Gluten-Free Beer: Good News and Bad News
I am a beer drinker. Not often, but I enjoy a beer about once a month and when I realized this was one more area of my life that was to be affected by my gluten-free diagnosis, it was a bit annoying. In my dad’s final weeks one of the things he enjoyed doing was sharing a beer with one of his kids. He gamely shared a gluten-free beer with me but he didn’t care much for it. Poor guy…I wish I could have been more accommodating.
Pretty much all beers, ales, and lagers contain gluten. Those pesky grains are just so excellent at creating beer that I would say 99%+ of all beers on the market contain gluten. Here is a bit of good news…manufacturers of beer are realizing that this market is growing larger every year and they are rushing to answer our need. Large breweries, like Anheuser-Busch have answered the call with Redbridge (a gluten-free beer that I liken to Killian’s) and small breweries are also bringing to market artisan gluten-free varieties as well. Speak up when you go to your local brew pub and let them know that you would purchase a gluten-free beer if it was available.
A warning about the gluten-free beers available: some of them taste terrible. I am a “regular” beer drinker which I consider puts me in the “average joe” category that I like beer that isn’t too strong (like Guiness) or bitter. I used to drink Killean’s, wheat beers, an occasional flavored beer (like pumpkin in the fall or berry in the summer) and I enjoyed a good Corona with lime on a hot summer day.
As with all foods, everyone has different tastes so it is important to keep an open mind and try a variety. For example, when I first went gluten free I bought a six pack of Redbridge and a six pack of New Grist and shared them with my gluten-free siblings. I was the only one who liked Redbridge and no one liked New Grist. However I had a party a few months later and one of my non-gluten-free guests really liked the New Grist (I sent the last unopened bottle home with her). I have heard “Temptation” is a good choice as well, although it may be a bit pricey (I haven’t been able to find it at my local grocery stores as even Whole Foods stopped selling it).
I have found for the days I want more of my “Corona experience”, I take my Red Bridge and add about 50% water and a slice of lime to create a lighter beer…it works for me and stretches out the enjoyment.
Other brands on the market (I have not found them in the Ann Arbor area) are:
- Bard’s Gold
- Green’s Discovery Amber Ale
- Green’s Endeavour Dubbel Ale
- Green’s Quest Tripel Ale
- Sprecher Brewing Mbege
- Sprecher Brewing Shakparo
As you are no doubt aware, an open mind and sense of adventure will serve you well in your gluten-free journey. Raise your gluten-free beer in a toast to those wonderful breweries looking out for us and helping us to enjoy a good bottle of beer from time to time. Cheers!
November 24 2009 11:54 am | Beverages and friend and family support and gluten substitutes and living without wheat and wheat alternatives