Is Mike's Hard Lemonade Gluten-Free?

Celiac.com 03/12/2021 - We get a lot of questions from celiac community members wondering if certain products are gluten-free. One question we see a lot is about alcoholic hard lemonade. Specifically, is Mike's Hard Lemonade gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? Another question we get a lot is: Which brands of hard lemonade are gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease? 

The short answer to the first question is that Mike's is not certified gluten-free. Mike's hard lemonade is gluten-removed. That means Mike's is made with barley ingredients and crafted using enzymes to remove gluten. 

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Mike's Hard Lemonade may be safe for certain people, but it's not recommended for people with celiac disease, especially anyone who is highly sensitive to gluten. People with celiac disease should use caution with these products. As always, read labels, watch for allergens, and choose carefully.

Since most hard lemonade brands are also made with barley, they are also not gluten-free. The best you can do here is gluten-removed, like Mike's. When it comes to hard lemonade, people who avoid gluten need to be wary. Read labels, and choose carefully.

Sparkke Makes Gluten-Free Hard Lemonade

There may be others, but Sparkke is the only brand of hard lemonade we have found that is gluten-free. Sprakke is made from lemons and fermented with Champagne yeast for a light, refreshing, alcoholic hard lemonade. 

Sparkke is an Australian product, so if you can't find it, remember, now that the FDA has confirmed that all distilled alcohol is gluten-free, regardless of the original ingredients, it's possible to brew your very own refreshing gluten-free cocktails that will give Mike's and other hard lemonade brands a run for their money.

For anyone looking for a great lemonade-style cocktail, look no further than this recipe for a tasty summertime Tom Collins. A lovely marriage of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda, a Tom Collins is a warm weather drink, and a perfect alternative to hard lemonade for those who need to avoid gluten.

Other great options include the Margarita, the Gin and Tonic, and the Gimlet, basically a lime-based, non-carbonated, version of the Tom Collins. Here are some great recipes.