Exactly What is Gluten Free Beer?
In today’s diets, gluten is found in many common ingredients that most people already consume. Anything made from wheat contains gluten, as well as many foods commonly associated with wheat and barley, including alcoholic beverages and beer. Until the invention of gluten free beer, it was extremely difficult for someone with celiac disease or gluten allergies to enjoy a beer with family or friends. It is a formidable challenge to find a safe beer for someone with gluten allergies as nearly all other types of beer contain some level of gluten in them.
Gluten Free or Low Gluten?
Before choosing a beer based on the level of gluten it contains it is best to speak with your doctor to find out exactly why gluten bothers your stomach. Some beers do have lower levels of gluten in them than others that may be possible to drink in small quantities for people with a mild allergy to gluten. Even those with mild allergies to gluten may find that gluten of any kind in their drink causes serious discomfort as drinks lack the bulk of other foods that have gluten. The smallest trace amounts of gluten can cause serious, life threatening reactions to those with Celiac disease, however. If you are unsure of what causes your gluten reaction, it is safest to stick with beers that are clearly labeled gluten free.
What makes Gluten Free Beer, Gluten Free?
Most beers are made from barley and wheat, so it is natural to wonder how gluten free beer can taste as good as regular beer. Gluten free beer is generally made from buckwheat, sorghum or rice. Buckwheat is a completely safe ingredient, as it is a member of the rhubarb family and unrelated in any way to wheat. With these ingredients you might be surprised to find that the taste of these beers is excellent, despite the fact these are not traditional forms of making beer. You will find that doing a little research will greatly reduce the amount of trial and error you will undertake to find the perfect beer and reading the many online reviews of the various types of gluten free beers can help you get started.
Where to Find Gluten Free Beer?
Bars and restaurants typically do not have gluten free beer readily available. When planning a night out it is a good idea to call ahead and find an establishment that carries gluten free beer. You will find that many managers are more than willing to accommodate a request for gluten free options if they do not currently offer any. For home consumption, there are many websites online which offer a wide variety of low gluten and gluten free beer choices in case your local spirits store does not provide what you need.