Omission is the beer most gluten-sensitive drinkers reach for first, because it does not taste like a compromise. It is brewed the normal way, with barley, wheat, hops and yeast, then treated with an enzyme called Brewers Clarex that breaks the gluten protein chains apart. The result tests below 20 parts per million, the threshold most countries use for a “gluten-free” label, and it tastes like an actual lager rather than a substitute for one.
Check Availability on Saucey →Omission Lager Review at a Glance
| Brewery | Omission Brewing Co., Portland, Oregon, USA |
| Style | Gluten-removed pale lager |
| ABV | 4.6% |
| Calories | 134 per 12oz |
| Carbs | 10g per 12oz |
| IBU | 20 |
| Base ingredients | Barley, wheat, hops, yeast, treated with Brewers Clarex enzyme |
| Gluten-free or gluten-removed | Gluten-removed (tested under 20 ppm, not brewed gluten-free from the start) |
How It Tastes
Omission Lager pours pale gold with a thin white head that settles fast. The nose is mild, with a bit of grainy sweetness and a light floral hop note. On the palate it is clean and crisp, closer to a German-style pils than an American macro lager, with a touch of biscuit malt up front and a dry, hop-forward finish. At 20 IBUs it is not bitter, just balanced, which is exactly what a lager should be.
It does not taste like a gluten-free beer. It tastes like a beer, which is the entire point of Omission’s approach.
- Brewed and tastes like a standard pale lager, not a substitute beer
- Widely available at grocery stores and bars across the US
- Low calorie and carb count for the style (134 cal, 10g carbs)
- Independently lab-tested for gluten content, not just self-certified
- Brewed with barley and wheat, so it is gluten-removed, not gluten-free from the grain up
- Not considered safe for coeliac disease by most dietitians and coeliac associations, even though it tests under 20 ppm
- Flavor is closer to a solid everyday lager than a standout craft beer
Who It’s For
Good for the gluten-sensitive or gluten-intolerant drinker who wants a normal-tasting lager without a wheat- or barley-related reaction. Not the right pick for anyone with diagnosed coeliac disease, who should stick to a beer brewed from naturally gluten-free grains like sorghum, millet, rice or buckwheat instead.
FAQs
Is Omission beer really gluten-free?
Omission is gluten-removed, not gluten-free from the ingredients up. It is brewed with barley and wheat, then treated with an enzyme that breaks down the gluten proteins, and it tests below 20 parts per million, the common threshold for a gluten-free claim. Most coeliac disease associations still recommend avoiding gluten-removed beers, since testing methods cannot always detect every fragment of gluten protein.
Can someone with coeliac disease drink Omission Lager?
Most coeliac and dietitian guidance says no. Because Omission starts with gluten-containing grains and relies on an enzyme treatment rather than naturally gluten-free ingredients, it carries more risk than a beer brewed from sorghum, millet, rice or buckwheat. Anyone with diagnosed coeliac disease should choose a beer clearly brewed without gluten grains at all.
What does Omission Lager taste like?
Crisp and clean, closer to a German-style pils than a typical American lager, with light biscuit malt, a mild floral hop note and a dry finish. It drinks like a standard pale lager rather than a specialty gluten-free beer.
Where can I buy Omission Lager?
Omission is widely stocked in grocery stores and beer retailers across the US. It is also available for delivery through Saucey.
