Green’s has a real claim to being the origin point of modern gluten-free craft beer. Founder Derek Green was diagnosed with coeliac disease and, unhappy with the gluten-free beer available at the time, worked with Belgium’s DeProef Brewery to brew Discovery Amber in 2003 using millet, buckwheat, brown rice and sorghum instead of barley. It is widely credited as the first European gluten-free beer, and it is brewed with a classic Belgian ale yeast strain rather than treated after the fact.
Check Availability on Saucey →Green’s Discovery Amber Ale Review at a Glance
| Brewery | Green’s, brewed in collaboration with DeProef Brewery, Lochristi, Belgium |
| Style | Amber ale, gluten-free |
| ABV | 6.0% |
| Original Gravity | 1.056 |
| IBU | 32 |
| Base ingredients | Water, millet, buckwheat (soba), brown rice, sorghum, hops, yeast |
| Gluten-free or gluten-removed | Gluten-free from the grain bill, no barley or wheat used |
How It Tastes
It pours a deep amber-copper with a decent tan head for a gluten-free beer. The aroma is herbal and hop-forward with a caramel edge underneath. On the palate it is medium-bodied with real caramel and nut character, a subtly fruity note from the Belgian yeast strain, and a refined, dry, herbal finish. It is one of the very few gluten-free beers that could be mistaken for a standard craft amber ale in a blind pour.
If someone doubts a gluten-free beer can taste like a proper craft amber ale, this is the one to hand them.
- Genuinely gluten-free, brewed from millet, buckwheat, brown rice and sorghum, not treated barley
- Real caramel and nut character, closer to a standard craft amber ale than most gluten-free options
- Brewed with a proper Belgian ale yeast strain, giving it more depth than a simple session beer
- Historically significant as one of the first dedicated gluten-free beers on the market
- Pricier and less widely stocked than mainstream options like Redbridge
- 6.0% ABV and a fuller body make it less of an everyday session beer
- Import-style distribution means availability varies by region
Who It’s For
The pick for a gluten-free or coeliac drinker who wants a beer that genuinely competes with standard craft amber ales on flavor, not just on being safe to drink.
FAQs
Is Green’s Discovery Amber Ale gluten-free?
Yes. It is brewed from millet, buckwheat, brown rice and sorghum instead of barley or wheat, and it is widely credited as one of the first gluten-free beers brewed in Europe, dating to 2003.
What does Green’s Discovery Amber Ale taste like?
Medium-bodied with caramel and nut character, a herbal hop aroma, and a dry, refined finish from its Belgian ale yeast strain. It drinks closer to a standard craft amber ale than most gluten-free beers.
Who created Green’s gluten-free beer?
Derek Green, who was diagnosed with coeliac disease and worked with Belgium’s DeProef Brewery to develop a genuinely gluten-free beer using alternative grains, launching Discovery Amber in 2003.
Where can I buy Green’s Discovery Amber Ale?
Through craft beer retailers including Saucey, plus specialty stores that import the Green’s lineup.
