# Quinoa-Based Beers Meli Makes Naturally Gluten-Free Quinoa Beer That's Crisp and Light By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2025-05-21 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quinoa-beer References: [foodandwine](https://www.foodandwine.com/meli-gluten-free-quinoa-beer-11738840) & [drinkmeli](https://drinkmeli.com/products/meli-quinoa-beer)  Meli Quinoa Beer is the first beer in the United States made only from organic quinoa, hops, yeast and water, and it boasts a bright, crisp taste with a clean finish. Creator Samara Oster, a [Harvard](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goldie-dog-essentials) and [MIT](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yzipper) graduate, was never a fan of beer because she found it too heavy or too bitter. But during a trip to Peru, she discovered a beer partially brewed with quinoa. With the support of a team of MIT food scientists, Meli's Quinoa Beer took over three years to perfect, since it called for tweaks to traditional brewing methods to accommodate quinoa’s unique properties. As a [naturally gluten-free beer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heineken-ultimate) that contains no added sugar and comes in at just 4.4% ABV, Meli's Quinoa Beer speaks to wellness-conscious drinkers seeking lighter options. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 40% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Naturally Gluten-free Alcohol:** The creation of quinoa-based beers illustrates a burgeoning trend of naturally gluten-free alcoholic beverages catering to dietary preferences and restrictions. - **Wellness-focused Beverages:** A move towards lighter, health-oriented drink options signifies a growing consumer interest in wellness-focused beverages with lower alcoholic content. - **Alternative Grain Brewing:** Brewing with alternative grains such as quinoa presents opportunities to innovate in brewing techniques for unique flavor profiles and dietary benefits. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Craft Brewing:** The craft brewing industry has the potential to expand by embracing unique ingredients like quinoa to cater to evolving consumer tastes. - **Health and Wellness:** The health and wellness industry sees potential with beverages that align with dietary trends, offering products that boast natural ingredients and gluten-free formulations. - **Gluten-free Foods and Beverages:** A niche yet growing industry segment for gluten-free foods and beverages is expanded by innovations like quinoa-based beers to reach larger audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ancient Grain-Crafted Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fonio-beer.md) - [Collaborative Gluten-Free Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glutenfree-beers.md) - [Meatless Food-Pairing Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brewdog-quorn-mexican-vienna-lager.md) - [Gluten-Free Sparkling Seltzers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glutenfree-sparkling-seltzer.md) - [Regenerative Grain Lagers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kernza-lager.md) - [Tasty Alcohol-Free Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tasty-alcoholfree-beers.md) - [Free-From Non-Alcoholic Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/damm-daura-00.md) - [Ancient Grain Beers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fonio-rising.md) - [Mexican-Style Light Lagers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lowcalorie-beers.md)