Your beer should never give you a stomach ache. Unfortunately for the estimated 2 million Americans with the rare celiac disease a.k.a. gluten intolerance (talk to a doctor to determine your status if you’re worried for some reason), beer’s universal building blocks of wheat and barley (and sometimes rye, spelt, oats, and certain other grains) contatin gliadin. This is the pesky gluten protein that causes a variety of intestinal health problems cured only by a complete avoidance of gluten, and thus beer.
If avoidance of beer is not a prescription you’ll swallow without a fight, you’re not alone. Craft brewers are reporting massive numbers of consumer inquiries about gluten-free beer, which has existed in many forms over time. Few of these have been drinkable in quantity, because substituting gluten-free rice, millet, and sorghum for the traditional grain bill generally results in thinner-bodied, odd-tasting brews. Read on to learn about three gluten free beers that don’t leave out the most important part: flavor.
These days there’s no angle on enjoyment America’s innovative craft brewers won’t tackle for the love of beer, and celiac is the latest target. Fifteen years ago the CEO of Craft Brew Alliance, which owns Portland, Oregon’s Widmer Bros. Brewing Co. was diagnosed with celiac, and six years ago Widmer’s brewmaster’s wife suffered a similar fate. Now the company has three beers in their Omission line of gluten-free beers, in bottles only, to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination with gluten-intact taps... CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY AT WEEKLY PINT
