It sounds contradictory, but it can happen. In the UK, gluten-free is based on the tested gluten level in the final product.
If you want the wider shopping basket, not just beer, see our guide to the best gluten free products in the UK in 2026.
Quick answer: a beer made with barley or wheat can be specially processed to reduce gluten and still be labelled gluten-free if it contains 20 ppm of gluten or less. The barley or wheat declaration tells you what ingredients were used. The gluten-free claim tells you the tested gluten level in the finished beer.
The important distinction: naturally gluten-free beers are brewed without gluten-containing grains. Gluten-removed beers start with grains such as barley or wheat, then use processing and testing to bring the final gluten level below the legal gluten-free threshold.
That is why a beer can say gluten-free and still declare barley or wheat as allergens. The allergen declaration tells you what ingredient was used. The gluten-free claim tells you the tested gluten level in the finished product.
IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager is one example of this label pattern: barley and wheat are declared, while IMPOSSIBREW states that the finished beer is third-party tested below 10 ppm of gluten.
The simple version
Think of the label as answering two different questions:
- Ingredients and allergens: what went into the beer?
- Gluten-free claim: what gluten level was measured in the finished beer?
If barley or wheat went into the beer, the label may still need to declare them. If the finished beer tests at 20 ppm of gluten or less, the product can still carry a gluten-free claim in the UK.
Naturally gluten-free vs gluten-removed vs standard beer
| Type | Grains used | Label wording | Why allergens may appear | Who should be cautious |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naturally gluten-free beer | Usually grains such as rice, millet, maize, buckwheat, or sorghum | May be labelled gluten-free if controls and testing support it | Allergens depend on the recipe and facility | Anyone with coeliac disease or allergies should still check the label |
| Gluten-removed beer | Often barley, wheat, rye, or oats | Can be labelled gluten-free in the UK if the finished beer is 20 ppm or less | Because gluten-containing cereals were used as ingredients | People with coeliac disease, wheat allergy, barley allergy, or very high sensitivity |
| Standard beer | Usually barley, wheat, or both | No gluten-free claim unless specially made and tested | Barley or wheat are part of the normal recipe | Anyone avoiding gluten |
What does 20 ppm mean?
PPM means parts per million. For gluten-free labelling in the UK, the finished product must contain no more than 20 parts per million of gluten. That threshold is used across gluten-free food and drink labelling.
It is not the same as saying absolutely zero gluten. It is a tested limit. That is why clearer breweries publish testing information or explain their gluten-removal process.
Why the allergen declaration still appears
Allergen labelling is about ingredient presence. If a beer is made with barley or wheat, that can remain relevant for people with allergies or strict ingredient restrictions, even if the final gluten level is low enough for a gluten-free claim.
This matters because coeliac disease and wheat allergy are different. Gluten-free labelling is designed around gluten content. A wheat allergy can involve other wheat proteins, not just gluten. So if you have a wheat allergy, do not treat gluten-free as automatic permission.
Where IMPOSSIBREW fits
IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager is an example of a gluten-free-labelled alcohol-free beer that declares barley and wheat. IMPOSSIBREW states that its beers are third-party tested to contain less than 10 ppm of gluten, which is below the 20 ppm gluten-free threshold.
That means the apparently odd label is not a typo. The barley and wheat explain the ingredients. The gluten-free statement explains the tested gluten level in the finished beer.
If gluten-removed barley-based beer fits your own dietary rules, IMPOSSIBREW gives you the bit most alcohol-free beers miss: a proper lager ritual with Social Blend built in, so it still feels like an adult beer moment rather than a soft-drink compromise.
Try IMPOSSIBREW
Try the functional alcohol-free beer made with Social Blend. Gluten-free-labelled Lager, third-party tested below 10 ppm according to IMPOSSIBREW, and no hangover.
If you want a practical buying guide, read the best gluten-free non-alcoholic beers in the UK.
Is gluten-removed beer suitable for coeliacs?
Coeliac UK recognises two types of gluten-free beer: naturally gluten-free and gluten-removed. For both, the gluten-free label can only be used if the product contains 20 ppm of gluten or less.
That said, personal sensitivity and medical guidance still matter. If you have coeliac disease and you are unsure about gluten-removed beer made from barley or wheat, choose a naturally gluten-free option or ask Coeliac UK, your dietitian, or the manufacturer for guidance.
How to read the label without overthinking it
- Find the gluten-free statement.
- Check the allergen line for barley, wheat, rye, or oats.
- Look for published testing information.
- Check whether the beer is naturally gluten-free or gluten-removed.
- Make the final call based on your own dietary need, not the brand's marketing tone.
FAQ
Can a beer contain barley and still be gluten-free?
Yes, in the UK it can if the finished beer is specially processed and contains 20 ppm of gluten or less. The barley still needs to be declared where allergen rules require it.
Does gluten-free mean wheat-free?
No. Gluten-free is about gluten level. Wheat-free is about the absence of wheat. A product can be gluten-free and still contain wheat-derived ingredients, depending on the product and labelling rules.
Is gluten-removed beer the same as gluten-free beer?
Gluten-removed beer can be labelled gluten-free if it meets the legal threshold. But it is different from naturally gluten-free beer because it starts with gluten-containing grains.
Should coeliacs avoid beer with barley?
Standard beer made with barley is not suitable for a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free-labelled beer made from barley is a more specific case. Use Coeliac UK guidance, the current label, and your own dietary advice.
