Introduction

When a celebrity-owned beer brand makes headlines, it’s usually for something fun — a new flavour, a quirky advert, or a bumper harvest at the farm. But this time, Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone brand found itself in the spotlight for a very different reason. The Hawkstone Lager recall became one of the more widely discussed food safety stories of 2025, not just because of the famous face behind the brand, but because of what it meant for thousands of everyday consumers — particularly those living with gluten allergies or coeliac disease.

So, what exactly happened? Which products are affected? And if someone has already cracked open a can, what should they do next? This article breaks it all down in plain, simple terms.

Background: What Is Hawkstone?

Before diving into the recall itself, it helps to understand what Hawkstone actually is and why so many people care about it.

Hawkstone was founded in 2021 by none other than Jeremy Clarkson — the motoring journalist, television presenter, and now, apparently, farmer. The brand grew directly out of Clarkson’s farm venture in the Cotswolds, which millions of viewers followed through his hugely popular Amazon Prime series. The idea was straightforward: use the barley grown on his Oxfordshire farm to produce real, honest British beer.

The brewing itself is handled by The Cotswold Brewing Company, a well-regarded craft producer based in the region. Together, they put out a range that includes Hawkstone Premium Lager, Hawkstone Session Lager, Hawkstone IPA, Hawkstone Black, Hawkstone Spa Lager, and Hawkstone Cider — products that quickly found their way onto the shelves of major retailers, including Waitrose.

For a relatively young brand, Hawkstone built a loyal following fast. Part of that was down to Clarkson’s fanbase, but part of it was also the quality of the product. That loyal following is precisely why the recall news spread so quickly.

The Recall: What Happened?

In April 2025, Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lagers recalled due to undeclared gluten became the headline that consumers and food safety watchers were sharing across social media and news sites alike.

Two specific products were at the centre of the issue:

• Hawkstone Black (440ml cans) — all batches
• Hawkstone Spa Lager (330ml cans) — all batches

The problem? Both products were found to contain wheat (gluten) that was not declared on the product label. Under UK food safety law, this is a serious matter. Consumers who purchase a product expect the label to tell them exactly what is inside — and when it comes to allergens like gluten, that information can be the difference between a pleasant drink and a dangerous allergic reaction.

It is worth being clear about what the recall does not cover. The following Hawkstone products were not affected and remain perfectly fine to buy and enjoy:

• Hawkstone IPA
• Hawkstone Premium Lager
• Hawkstone Session Lager
• Hawkstone Cider

So while the Hawkstone Lager recall grabbed attention, it was targeted and specific — not a brand-wide withdrawal.

Who Is at Risk?

The undeclared gluten issue poses a real and potentially serious health risk to a specific group of consumers. Those who need to pay close attention include:

People with a wheat allergy — A wheat allergy triggers an immune response when wheat proteins enter the body. Symptoms can range from skin rashes and digestive discomfort to, in more severe cases, anaphylaxis.

People with gluten intolerance (non-coeliac gluten sensitivity) — Those who experience bloating, fatigue, and digestive issues after consuming gluten may react badly to these products even if their condition is not as severe as coeliac disease.

People with coeliac disease — This is an autoimmune condition where gluten causes the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine. Even tiny amounts of undeclared gluten can trigger symptoms and, over time, cause lasting damage to the gut.

For anyone without any of these conditions, Hawkstone Black and Hawkstone Spa Lager were confirmed to be safe to consume. But for those in the groups above, the risk is real — and the advice is clear.

Official Response

The Food Standards Agency (FSA)

Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager has been recalled by the FSA following the discovery of undeclared gluten in two of its products. The FSA, which is the UK’s independent food safety watchdog, wasted no time in issuing public guidance.

Their advice was direct: anyone who purchased Hawkstone Black or Hawkstone Spa Lager and has an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten — or who has coeliac disease — should not consume the product. Instead, they should return it to the store where it was purchased and claim a full refund. No receipt is required in most cases.

The FSA’s swift action reflects just how seriously undeclared allergens are treated under UK food law.

The Cotswold Brewing Company

The response from Hawkstone’s brewing partner was equally prompt. The Cotswold Brewing Company issued a point-of-sale notice, making clear that customer safety is of paramount importance and that all production issues are taken extremely seriously.

A spokesperson for Hawkstone confirmed that customers who had purchased the affected products were being notified directly and could return them for a full refund. They also reiterated that for consumers who do not have a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance, both products remain safe to drink.

What Should Affected Consumers Do?

If someone has purchased Hawkstone Black (440ml cans) or Hawkstone Spa Lager (330ml cans) and falls into any of the at-risk categories described above, here is exactly what they should do:

1. Stop drinking the product immediately. Do not finish the can — set it aside.
2. Return it to the retailer where it was originally purchased. A full refund should be provided without any hassle.
3. Get in touch with Hawkstone directly if there are any questions or concerns. The brand can be contacted by email at info@hawkstone.com or by phone on 01451 824488.

To identify whether a product is affected, check the following:

• Hawkstone Black in 440ml cans — all batch codes are included in the recall
• Hawkstone Spa Lager in 330ml cans — all batch codes are included in the recall

Bottled products and other variants in the Hawkstone range are not part of this recall.

Broader Context: Food Allergen Labelling in the UK

The Hawkstone Lager recall sits within a much wider conversation about allergen labelling in the UK food and drink industry.

Under UK law, businesses are legally required to declare 14 major allergens on their packaging. Gluten — derived from wheat, barley, rye, and oats — is one of them. These allergens must be clearly highlighted on the back-of-pack ingredients list, making it easy for shoppers to spot at a glance.

When an allergen slips through undeclared, it often comes down to one of several common causes: cross-contamination during the production process, ingredient substitutions that are not reflected in the labelling, or errors during the packaging and printing stage. Whatever the cause, the outcome is the same — consumers are left without the information they need to protect their health.

Hawkstone is far from alone in facing this kind of issue. Undeclared allergen recalls happen across the food and drink industry with some regularity, affecting everything from bakery products to sauces to — as in this case — craft beer. What sets this particular recall apart is largely the profile of the brand involved and the speed with which the news travelled.

Brand Impact and Public Reaction

Celebrity food and drink brands live and die by their public image, and that makes any kind of product recall a delicate situation to manage.

When news of the Hawkstone Lager recall broke, it spread quickly — not just through food safety channels, but across mainstream media and social platforms. Clarkson’s fanbase is vocal and engaged, which meant the story reached far beyond the usual food industry audience.

Interestingly, Hawkstone’s past experience with product issues may have actually helped here. The brand had previously navigated a separate problem involving overfermentation in some batches — and handled it with a level of transparency that earned them goodwill among consumers. That openness, combined with a prompt and clear response to the gluten recall, helped cushion the reputational blow somewhat.

The general sentiment among consumers seemed to be that the brand handled things the right way: quickly, honestly, and without trying to minimise what had happened. In an age where audiences are quick to notice spin and slow to forgive it, that kind of straightforward communication matters.

Key Takeaways

The hawkstone lager recall is a useful reminder that food safety is everyone’s responsibility — from producers to retailers to regulators.

Here is a quick summary of the key facts:

• Two Hawkstone products — Hawkstone Black (440ml cans) and Hawkstone Spa Lager (330ml cans) — were recalled due to undeclared gluten
• All other Hawkstone products are unaffected
• The recall is especially important for people with wheat allergies, gluten intolerance, or coeliac disease
• Affected consumers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund
• The FSA and Hawkstone both responded quickly and transparently

For anyone with food allergies or intolerances, this story is also a timely reminder to check labels carefully — even on products from trusted brands. Mistakes happen, and the recall system exists precisely to catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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