Is Ginger Beer Gluten-Free?

You probably know that most beers are not gluten-free, but what about ginger beer? Let’s take a look at ginger beer and whether this delightful drink is gluten-free. 

What is ginger beer?

Ginger beer is a fermented beverage that originated in Britain in the 1700s. For centuries, “exotic” ingredients like ginger and sugar cane were considered a luxury. Both were incredibly expensive because Europeans primarily sourced these commodities from the Far East. As the British colonized parts of the Caribbean and the Americas, they found that both ginger and sugar cane flourished. By the mid-1600s, Europeans exported shiploads of sugar and ginger back to the continent. Because their primary source of labor was slaves, the land was “free,” and supply was plentiful,  ginger and sugar became more accessible to the public. This gave rise to the brewing of ginger beer.

What is ginger beer made of?

Ginger beer is a beverage that results from fermentin ginger, lemon, sugar, water and SCOBY (a yeast + bacteria mash-up that aids fermentation).

Is ginger beer non-alcoholic?

Earlier iterations of ginger beer were alcoholic. Ginger beer was a tasty alternative to water, since water was often, let’s say, “dicey” before the advent of modern waste removal and plumbing. A little alcohol helped to neutralize some of the bacteria that was likely present in the water. 

Why is ginger beer no longer alcoholic?

Most of today’s ginger beers are non-alcoholic, although there are a few alcoholic ginger beers on the market. Some modern ginger beers have carbonation, while others stick to the traditional fermentation method. Fermented ginger beers typically use only a small amount of sugar and a short fermentation time. This results in a negligible amount of alcohol. Fermented ginger beers typically clock in at less than .5% alcohol, and all fermented beverages with less than 1.2% alcohol content are considered non-alcoholic.

What does ginger beer taste like?

Some words most often used to describe ginger beer are zingy, spicy, zesty and bold. It tastes, like - well, ginger.

Can you drink ginger beer straight?

Ginger beer is delicious mixed into cocktails or as a stand-alone sip. If it’s a little too strong for your palate, try adding a squeeze of lime to help balance the spiciness.  

Is ginger beer the same as ginger ale?

Ginger beer and ginger ale are two very different beverages. Despite similar names and that both are usually non-alcoholic and bubbly, ginger ale is much mellower than ginger beer. Ginger ale is more akin to a ginger-flavored soda. 

Is ginger beer gluten-free?

Virtually all ginger beer is gluten-free, but not all ginger beer is created equally. Always check the label and look for ginger beer made with real ginger and sugar, not “natural ginger beer flavor” and high-fructose corn syrup (ripped straight from the label of Gosling’s ginger beer - and as such, we wouldn’t recommend this particular brand).

Alcoholic ginger beers, on the other hand, are a different beast. Many include barley and rye, so be sure to check the label carefully each time. You never know when a manufacturer has decided to switch up the recipe. 

Whether a brand of alcoholic ginger beer is gluten-free varies depending on the place of production. For example, one of the most popular brands of alcoholic ginger beer, Crabbies, produces a naturally gluten-free product for European customers. However, the version of Crabbies sold in the US is made with malted barley and is NOT gluten-free. We can’t say it enough: always, always, always check the label.  

What about other “beers”?

Is root beer gluten-free?

Like ginger beer, root beer is usually non-alcoholic and gluten-free. 

Are Moscow Mules gluten-free?

Moscow Mules consist of vodka, lime and ginger beer, all of which are gluten-free. That being said, there are about a million different riffs on this popular cocktail - so always keep an eye on the ingredients to ensure that any mixers or alternative liquors used are gluten-free. 

The best ginger beer cocktails

but here’s the gist of this origin story: the restaurant needed a way to use up a surplus of ginger beer and a crate of vodka bought on a whim. Coincidentally, the owner’s girlfriend was a Russian immigrant looking to offload thousands of hand-crafted copper mugs. He decided to serve the drink in the now-iconic copper mugs and, voila, a legend was born. 

Want to learn more about whether alcohol is gluten-free?