I know this is a test many visitors waited long for. Stella Artois is probably the most famous Belgian beer and available almost worldwide. Almost – in Germany for example Stella is almost not to get. Belgium is close to Germany but actually there is no reason to import Belgian beers as there are hundreds of breweries in Germany and beer quality is generally high.
When I used to live in the UK Stella was always my favourite beer in the pubs. I don’t know how often I said “Two pints of Stella’s please” for me and my mate. I bought this bottle of Stella during my recent trip to Greece and here is the gluten test result.
Beer: Stella Artois
Producer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Originating country: Belgium
Brewing location: Belgium
Bottle size: 0.33 l
Alcohol by volume: 5.0%
Ingredients: brewing water, malted barley
Miscellaneous: bought in Greece
Test Kit: Imutest Gluten-in-Food Kit
Test result: The test result is negative. According to the instructions there should appear a clearly visible pink test spot on the left of the test area ( T ) to indicate the presence of gluten. The pink spot on the right test area ( C ) is a control spot and indicates that the extract/sample is suitable, the test has been performed correctly and all reagents are active. Even though the detection limit in this kit is very low (1-2 ppm) and the test is negative please note this is not a medical advice – please see also my facts page.
suntime
As a European frequently reading your blog (and watching for new tests) I’m happy to see one this beer’s test here… Thank you for all your work 🙂 Btw, I’ve recently been to Greece as well, we might have come across each other! Cheers!
Steffen
Hi suntime, thanks a lot. Oh great you were there too. Greece was nice. I went to Crete and tested also a local beer. Will post the result later as I am rather busy at the moment. Cheers Steffen
Lester
Stella is also made under licence in Australia, maybe has the same ingredients as the Belgian produced beer re low gluten content? Stella Artois is nicknamed ‘Wife Beater’ in the UK, for obvious reasons, 5% abv, a bit strong for the Brits used to their mid strength cask ales, mostly 3.5 to 4% abv.
James Johnson
This website has completely changed my life- now able to have a beer again after 5 years being diagnosed a coeliac, never had the guts to try anything ‘low in gluten’. Thank you for your tests, absolute lifesaver.
Steffen
Hi James, thanks for the kind words. Cheers Steffen
Lester
James, I concur with your remarks, helped me and all.
Steffen
Great to hear Les, my pleasure. Cheers Steffen
Tricia
So is this beer Stella Artois gluten free? I’m confused. It says it has Barley
Steffen
Hi Tricia, I tested the beer negative on gluten with a home test kit. So it might have very very low gluten or no gluten. Cheers Steffen
Mike
Brilliant. Thanks Stefan. Whilst I have been Coeliac for 47 years and was initially told “No problem, you can drink beer and eat porridge!” It wasn’t strictly true. I am certainly not sensitive to Gluten and have started to drink beers like Bud Light, Stella, San Mig, Estrella ( my favourite in the Philippines was San Mig Light but unfortunately not sold in UK I have no ill effects. So I fully understand that breweries cannot claim they are GF but if there’s only a slight miniscule trace, then I’m going to enjoy a beer! Thank you
David K
Great information! Thanks! I’m not Celiac but gluten sensitive. Do you have a comprehensive list of popular beers that are around 20 ppm or less? I drink bud light with no issues but being able to expand my selection would be fantastic!
Dogbite Williams
David K, click on “All test results at a glance” in the upper right. I suggest you compare the test results with ratings at Beer Advocate and Rate Beer.
You should not be stuck with such a low-rated beer like Bud Light – it is rated a big, fat, horrendous ZERO at Rate Beer.
I just had my first Duvel and it was fantantic, immediately becoming one of my all-time favorite beers.
Cheers!
Steffen
Haha, just checked ratebeer and you are right, it’s zero *lol* 😉
Mike Collins
Hi Steffen
I was diagnosed Coeliac in 1974 so was grim then. I have two grown up Daughters and two out of five Grandchildren Coeliac. One Daughter and one Grandson fairly sensitive to Gluten so we ensure no cross contamination for example my wife having a sandwich with ‘normal’ bread. But long before hearing the words ‘cross contamination’ I used to eat Fish & Chips simply peeling the batter back. I drank all types of beers from 1974- 2013 when I moved house and attended a Coeliac clinic who insisted STRICTLY no beers ( even though no ill effects drinking beers for 39 years) so I stopped drinking cider, wine & G&T. I gained far too much weight so went on a diet to lose 2 stone. I then decided not to mainly drink cider and back to enjoying beer ( mainly lagers) and no ill effect BUT ALWAYS FELT GUILTY…until now as you’ve confirmed my suspicions that whilst not classed GF there is in fact only a slight trace of Gluten. So thanks again Steffen.😁
Steffen
Hi Mike,
Thanks for sharing your experience which seems to have happened to many of us – feeling guilty and uncertain about drinking regular beer. I am also diagnosed Coeliac but I never had side effects when drinking beer – only some other effects when I had too many 🙂 .
And my regular check-ups are always OK so for me it works and probably for most of the ‘normal’ Coeliacs. There are some cases who should really avoid it when they react even on tiny amounts of gluten, though.
Cheers Steffen
William
I’ve tried the gluten free version of this a few times, and still seem to react a bit as a coeliac. Not anywhere near the same level as for Daura, but only slightly.
Steffen
Hi William, thanks for sharing your experience. If I get the chance to test the gf version I will share the results. If you still react you probably should try the malt free versions rather than the gf labelled but malt containing beers. I know it’s not the same taste at all if the beer is made from e.g. sorghum but here you are safe.
Cheers Steffen
Mary lennon
Be careful drinking this beer as a coeliac I reacted very badly. Havent had a reaction like this in a long time
Steffen
Hi Mary, when already tiny amounts of gluten set off an autoimmune response in your body please avoid any barley containing beers. For people who can take low gluten this beer might be fine but some people should just avoid it completely. According to my doc who treats a lot of coeliacs it’s around 10% who react severly on gluten whilst others (like me) can cope with low gluten without reaction or any damage of the villi. Cheers Steffen
John Evans
There’s actually a Stella Gluten Free version out now, I bought some the other day and it’s tasted really good, about 90% the same as the normal version and it was a good price in Tescos.
Would recommend
Steffen
Hi John, thanks for the recommendation. Haven’t seen this so far but sounds good. Cheers Steffen
Oliver Harris
Hi Steffen
Your website is heroic, I’d always avoided beer other than specialist gluten free beer. Having recently started having the odd normal lager I’ve found I always feel fine, but then I worry I’m doing enormous unknown damage to myself (I’m a coeliac too). Does it show up on your blood tests that you’ve been drinking beer?
Thanks
Oliver
Steffen
Hi Oliver, this is an excellent question as I just had my check-up including gastroscopy and intestinal biopsy. The result is: No damage, no atrophy of the villi, no increase of intraepithelial T-lymphocytes. I live gf except for regular (barley containing) beer. My doc is happy with the result and so am I. However, it’s not a medical advice for everyone. It works for me but you should have it regularly checked as well.
Cheers Steffen
Dogbite Williams
Congratulations on you medical tests.
Cheers!
Steffen
Cheers mate 😉
Andrew
Just an American here going to try some Stella thanks to this! Thanks for getting me out of my normally average comfort zone, ya know as an American
Lois
Omg love this website. I can drink beer!!!
Steffen
You are welcome mate 🙂
Bill
Hi Steffen, I’m living in Montreal, Canada and been drinking Stella for quite some time with no issues, but recently diagnosed with low level coeliac and have immediately put the brakes on drinking beer. Have you done any tests on Stella for Canada? Is it safe to consume? BTW the local Glutenberg beer brand is not the same! LOL. Would happen to have any beer suggestions for that are suitable in the Canadian market? Thinking of trying Carlsberg???
Steffen
Hi Bill, difficult to give some suggestions. Haven’t tested the Canadian variant of Stella. Have you checked the label for the brewing location? Maybe it’s the same they produce for the EU or US market. Cheers Steffen
Bill
Hi Steffen, thanks for getting back to me. I have reached out to Stella Artois both in Canada and Belgium and have to admit they are not the fastest cats in the beer game to replying peoples emails! I will be checking the Canadian Stella label and let you know where its brewed. What are your thoughts on Carlsberg & Mythos?
Steffen
Yes please, normally they should state the brewing location on the label location. I found both Mythos and Carlsberg OK for me. Especially Mythos as I just returned from vacation in Crete and had plenty of Mythos and Fix Hellas beers.
Cheers Steffen
Lester
Re Stella, it is made under licence in several countries, including Australia. The ingredients are not always exactly the same from country to country. So beware.
Bill
Yup, Stella Artois is brewed in Canada!
Wanted to send you a pic of the label but don’t have a contact email.
Cheers, Bill
Steffen
That’s interesting that they brew in Canada – still I guess with same receipe and ingredients. Anyway – a different brewing location can return a different result. Most important is to watch how you react to it. According to my doc the ‘normal’ Coeliac can take some gluten without any issues. Only if you react even of tiny amounts of gluten you better stay away from barley containg beer. Cheers Steffen
Ted
Thank you so much for these tests.
James
I check your website very often, you are doing a huge service to tye gluten intolerant community, thank you Steffen! I’m going to try some today!
Joseph
I suffer from chronic erytherdermic psoriasis and love having a beer. I used to drink different beers to trial them and have severe flare ups without ever recalling exactly what beer flared more than another.
This database is incriebdle and I can honestly say it’s changed my absolute to enjoy summer. Keep up the good work !
Steffen
Thanks for the kind words Joseph. The personal experience is always the best. Even when we test beer negative here just be careful and listen to your body.
Cheers Steffen
Tarek
Just had a six pack with no I’ll effects
Tarek
Tipsy of course but not glutenized
Steffen
Thanks for sharing your experience. Good that you had no effects. At least not negative effects 🙂
Cheers Steffen
Barry
I am coeliac living in Australia… I drink Corona and Pure Blonde in Australia with no reaction… it would be interesting for you to test some Australian beers like Cascade draught and Cascade Light and Boags Draught and Boags light, 4 X (XXXX) gold, Carlton Draught & VB, Great Northern and Great Northern mid strength
Would love a mid strength or light alcohol or even zero alcohol option in Australia
Steffen
Hi Barry, a number of Australian beers were tested by Adam, please see here: https://www.lowgluten.org/author/adam/
Draught beer is quite difficult to test as the quality can vary and there can be contaminations. Hence, we mainly focussed on bottled beer where we assume it has almost always the same quality.
Cheers Steffen