Gluten Sensitivity And Beer: What's Safe To Drink?

Beer is traditionally made with barley, hops, yeast, and sometimes wheat. Since barley and wheat contain gluten, beers made from either are not gluten-free. However, there are now many gluten-free beers on the market, which are made with grains that don't contain gluten, such as sorghum, buckwheat, rice, millet, corn, or some combination of them. There are also gluten-removed beers, which are made with grains that contain gluten, but the gluten is broken down into smaller compounds during the manufacturing process. However, these beers are not recommended for people with celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance, as they may still contain traces of gluten.

Can Gluten-Sensitive People Drink Beer?

What is gluten sensitivity?

Gluten sensitivity, also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance, is a medically recognised condition where individuals experience symptoms similar to those with celiac disease when they consume gluten. However, those with gluten sensitivity do not exhibit the same antibodies and intestinal damage found in celiac disease.

Gluten sensitivity is characterised by adverse reactions to gluten, a group of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and products containing them. These include conventional breads, pastries, pasta, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods.

Symptoms of gluten sensitivity vary but often include extraintestinal or non-GI symptoms such as headaches, brain fog, joint pain, and numbness in the legs, arms, or fingers. These symptoms typically appear hours or days after gluten consumption. Other possible symptoms include diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

Currently, there are no recommended or standardised methods for testing gluten sensitivity. It is often diagnosed through exclusion, ruling out other conditions such as celiac disease and wheat allergy. The best treatment for gluten sensitivity is to adopt a gluten-free diet, avoiding foods and beverages that contain gluten.

What is in beer?

Beer is traditionally made with a combination of malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. Sometimes wheat is also used in the beer-making process. Since barley and wheat contain gluten, beers made from either are not gluten-free.

Barley grains are soaked in water and undergo a germination and kilning process to prepare them for brewing. This process, called malting, converts the starches in the grains into sugars that interact with the yeast to make alcohol during the fermentation process. The roasting time, temperature, pH, concentration, sugar, and nitrogenous compounds will create a different set of flavour chemicals in a malt.

Hops are the flowers of the hop plant, Humulus lupulus, and they work as a bittering, flavouring, and stabilising agent within the beer. They are added to the boil stage in brewing, where the necessary compounds within them are brought out under heat. Hops have an antibacterial effect, which gives beer its long shelf life.

Yeast is a fungal microorganism that is used in the fermentation stage, converting carbohydrates (sugars) into alcohol. There are two major categories of brewing yeast: ale yeast and lager yeast. Ale yeast is top-fermenting and done at warmer temperatures, while lager yeast is bottom-fermenting and uses colder temperatures.

Water makes up around 90-95% of beer, so it is a critical ingredient. The mineral content of the water can affect the final taste of the beer.

What is gluten-free beer?

Gluten-free beer is a beverage crafted for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Traditional beers contain gluten in the form of wheat or barley, and for those with gluten sensitivities, these can cause adverse health effects.

Gluten-free beers are made with gluten-free grains like sorghum, rice, millet, buckwheat, corn, or quinoa, instead of wheat or barley. These grains are milled to extract fermentable sugars, then mixed with hot water to break down starches, boiled with hops, cooled, fermented with yeast, and packaged for distribution and consumption.

The gluten-free beer market is growing, with a value of around $18.7 billion expected by 2025, driven by rising awareness of dietary restrictions and the health benefits of gluten-free products. This demand has led to a variety of gluten-free beers, including ales, Belgian whites, and IPAs, that offer flavourful options for those with gluten intolerance.

Some popular gluten-free beers include Buck Wild Pale Ale, Glutenberg Blonde Ale, Redbridge Lager, and Burning Brothers Roasted Coffee Ale. These beers are crafted to provide gluten-sensitive individuals with a beer that doesn't compromise on taste or quality.

What is gluten-removed beer?

Gluten-removed beers are made with grains that naturally contain gluten, such as barley, wheat, and rye. The gluten is removed during the production process, but some fragments may remain in the final product.

The process used to break down gluten proteins is called hydrolysis. However, there is currently no way to accurately measure the gluten levels in food and drinks that have undergone hydrolysis and fermentation. As a result, gluten-removed beers cannot be labelled as 'gluten-free'.

The current consensus is that gluten-removed beers are not safe for people with coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. Experts recommend that those with coeliac disease avoid gluten-removed beers and opt for beers that are labelled gluten-free.

What are the best gluten-free beers?

Gluten-free beers are made with grains that don't contain gluten, such as sorghum, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, corn, rice, and buckwheat. Gluten-free beers often taste different from regular beers, and may be sweeter or less carbonated.

• Magic Rock Brewing Saucery (low-strength gluten-free IPA): This gluten-free IPA has a tropical papaya freshness. At 3.9% ABV, it's easy to drink and pairs well with savoury, un-spiced food.
• Purity Brewing Session IPA (tropical IPA): This IPA is a wonderful combination of simcoe, eureka, and mosaic hops, with real grapefruit peel for incredible tropical fruit notes. It has a pleasing oaty smoothness, some sweetness, and an IPA bite to finish.
• Green's Grand India Pale Ale (best for pairing with food): This award-winning beer from Green's complements spicy foods well. It has an attractive dark amber look, a herbal aroma, a nutty flavour, and a firm bitterness. It's brewed in Belgium using naturally gluten-free ancient grains like sorghum, brown rice, millet, and buckwheat.
• Peroni Gluten Free (well-known gluten-free lager): This gluten-free lager retains the famous crisp and refreshing flavour of Peroni, with a touch of Italian style. It's endorsed by the Italian Coeliac Association.
• Wild Craft Brewing Wild Summer (citrusy pale ale): This pale ale has a light nuttiness and surprising bursts of citrus and fruity aromas.
• Wold Top Against the Grain (easy-drinking pale ale): This East Yorkshire pale has a lemony nose and a creamy mouthful, making it a very drinkable beer. It pairs well with baked salmon, mash, and spring vegetables.
• Chiltern Brewery Three Hundreds Dark Old Ale (old-fashioned ale): This classic old ale is dark and smooth, with a toffee and raisin-like sweetness, a strident nuttiness, and bitterness. At 5% ABV, it's perfectly suited to well-matured strong cheeses.
• Hambleton Brewery Gluten and Wheat Free Lager (best lager): This lager has a pleasant yet unobtrusive light bitterness and a citrussy taste. It's produced in Ripon and is the world's best-selling British gluten-free lager.
• Brass Castle Brewery Sunshine IPA (high-strength pale ale): This award-winning India Pale Ale has a tantalising aroma of juicy fruits, followed by a stunning combination of maltiness, sweetness, and a flavour of gooseberry alongside a strong IPA bitterness.
• Ghostfish Brewing Co: This dedicated gluten-free brewery offers a range of beers, including blonde ales, pale lagers, and IPAs.
• Ground Breaker Brewing: This gluten-free beer company from Portland, Oregon, offers a Dark Ale that's perfect for winter.
• Holidaily Brewing Co: This brewery in Golden, Colorado, offers a Blonde Ale and a Buckwhit Belgian.
• Green's Beer: This UK-based company offers a range of gluten-free beers, including a Pale Dry-Hopped Lager that's easy to sip at only 4.0% ABV.
• Glutenberg IPA: A popular choice among gluten-free beer drinkers, this IPA has passed the test for many super-sensitive people.
• Redbridge: Another popular option, although some find the flavour less appealing.
• New Grist Pilsner from Lakefront Brewery: A favourite gluten-free beer for some.
• Daura Damm: A gluten-free beer from Spain, known for its crisp, refreshing taste.

Please note that some people with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease may still react to gluten-removed beers, so always read labels carefully and consult experts before consuming any new products.

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