Gluten Free Beer

From LoveToKnow Diet

Gluten free beer is a saving grace to beer lovers who cannot drink normal brews due to an intolerance to gluten. Many devout beer drinkers who love the flavor, smell and color of beer but suffer from a condition known as celiac disease, are only able to drink gluten free beer.

What is Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the villi which is located within the small intestine. The disease interferes with absorption of nutrients from certain foods including somecomplex carbs and is triggered by gluten which is a protein that is found in barley, wheat and rye. When consumed, celiac attacks the villi of the small intestine making it difficult to absorb nutrients from other foods. People that live with this disease can easily fall prey to malnourishment. This disease is, in fact, genetic and there is no cure other than a carefully constructed diet for celiac disease.

Common symptoms include:

Nausea
Diarrhea
Bloating
Skin rash and itching
Weight loss or poor weight gain
Fatigue
Infertility
… and many more

There are many resources on celiac diseases that can include menu plans and resources for purchasing gluten free foods including some locations where you can buy gluten free beer.

The Facts of Gluten Free Beer

This type of beer, suitable for celiacs and dermatitis herpetiformis, is made with ingredients that do not contain gluten. There are several ideas about what “gluten free” actually means. In the United Kingdom for instance gluten free is determined true if the beer has less than 20 parts per million of gluten. In Australia this is not true and gluten free brews earn that label only when there is no traceable amounts of gluten.

While gluten free content may vary from country to country, the best course of action for anyone suffering from this sort of autoimmune deficiency is to adhere to the strictest of gluten free standards which is no traceable amounts of gluten.

Differences Between Gluten Free, Low Gluten and Standard Beer

Gluten Free: This type of beer is 100 percent safe to celiacs and other people with autoimmune deficiency. It is made with substances that contain no gluten at all such as corn and rice.

Low Gluten: Many scientists employed by brewers feel that low gluten beer is perfectly safe for sufferers of autoimmune deficiencies to consume. They reason that the small amount of barley that they use is changed to harmless amino acids in the brewing stage and therefore is safe for them to consume.

Standard: The standard brewing method of beer involves the fermenting of barley, yeast and hops. These brews will cause those with autoimmune deficiency to suffer the ill side effects from consuming them.

Certified Gluten Free

The following brews have been tested and proved to be gluten free and safe to drink. Look for these brands on the shelves in your local beer distributor or grocery store!

Bard’s Tale Beer is made by celiacs with celiacs in mind. Their brew is available in 21 states and includes two brews:

Dragon’s Gold: Amber in color with a soft, white head that tastes and smells like traditional wheat beer
Tavern Ale: Soon to be released on to the market

Ramapo Valley Beer Co. is located in Rockland County in New York and they travel around to several conventions throughout the year promoting their beer called Honey Passover which is crafted from honey, Kosher yeast hops, spring water and other natural ingredients.

New France Beers brews out of Canada and spent three years developing what they would like to call the “perfect gluten free beer” which is their La Messagère, a glassy pale ale with the flavor and aroma of honey.

There are many more companies that create great lines of products that serve the gluten free community. Search on Google using “gluten free beer makers” as the search line. With any luck you will discover a company that creates a brew that is sold in your area.

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