Well folks it is Labor Day weekend and that means it’s time to unwind, relax, and have a little fun. So what better topic than to figure out what we will be drinking this weekend?
Gluten free alcohol is a mixed topic (pun fully intended). Some drinks are obviously not gluten free, like beer, but when it comes to liquor, there is a bit more a debate. Below is the basic breakdown of your major alcoholic beverages:
Beer
What’s in it: Beer is primarily made of water, hops, yeast and malted barely. There are lots of other fun things that can be added, but the basic ingredients means is beer not gluten free. Sadly this will include things that are “beer battered” or soaked in beer (mmmm beer brauts!).
How’s it made: Beer is made by malting the grains, those are then steeped in water brought to a boil, hops are added, then it’s stored in a cool place with added yeast. At this point the beer is flat, so it’s bottled where the CO2 is formed over weeks or months, then it’s ready to drink. (For you beer lovers, I hope I didn’t butcher the process too badly). Cross contamination is likely if the equipment is shared.
Is it Gluten Free: No, with a few special exceptions. In general, beer is not safe for those with Celiac Disease. There are some beers that are gluten free, and they fall into two categories: Gluten Removed Beer and Gluten Free Grain Beer. The gluten removed beer is made from grains containing gluten and through processes the gluten is removed. I have always gotten sick off this kind of beer. For people with Celiac Disease, I don’t recommend this type of beer. I do recommend gluten free beer that is 100% gluten free ingredient based. These beers are made using different grains, such as rice, or millet. The taste is different, but some are still very good.
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Gluten Free Runner Gal 