of Texas. This means that there is no wheat, barley, or hops used in the production of Sun Eater.

Instead, sorghum, panela, rosemary, and lemon peel are used to create an ale with a unique herbal flavor that quickly descends into a refined sweetness and a dry finish. Not only is the Sun Eater gluten free, it’s also a gruit; making it a rather unique beer.
ABV: 4.7%
IBU: 0

The Sun Eater will be available in May or June when 4th Tap opens.

Black Star Co-op-Nemesis. A Gluten Free Beer, will be brewing in Spring 2015.

Nemesis: American Pale Ale, brewed entirely gluten free. Pale, crisp, 15% honey and Cascade dry hopped. ABV 4.5% IBU 18.

There is another option for gluten free beer, ciders are available in Austin. Not all ciders are gluten free, make sure you check with the cindery first. There are some local ciders in Austin that are gluten free: Austin Eastciders, Argus Cidery and Texas Keeper Cider.

Austin Eastciders – “making cider is about following the traditions that made cider the Original Drink of America, the most popular drink in the land until Temperance broke up the party. We use antique cider apple varieties, high in tannins and acids, to produce flavors that have not been widely experienced in America since Prohibition. These are the apples with which hard cider was traditionally made. During Prohibition many cider apple orchards were destroyed, meaning cider has since been made with eating apples. We use real cider apples, traditional processes and simple recipes – adding nothing which isn’t present naturally in the fruit.”

Argus Cidery– Founded April 1, 2010. They are Texas’ first hard cider. They are Texas Bubbly. Sparkling hard ciders made from Texas apples.

Texas Keeper Cider

Was started in 2013 by three long-time friends born and raised in Austin. We literally hand built the cidery and had a good time doing it. Our name comes from the Hicks’ Texas Keeper, an apple variety first cultivated in Lamar County, Texas around the 1880s. Before modern refrigeration, “keepers” were apples that stored well, improved with age, and were therefore available for longer periods of time. Unfortunately, the Texas Keeper apple has joined the ranks of many old Texas cultivars that have disappeared from production and are now believed extinct.

The Cidery is on an old friend’s 20-acre ranch down in deep South Austin on the confluence of Bear and Onion creeks. It’s a beautiful spot full of old oak, pecan, and cypress trees. We’ll be opening the cidery up for tastings and picnics in the near future.

We hope you find this list helpful and if you see a gluten free beer or cider in Austin that is not on this list, leave a comment below and we will add it on!