Beer

[ogrestrength]

Coping with this has been difficult, particularly when it comes to beer or lack thereof. I was a die hard Bud fan until I started developing symptoms. I tried many other brands with the same results. However, Rolling Rock has never caused me ANY symptoms whatsoever. Since discovering this, I have done my own self study, consuming mass quantities of it with no health changes. I switched to other beers thinking that it was a fluke in my system's ability to handle gluten. NOPE.. It took less than a half of a miller lite to realize it was a stupid thing to do. I have attempted to drink Coors Light, Bud Select, Miller Lite and Guinness with not good results. However, the Guinness did not have as big of an influence on my health as the rest. But, Rolling Rock for whatever reason has never caused a problem. I am not a R.R. representative and I have not done any research into the brewing process. I just know FOR ME I can drink it with no problems. I am curious if anyone else has had similar experiences.

[eKatherine]

That's pretty funny. American beers use very little malt, as it is a relatively expensive ingredient. Rolling Rock must have found a way to eliminate it entirely.

[tarnalberry]

nope, haven't tried. i would stick to the gluten-free beers that are definitely made from gluten-free ingredients in gluten-free environments.

[eKatherine]

Gluten doesn't make me violently ill, so I'm going to try it. I'll let you know how it works out.

[killernj13]

Hate to burst everyone's bubble here but if you have Celiac you shouldn't be drinking any of those mainstream beers. You should find the gluten-free free ones mentioned all over these boards. ( Bards Beer - if it comes back, Ramapo Valley Brewery & New Grist).

Even if you are not outwardly reacting to the mainstream beers you are still doing damage internally to your intestines.

[durhamgrrl]

What's up with Bard's Tale Ale? I've been waiting for months to try some! I ordered a case of the Ramapo Valley and it was so sweet that I just couldn't drink it. I even had a hard time giving it away! :-)

I want some Bard's Tale!

[bluejeangirl]

I've tried New Grist, made with sorghum and rice. Its ok but I would rather have rolling rock anyday. I usually drink a beer when I have a pizza or sometimes with taco's it really hits the spot. New grist is on the sweeter side and alittle stronger then I'm used to. Yeah its hard giving up beer, or good tasting beer. So is it the hops in beer or wheat that's bad for celiacs. And if your just gluten intolerant can you have beer? Anyone know?

Gail

[killernj13]

Bard's Tale was suppossed to be coming back bigger & better. They moved from Buffalo to somewhere in California due to production problems.

Here is the announcement on their website:

Letter from the President

Dear Shareholders, Customers, Distributors, and all interested parties:

2005 was a wild rollercoaster ride for all of us at Bard’s Tale Beer Company. We started off the year strongly, expanding distribution to eleven states by mid-spring. We achieved what no other company in the world was able to accomplish; brewing a true beer using only whole grains that was also gluten free. We did it all naturally, without the use of grain syrups, extracts, or industrial enzymes, just whole grain sorghum, water, hops, and yeast. The goal we set was to produce a superior tasting beer everyone could drink, and based on our sales, positive press, and customer feedback we were successful. A real beer made from whole grains, not another imitation.

Sometimes a good thing is too good…

Due to the phenomenal demand, the contract brewer we utilized had to double its capacity by buying additional equipment and fermenters. By the summer, we had reached our allotted capacity at the contract brewer, and had to start rationing beer to our distributors. By the end of the summer, the contract brewer developed production problems that lead to quality problems in our beer (non gluten related).

The issues with the beer related to excessive foaming, and were directly related to sanitation at the contract brewery. We spent a great deal of time, resources, and money to correct the issue, but in the end, we determined that the contract brewery could not meet our standards of quality, and we ceased production.

Bard’s Tale will never sell an inferior beer, and never a beer with quality issues. Because the possibility existed that our beer produced at that brewery could have problems, we pulled it from the market. As celiacs we understood that pulling this beer from the market had an effect on people who could only drink our beer, but we felt there was no other choice.

Sometimes a good thing can get better…

From the first days of production we have always been planning further expansion. Finding a high quality partner to brew our beer has been a difficult quest. A potential contract brewery must first and foremost be able to handle our requirements to ensure the beer remains absolutely gluten free. Additionally they need to have quality procedures in place that meet or exceed our requirements. Lastly, they need to be able to make a lot more high quality beer so we can get the beer out to everyone, in every state.

It has taken us a long time to find a facility to meet these requirements, but we have been working several months now with a large brewery in California. This is a large, state-of-the art brewery and we are extremely excited to be working with them. On Monday March 13th we brewed our first test batch with the new equipment and we are on schedule to brew our first batch the last week in March with availability beginning the first week of May (check our website for availability).

You will also be excited to know that by moving to this new facility we have increased our production capacity by 1200% per batch. This will give us the capacity to meet our initial demand for the entire US. For us, this was a double edged sword, and the main reason it has taken so long to get back into production. The financial requirements for producing the beer at this increased capacity is far larger than we thought, and it has taken us longer than we would have liked in to raise the additional funds, but we are there. The beer will be back in May, it will be better than before, and with our increased capacity, we will be able to get it to everyone who wants it.

We really appreciate everyone’s patience and ongoing support. As a celiac myself, I am committed to providing the best products, using only natural ingredients and brewing methods. If you have any questions or would like additional information please check out our website at www.bardsbeer.com.

We look forward to a successful 2006.

Cheers,

Kevin Seplowitz

President

As far as what is in beer we can't have, it is obviously wheat which not every beer has and barley which is in almost every mainstream beer. Surprisingly, we can have hops.

I've had Bards Tale and Ramapo Valley and they are both okay. The suggestion I have for the Ramapo Valley is put a lemon wedge in it so it is less sweet.

[par18]

Coping with this has been difficult, particularly when it comes to beer or lack thereof. I was a die hard Bud fan until I started developing symptoms. I tried many other brands with the same results. However, Rolling Rock has never caused me ANY symptoms whatsoever. Since discovering this, I have done my own self study, consuming mass quantities of it with no health changes. I switched to other beers thinking that it was a fluke in my system's ability to handle gluten. NOPE.. It took less than a half of a miller lite to realize it was a stupid thing to do. I have attempted to drink Coors Light, Bud Select, Miller Lite and Guinness with not good results. However, the Guinness did not have as big of an influence on my health as the rest. But, Rolling Rock for whatever reason has never caused a problem. I am not a R.R. representative and I have not done any research into the brewing process. I just know FOR ME I can drink it with no problems. I am curious if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Do you definitely have Celiac Disease?

Tom

[penguin]

Here are the ingredients for Rolling Rock:

water, malt, rice, hops, corn, brewer's yeast

No wheat, surprisingly, but definitely barley.

[francelajoie]

Coping with this has been difficult, particularly when it comes to beer or lack thereof. I was a die hard Bud fan until I started developing symptoms. I tried many other brands with the same results. However, Rolling Rock has never caused me ANY symptoms whatsoever. Since discovering this, I have done my own self study, consuming mass quantities of it with no health changes. I switched to other beers thinking that it was a fluke in my system's ability to handle gluten. NOPE.. It took less than a half of a miller lite to realize it was a stupid thing to do. I have attempted to drink Coors Light, Bud Select, Miller Lite and Guinness with not good results. However, the Guinness did not have as big of an influence on my health as the rest. But, Rolling Rock for whatever reason has never caused a problem. I am not a R.R. representative and I have not done any research into the brewing process. I just know FOR ME I can drink it with no problems. I am curious if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Do you have celiac, just gluten intolorent, or wheat intolorent?

[par18]

Here are the ingredients for Rolling Rock:

water, malt, rice, hops, corn, brewer's yeast

No wheat, surprisingly, but definitely barley.

I just called Latrobe Brewing. They confirmed the malt. Curses foiled again!

Tom

[eKatherine]

Just a follow-up, I had a bottle of it last night and felt glutened. Nobody should try this.

[par18]

Just a follow-up, I had a bottle of it last night and felt glutened. Nobody should try this.

Katherine,

Thanks for the warning. By the way how did it taste? It has been over a year for me and I forgot how good beer was.

Tom

[jenvan]

Coping with this has been difficult, particularly when it comes to beer or lack thereof. I was a die hard Bud fan until I started developing symptoms. I tried many other brands with the same results. However, Rolling Rock has never caused me ANY symptoms whatsoever. Since discovering this, I have done my own self study, consuming mass quantities of it with no health changes. I switched to other beers thinking that it was a fluke in my system's ability to handle gluten. NOPE.. It took less than a half of a miller lite to realize it was a stupid thing to do. I have attempted to drink Coors Light, Bud Select, Miller Lite and Guinness with not good results. However, the Guinness did not have as big of an influence on my health as the rest. But, Rolling Rock for whatever reason has never caused a problem. I am not a R.R. representative and I have not done any research into the brewing process. I just know FOR ME I can drink it with no problems. I am curious if anyone else has had similar experiences.

Gluten doesn't make me violently ill, so I'm going to try it. I'll let you know how it works out.

Regular beer is not gluten-free and therefore is not safe to drink. We can use our "symptoms" as a guide but unfortunately symptoms CAN NOT be used alone as an infallable ruler by which to determine foods safe and not safe. Sometimes people don't get a reaction--that doesn't mean the damage is not occurring. It can depend on the day, on what else you have eaten, on the combination of ingredients in a product... The only way to be safe as a Celiac is to stay gluten-free, regardless of symptoms or lack thereof.

[eKatherine]

Katherine,

Thanks for the warning. By the way how did it taste? It has been over a year for me and I forgot how good beer was.

Tom

Rolling Rock has always tasted like Heinekin diluted with 3 parts water.

[JeffT]

I've drank beer - and no other alcoholic drinks for the past 30 years. So, it was pretty devastating to find out in February that I've got Celiac Disease and have had my last beer. But, after hearing about gluten-free beers I got pretty excited. The first one I ordered online though, Ramapo, was terrible. I still have 11 bottles of a 12 pack taking up space in the fridge. Then ordered some New Grist online. I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasently surpr ised. As a Bud man it came close to a standard American beer. I am like a lot of you, waiting for the Bard's Tale to come out. Since the nearest grocery store carrying it is an hour away I'm hoping they don't have a limit on how much you can buy. And no, I don't have a drinking problem - just enjoy a good beer.

Jeff

[eKatherine]

I've drank beer - and no other alcoholic drinks for the past 30 years. So, it was pretty devastating to find out in February that I've got Celiac Disease and have had my last beer. But, after hearing about gluten-free beers I got pretty excited. The first one I ordered online though, Ramapo, was terrible. I still have 11 bottles of a 12 pack taking up space in the fridge. Then ordered some New Grist online. I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasently surpr ised. As a Bud man it came close to a standard American beer. I am like a lot of you, waiting for the Bard's Tale to come out. Since the nearest grocery store carrying it is an hour away I'm hoping they don't have a limit on how much you can buy. And no, I don't have a drinking problem - just enjoy a good beer.

Jeff

I'm thinking it would be easier to make your own beer. That way you could add extra hops to make up for the lack of malt flavor.

[killernj13]

I've drank beer - and no other alcoholic drinks for the past 30 years. So, it was pretty devastating to find out in February that I've got Celiac Disease and have had my last beer. But, after hearing about gluten-free beers I got pretty excited. The first one I ordered online though, Ramapo, was terrible. I still have 11 bottles of a 12 pack taking up space in the fridge. Then ordered some New Grist online. I wasn't expecting much but I was pleasently surpr ised. As a Bud man it came close to a standard American beer. I am like a lot of you, waiting for the Bard's Tale to come out. Since the nearest grocery store carrying it is an hour away I'm hoping they don't have a limit on how much you can buy. And no, I don't have a drinking problem - just enjoy a good beer.

Jeff

Jeff,

Try the Ramapo again with a lemon wedge in it. I think that improves it a lot. DOn't waste the 12 pack - too damn expensive.

Bards is definitely not as sweet as RVB. More like a dark beer or ale. Unless they change it when it is reintroduced.

Also, have you ever tried a hard cider. Some are gluten-free. If you look on these boards you can find out which ones.

[Guhlia]

Woodchuck cider is gluten free. It's not beer, but it satisfies the beer urge for me.

[DingoGirl]

Just a follow-up, I had a bottle of it last night and felt glutened. Nobody should try this.

So sad....sad for you, the guinea pig, and sad for us....I was getting all excited about having a Rolling Rock.....

[eKatherine]

So sad....sad for you, the guinea pig, and sad for us....I was getting all excited about having a Rolling Rock.....

Don't feel sorry for me, I was feeling fine again the next day. But yeah, seriously too bad there's not something beerlike readily available.

[loraleena]

Somewhere out west they just started making a gluten free beer with sorghum. I don't know the name but try and google gluten free beer.

[pturse]

I drink Amstel Light. I got an email from them (I have since deleted it) stating that their beers are gluten free and they use a different way of processing I guess because it comes from Europe (their gluten standards are different anyway). I know I should be skeptical but I drink it only on occasion and feel fine. I know I know, feeling fine and having "damage" are two different things but my blood test levels remain on the healthy side while partaking in Amstel Light.

[Guhlia]

For those of you looking for a gluten free beer, check this site out Open Original Shared Link.