Gluten-free Beer

The ingredients in beer can sometimes be incompatible with a persons diet or even dangerous to their health. Brewer's yeast can interact with medications causing hypertensive crisis. Hops, too, can cause some complications when the consumer takes certain medications. Ethanol itself if a toxin. But barley is where I want to focus this post.

Barley contains a protein, gluten, that cause an allergic response in some people. Those people typical suffer from Celiac's disease, which is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine. Symptoms include rashes, itching, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malnutrition. There is currently no cure for Celiac's disease, but it can be managed through dietary changes. Pizza, pasta, and generally foods containing barley, rye, or wheat trigger an allergic response in those with Celiac's. Many low-gluten and gluten-free substitutes are available. Gluten-free options for beer are seeing their way to your grocer's shelves. Are they any good? I don't know. I haven't tried any. But they are a great option for beer lovers who tend to be allergic to beer.

If you think you may be allergic to beer or for more information on Celiac's disease, check these resources.

Celiac.com
Mayo Clinic