Game-Changing Gluten-Free Beer
Whether it's for medical reasons or a matter of personal preference, gluten-free beer and gluten-reduced beers are changing the way people around the world drink. And contrary to what many people may assume, they offer just as much flavor and pleasure as their more traditional, gluten-containing counterparts. If you've ever wondered how gluten-free beer is made or how gluten-reduced beer is made, the answer is: almost exactly like standard beer.
What Is gluten-free beer?
Gluten-free beer is brewed with grains that don't possess gluten. Whereas traditional beer is brewed with wheat or barley—both of which have gluten—it's entirely possible to brew delicious beer with other grains, like rice, oats, sorghum, etc.
What's the difference between gluten-free beers and gluten-reduced beers?
Gluten-free beers have no gluten and can be enjoyed by people on gluten-free diets. On the other hand, gluten-reduced beers have been modified so that the gluten content is minimized. Accord-ing to the American Homebrewers Association, producing gluten-reduced beer involves adding "an enzyme into the fermenter that reduces the resulting beer's gluten content."
Beer lovers often ask, are gluten-reduced beers safe for people with Celiac disease? The answer is: better to be safe than sorry. And there are so many delicious gluten-free beers being produced today that there's no reason to think that you're missing out on anything by popping open a cold gluten-free one.
Are any common beers gluten-free?
It depends on what you mean by "common." Twenty years ago, the answer would be a hearty no. But these days, most retailers and many bars offer excellent gluten-free options, which has made them more common.
Go to any bar on a Friday night, and you're likely to hear some version of these questions:
"Is Bud Light gluten-free?"
"Is Corona Extra gluten-free?"
"Is Stella beer gluten-free?"
No: but again, it's complicated. They're all brewed using barley (among other ingredients), which naturally contains gluten. But Corona, for example, has less than 20 parts per million of gluten, which is technically gluten-free according to American law. Still, depending on your sensitivity, it might not be a great idea to have it. As for Stella, there are gluten-free versions in other countries, but not yet in the United States. Luckily, more and more bars and restaurants feature a gluten-free beer list, with a wide range of gluten-free beer brands on offer. Call ahead to see what your options are.
What are the popular brands of gluten-free beer?
Green's, Glutenberg, Mikkeller Peter Pale and Mary, Lakefront New Grist Gluten-Free, RedBridge Gluten Free Beer, Epic Exp Srs Glutenator Gluten-Free Beer, Bard's Gold Gluten Free Beer, New Planet Raspberry Ale, Celia Organic Czech Lager, Ghostfish Beers, Ground Breaker Beers, and Evasion Brewing beers are all worth checking out.
What beers are gluten-reduced?
Here are some gluten-reduced options: Stone Delicious IPA, Dogfish Head Tweason'ale, Estrella Damm Daura, Daura Damm Marzen, Ipsich Ale Celia Saison, Omission Lager, Omission Pale Ale, and New Belgium Glutiny Pale Ale.
Browse our full selection of gluten-free beer online or check out our selection of highly-rated gluten-free beer for a great new beer to try this week!
