Are you wondering, is Bud Light gluten free? You’ve come to the right place! While gluten free eating (and drinking) is already confusing, it’s made even worse with misinformation, especially when it comes to beer.
Bud Light is not gluten free. It is made from barley, and it contains unsafe levels of gluten for anyone with a gluten allergy or intolerance.
In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to understand about why Bud Light is not gluten free and what beer to drink instead. Keep reading or use the table of contents to jump around.
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The gluten-free guide below is based on personal experience and research. Always be sure to discuss any medical changes with your doctor for your personal medical needs. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
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Ingredients in Bud Light
Bud Light is made with 5 simple ingredients. Those ingredients are water, barley malt, rice, yeast and hops.
Is Bud Light Gluten Free?
No, Bud Light is not gluten free. Unfortunately, you may find information online that says Bud Light is safe for celiacs to consume, however this is not the case.
Beer, like Bud Light, is made using malted barley. Gluten is a protein that is found in barley malt which means beer automatically contains gluten.
Now, you may find this confusing if you know that alcohol is often made with gluten containing ingredients, but considered gluten free because it is distilled. Distilled alcohols like rum, gin or bourbon are gluten free, however beer is not distilled, it is fermented.
The biggest difference between distillation and fermentation is the amount of gluten that is removed. Distillation actually removes all the gluten whereas fermentation only reduces gluten.
Reducing the amount of gluten in Bud Light is not sufficient to make it a gluten free product.
Want to learn more about gluten and alcohol? Check out my complete gluten free alcohol guide.
The following Bud Light products CONTAIN gluten:
- Bud Light
- Bud Light Next
- Bud Light Platinum
- Bud Light Peels (Bud Light Apple, Bud Light Lime, Bud Light Orange, Bud Light Grapefruit)
- Bud Light Chelada (Bud Light Chelada Original, Bud Light Chelada Tajin Chile Limon, Bud Light Chelada Extra Lime, Bud Light Chelada Mangonada)
However, Bud Light Seltzers are gluten free, which I’ll cover in detail below.
Why Light Beer is Not Gluten-Free
Light beer is not gluten free because it is a fermented product and the process of fermentation doesn’t eliminate gluten, it only reduces it.
In order for a light beer to be truly gluten free and safe to consume, it needs to be made from gluten free grains.
Some sources will tell you that celiacs can drink gluten removed (also called gluten reduced) beer, but that is simply not true. Studies show that barley gluten is still detectable in many gluten reduced beers, making it unsafe for consumption.
It seems as though it should be simple to say whether a product is gluten free or not, but with beer it all comes down to the issue that “gluten measurement in fermented products remains controversial.”
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Is Bud Light Seltzer Gluten Free?
If you’re wondering, can celiacs drink Bud Light Seltzer, I have good news! Bud Light Seltzers made in the United States are gluten free.
Unlike Bud Light beer, Bud Light Seltzers are not made with barley malt. Instead they are made with fermented sugar cane which is naturally gluten free.
WARNING: Bud Light Seltzers made in Canada are not the same thing. In Canada, Bud Light Seltzer is a malt beverage and is NOT gluten free.
- Bud Light Seltzer Classic Black Cherry
- Bud Light Seltzer Classic Tangerine
- Bud Light Seltzer Classic Watermelon
- Bud Light Seltzer Classic Mango
Gluten Free Bud Light Seltzers
- Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Citrus Soda
- Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Orange Soda
- Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Classic Cola
- Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Cherry Cola
- Bud Light Seltzer Iced Tea Peach
- Bud Light Seltzer Iced Tea Raspberry
- Bud Light Seltzer Iced Tea Tangerine
- Bud Light Seltzer Iced Tea Apple
- Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade Black Cherry
- Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade Strawberry
- Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade Original
- Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade Peach
- Bud Light Seltzer Sangria Splash Rose Sangria Style
- Bud Light Seltzer Sangria Splash White Sangria Style
- Bud Light Seltzer Sangria Splash Red Sangria Style
- Bud Light Seltzer Sangria Splash Tropical Sangria Style
- Bud Light Seltzer Retro Tie Dye Twisted Berry
- Bud Light Seltzer Retro Tie Dye Cherry Limeade
- Bud Light Seltzer Retro Tie Dye Blue Raspberry
- Bud Light Seltzer Frozen Icicles
- Bud Light Seltzer Apple Slices Cranberry Apple
- Bud Light Seltzer Apple Slices Crisp Apple
- Bud Light Seltzer Apple Slices Strawberry Apple
- Bud Light Seltzer Apple Slices Peach Mango Apple
- Bud Light Platinum Seltzer Blood Orange
- Bud Light Platinum Seltzer Wild Berry
- Bud Light Platinum Seltzer Citrus
Shop Bud Light Seltzer at Walmart here.
Shop Bud Light Seltzer at Target here.
Shop Bud Light Seltzer with GoPuff here.
Best Gluten Free Light Beers
Only gluten free beers are a safe substitute for celiac disease. Gluten reduced beers are not safe for gluten free consumption. Be sure to check the label carefully before choosing a brand. The recommendations below are confirmed gluten free.
Anheuser-Busch Redbridge
Made by the same company as Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch also makes Redbridge, the first nationally available sorghum beer.
Sorghum is a naturally gluten free ingredient, so you know this beer is completely gluten free.
Buy Anheuser-Busch Redbridge gluten free beer at TotalWine.com here.
Glutenberg IPA
Not only do you have to love the name play, you’ll also love that this beer is labeled gluten free. It’s made with millet, buckwheat and corn - all naturally gluten free ingredients.
This medium bodied India Pale Ale is hoppy, citrusy, piney, and spicy.
New Planet Gluten Free Beer
Nobody understands gluten intolerance like someone who has celiac disease. That’s why you know when this brand says it understands gluten free beer, you can trust it!
The founder of New Planet beer has celiac disease and built his company on the foundation that you should be able to enjoy great tasting beer without sacrificing your health.
Browse New Planet Beer Varieties here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is Bud Light Next gluten free?
No, Bud Light Next is made with malted barley and is not gluten free.
Is Bud Light Lime gluten free?
No, Bud Light Lime is a beer that contains barley malt and is not gluten free.
Is Bud Light Platinum gluten free?
Bud Light Platinum is not gluten free. It is still a beer made with malted barley, it just has a slightly sweeter taste and a higher alcohol volume.
Is Bud Light Lemonade gluten free?
No. Bud Light Lemonade, or Bud Light Peels, is beer infused with fruity flavors. The beer is still made with malted barley and is therefore not gluten free. However, The Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade varieties are gluten free in the United States.
Is Bud Light Platinum Seltzer gluten free?
Yes! Bud Light Platinum Seltzers are gluten free!
Is Bud Light Zero gluten free?
Bud Light Zero, also known as Bud Light Next, is not gluten free. It is made with malted barley which is a gluten containing ingredient.
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