Gluten Free Beer – Where do You Find It and What is it?

Define Gluten Free Beer?
Gluten is found in many common ingredients of today’s diets. Most commonly associated with barley and wheat, gluten is found in beer and other alcoholic beverages as well as anything made from wheat. For someone with gluten allergies or Celiac disease the simple act of enjoying a beer with friends was an impossibility until the invention of gluten free beer. Nearly all other types of beer contain some level of gluten, so finding a safe beer for someone with gluten associated health issues can be challenging at best.

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 Beer Contain Gluten?
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. Rice, buckwheat, and sorghum are the main ingredients in gluten free beer. Buckwheat is a completely safe ingredient, as it is a member of the rhubarb family and unrelated in any way to wheat. Despite the fact these are not the traditional forms of beer making, you will be surprised to find the taste of beers made from these ingredients is excellent. 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.

Who Carries Gluten Free Beer?
Bars and restaurants typically do not have gluten free beer readily available. Finding a restaurant that carries gluten free beer prior to planning a night out is a good idea if you are gluten intolerant. 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.