Gluten Free and Beer

There is an ever-growing number of people within the local population that are affected by Celiac (Coeliac) disease. For some, the reaction may be mild, and for others quite severe. As a result, there are an increasing number of products available that are gluten free, from those found in the grocery store, specialty restaurants, and yes, even at your local liquor store. 

Gluten can be found in many common cereal grains, including barley and wheat. Almost all beer contains levels of gluten that cannot be tolerated by the Celiac sufferer, but there are a few specialty breweries that cater to this small population.

Some brewers feel that beers brewed from cereals such as rice, sorghum, buckwheat and corn (which do not contain the gluten that produces an autoimmune response in Celiacs), and from a small proportion of barley or rye are safe for consumption. These brewers argue that the proteins from barley are converted into non-harmful amino acids. Brewmasters that create low gluten beers are required to test every batch for gluten, and record the gluten levels in 'parts per million' (ppm). It is likely that most Celiacs will be able to drink beer with 20ppm or lower without causing themselves any harm, however, each person will react differently.
Budweiser and Sapporo are a couple of rice based brews that state that they have lower levels of gluten, but they are not considered as gluten free.
The recent development of gluten free lagers and ales has been a positive step forward for those that suffer from gluten intolerant conditions, with an increasing number of producers (none local) putting their hands into the gluten free pie.
A few of the producers that we stock at our Tuscany Village location are:
Greens is a Belgian style from England, Bards from Minnesota, Lakefront New Grist from Wisconsin & La Messagere from Quebec
We also have Bassano Hard Soda, LoneTree Cider (both local!!) are both gluten free non-beers!
Hopefully we will see more entries into the gluten free beverage market in the future.