Is Corona Gluten Free?

If there’s one question that comes up time-and-time again, it’s this: Is Corona Gluten Free? And can people with coeliac disease drink Corona?

Corona is a popular beer made in Mexico and found in the all the pubs, off-licences and supermarkets around the UK. It’s also very popular in the US.

But for some unknown reason there seems to be a lot of controversy over whether corona beer is gluten free.

I don’t know if it’s blind optimism or the power of fake news on the internet, but I’m here to set the record straight about Corona once and for all.

And if you’re confused about more than just Corona, you can check out my guide to which alcohol is gluten free here.

Is beer gluten free?

Let’s start with this: beer is typically NOT gluten free. Beer is made with barley, which is a grain containing wheat.

You can buy gluten free beer which is either made from a non-gluten-containing grain, or has levels of gluten below 20 parts per million (ppm).

In the UK, 20ppm is what is considered safe for people with coeliac disease (celiac disease). Therefore anything tested under 20ppm is gluten free.

Unless you buy a beer which is specifically marked as ‘gluten free’ or ‘free from gluten’, beer is not safe.

The best way to remember this is BALS – Beers, Ales, Lagers and Stouts – all contain gluten and are not safe for people with coeliac disease.

What is Corona beer?

Corona is a line of beers and lagers made in Mexico including Corona, Corona Light, Corona Cero Alcohol Free and Corona Extra beer.

All of these are made with malted barley. This is the same as any other beers including Peroni, Stella Artois, Coors, Budweiser, etc.

Corona also does a range of Corona Light Seltzer which is separate to its beers.

Is Corona beer gluten free?

Despite what whispers on the internet may tell you, NO, Corona beer is NOT gluten free.

Corona contains gluten and makes no claims to be gluten free on its packaging. Amd, like others beers and lagers is made with barley.

When I last contacted the company directly they told me their beers were not gluten free. They also relayed this same information to Coeliac UK.

At the time of writing, Corona does not do a specific gluten free beer. Just a standard line of gluten-containing beers.

The list of ingredients for Corona is as follows: Water, Barley Malt, Maize, Hops, CO₂ added after brewing.

The bottles also contain the warning: Contains Barley.

Barley is not gluten free, and as this product has not been officially tested under 20ppm, it cannot be assumed to be gluten free.

But some websites say Corona is gluten free?

Some people on the internet may claim that Corona is gluten free.

But unfortunately just because these answers appear top of search engine results, it doesn’t mean they are true.

Without diving into the depths of Search Engine Optimisation and how algorithms work, unless Corona is officially tested as gluten free and labelled gluten free, is it not gluten free.

Even if ‘people on the internet’ tell you they feel fine after drinking it, it doesn’t mean it is gluten free.

Many people with coeliac disease also claim they feel fine after being exposed to cross contamination but no symptoms does NOT mean no damage.

Whether you have coeliac (celiac), gluten intolerance, gluten ataxia, IBS or any other reason for being on a gluten free diet, Corona is not considered safe to drink.

Is Corona hard seltzer gluten free?

As well as beer, Corona also has a line of Hard Seltzer drinks which are, unlike the beers, gluten free.

The following Corona drinks are considered gluten free and safe for people with coeliac disease:

• Corona Tropical Raspberry & Lemon Vodka & Sparkling Water 330ml
• Corona Tropical Vodka & Sparkling Water 330ml
• Corona Tropical Vodka and Sparkling Water Grapefruit & Lemongrass 330ml
• Corona Tropical Vodka & Sparkling Water Guava & Lime 330ml
• Corona Tropical Vodka & Sparkling Water Variety Pack 8 x 330ml

So basically, the Corona vodka cans (Corona hard seltzer drinks) are gluten free, but the beers are not.

Will Corona bring out a gluten free beer?

Despite years of asking, Corona still hasn’t hinted at any plans to launch a gluten free beer.

Though with the free from market expected to grow in the coming year, we can all but cross out fingers and hope.

In the meantime, there are a good selection of gluten free beers available in the supermarket you can choose from if you fancy a cheeky tipple.

Which beers are gluten free?

Standard beers are not generally gluten free, but some of my favourite gluten free beers in the UK are:

• Jubel Beer – gluten free and vegan. The OG peach flavour is my favourite but the elderflower, grapefruit and blood orange versions are also delicious.
• Skinny Lager – when I gave some of this to my partner he said it tasted a lot like Corona. It’s lovely and light and tastes great despite the ‘skinny’ name.
• Gluten Free Peroni – I am finding these more and more in pubs now which is great, and I really love a cold one of these on a summer’s day.
• Daura Damm – This gluten free lager is absolutely delicious and definitely worth stocking up on. One of my faves!
• Free Damm – The gluten free, alcohol free beer cousin of Daura Damm. I actually drink this regularly as it’s hard to find an alcohol free, coeliac-safe beer. And it tastes great! I often find it on deals in the supermarkets so keep an eye out.

Need more advice on a gluten free diet?

If you’re looking for more helpful hints and tips for living with coeliac disease and life on a gluten free diet then look no further.

Hopefully these articles will be of interest but you can always check out my Coeliac Tips page as well for all my helpful guides.

• Is Orzo gluten free?
• Gluten Free Easter Eggs
• Is baking powder gluten free?
• Guide to Gluten Free Christmas Chocolate
• Is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte gluten free?
• Guide to gluten free oat milk (UK)

If you’ve got anything you want help and advice on, check out my Instagram or Facebook group or comment on this post with your questions.