Is Estrella Galicia gluten free?
By Simon ยท Updated 4 June 2026
It depends which one. The standard Estrella Galicia lager is not safe for coeliacs, but Estrella Galicia Gluten Free is a separate, coeliac-certified beer tested below the 20ppm limit. Check the label.
Estrella Galicia is one I have to answer with another question, because it is really two beers wearing similar names, and for anyone with coeliac disease the difference is the whole point. The standard premium lager is a normal barley beer and is not safe for coeliacs. The separate Estrella Galicia Gluten Free is a certified gluten free beer that is. If you are coeliac, the only thing that matters is which one you pick up.
The standard lager: not safe
Regular Estrella Galicia is brewed from barley malt and maize. Barley is a gluten grain, there is no gluten removal step, and the beer carries no gluten free claim. It is not suitable for people with coeliac disease. The maize in the recipe does not change that, in the same way it does not for Corona.
Estrella Galicia Gluten Free: certified safe
The gluten free version is a deliberately different product. It is brewed from the same barley base, then an enzyme is applied during filtration to break down the gluten proteins. The finished beer is certified to the gluten free standard of below 20 parts per million and carries coeliac certification, including from the Spanish Coeliac Federation (FACE). That certification is what makes it safe for coeliacs, not the brand name.
As with every enzyme treated barley beer, the pack still says contains barley. That is there for people with a barley allergy and does not undermine the gluten free claim. The two declarations cover two different conditions.
What to check, and what to drink
The practical advice is simple: read the label. Look for the explicit Gluten Free product and its coeliac certification. If the can or bottle is the standard premium lager with no gluten free claim, it is not safe.
If you want a certified gluten free lager you can buy in the UK without hunting for the right import, our directory has plenty:
- Celia Organic Lager, 4.5%. A crisp, clean organic lager.
- Daura Lager, 5.4%. A Spanish gluten free lager tested below 3 parts per million.
- Bellfield Craft Lager, 5.2%. A pale lager from a fully gluten free brewery.
For more, see our guide to gluten free lagers, or browse the full beer directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is Estrella Galicia gluten free?
There are two different beers. Standard Estrella Galicia lager is brewed from barley with no gluten removal, so it is not safe for coeliacs. Estrella Galicia Gluten Free is a separate product, made by treating the beer with an enzyme to break down the gluten, and it is certified below the 20 parts per million gluten free standard. Always check which one you are buying.
Is standard Estrella Galicia safe for coeliacs?
No. The regular Estrella Galicia premium lager is brewed from barley malt and maize with no gluten removal process, so it contains gluten and is not suitable for people with coeliac disease.
How is Estrella Galicia Gluten Free made?
It is brewed from the same barley base as the standard lager, then an enzyme is applied during filtration to break down the gluten proteins. The finished beer is certified to meet the gluten free standard of below 20 parts per million and carries coeliac certification.
Is Estrella Galicia Gluten Free certified?
Yes. Estrella Galicia Gluten Free carries coeliac certification, including from the Spanish Coeliac Federation (FACE), and meets the recognised gluten free threshold of below 20 parts per million. That makes it suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Why does the gluten free version still say contains barley?
Because it is brewed from barley, and UK law requires the contains barley declaration for people with a barley allergy, a separate condition from coeliac disease. The gluten free certification covers the coeliac threshold; the barley line covers the allergy. Both are required and both are correct.
How we checked
Some links to beers in our directory are affiliate links. They never change a verdict. Breweries do not pay to appear here. If something is wrong, tell me and I will fix it.