All Major Beers Gluten-free?

[bklynceliac]

Went into the local shoppe looking for Redbridge, which they didn't have. However, I spoke to a very intense beer guy at this very intense beer shop (Bierkraft in Park Slope, Brooklyn for any locals), who told me that all major market beers are actually gluten free. He said it had to do with the anti-bacterial filter they're passed through being way too small to allow any gluten molecules into the beer. He was very specific in his explanation, but it sounded a little fishy to me. Anyone else heard this? Anyone tried major beers (bud, miller, coors etc) and not had any problems? Seemed like an interesting theory either way.

[lovegrov]

This has been around for awhile but I personally don't believe it and wouldn't drink those beers (of course I became beer snob years ago and quit drinking those beers anyway). Allegedly some of those mass-produced beers have indeed been tested for gluten and and no measureable gluten was found, but I can't tell you which ones. The gluten content of non-wheat beers probably is pretty small, especially when compared to breads and pastas, but I still wouldn't go there without more proof.

richard

[Sillyyakdidi]

Went into the local shoppe looking for Redbridge, which they didn't have. However, I spoke to a very intense beer guy at this very intense beer shop (Bierkraft in Park Slope, Brooklyn for any locals), who told me that all major market beers are actually gluten free. He said it had to do with the anti-bacterial filter they're passed through being way too small to allow any gluten molecules into the beer. He was very specific in his explanation, but it sounded a little fishy to me. Anyone else heard this? Anyone tried major beers (bud, miller, coors etc) and not had any problems? Seemed like an interesting theory either way.

aHHH! Do not drink beer, it is made from barley and you might as well have a real cheeseburger. It is a rumor and an old wives tale.

[hathor]

Here's what it says in Wikipedia:

Open Original Shared Link

One listing of gluten-free beers:

Open Original Shared Link

[glutenberg]

Beer could very well test at zero gluten, but that's not because it's anywhere near gluten-free! From everything I've read, it seems the ELISA test is designed for for omega-gliadin, which is a component of wheat gluten -- so it won't detect barley, rye, or oats.

The way I figure it, if Budweiser were gluten-free, Anheuser-Busch would never spend the money to come up with a gluten-free beer; they'd just put "gluten-free" on the Bud label.

[Guest cassidy]

There was someone here a while ago who said he could tolerate one of the domestic beers like bud light but if he tried a dark beer or microbrew he would get sick. Then again that is around the time someone else said they could eat normal donuts and were fine and then later posted that they had a very bad delayed reaction.

Personally, I'm highly sensitive and I wouldn't give it a try because I don't usually eat things produced on the same lines as gluten and having a beer isn't worth being sick for a few weeks.

I would also think that the people who make gluten free beers are highly intense beer folks and if the regular beers are gluten-free then then they wouldn't spend their time making a gluten-free beer. The one I tried tasted good but it wasn't very carbonated. My favorite part of a beer is the intense carbonation that almost burns your throat when you take a big sip - I haven't found that in the gluten-free variety yet.

So, while I don't know for sure, I'm not going to give it a try.

[JayT]

Yeah, well G W-ya sometimes sounds like he knows what he is talking about too. Oh wait, no he doesn't...sorry bad example.

[hathor]

IMHO Bud Light is more like water than beer. Maybe that's why he could drink it without difficulty.

Good thing I prefer wine or scotch. But if I'm still going gluten-free come baseball season (no diagnosis yet and this is only my second week on the diet), I don't know what I'm going to do. It just seems wrong to sit there drinking wine or not drinking at all Maybe if my team wasn't always in the cellar, it would be easier ...

[zansu]

this is when the hard cider comes in handy! unless the park doesn't allow glass bottles... I haven't seen canned cider in the US.

[hathor]

this is when the hard cider comes in handy! unless the park doesn't allow glass bottles... I haven't seen canned cider in the US.

Hard cider sounds like a great idea, but I'll have to do that watching games at home. They don't allow you to bring in your own food or drink at all -- even water. And they search your bags on the way in. The idea is to force you to buy the expensive stuff the vendors sell inside.

[tarnalberry]

bah! go to a microbrew and talk to them about the process. (not to mention that wheat isn't the problem, but barley.) you may get *way* less gluten in beer than bread, but it is not worth it!

[Felidae]

I remember how sick beer used to make me. Of course I had no idea why I was getting so sick back then. I loved beer even though it had serious consequences. There is no way (in my opinion) that beer is gluten free.

[Sillyyakdidi]

Hard cider sounds like a great idea, but I'll have to do that watching games at home. They don't allow you to bring in your own food or drink at all -- even water. And they search your bags on the way in. The idea is to force you to buy the expensive stuff the vendors sell inside.

get a note from your docotor explaining celiac disease, carry it with you. bc of the ADA laws, any stadium or place like that that does not cell gluten free food cannot deny you bringing in your own food, i always carry my own. it should be NO problem at all.

[par18]

IMHO Bud Light is more like water than beer. Maybe that's why he could drink it without difficulty.

Good thing I prefer wine or scotch. But if I'm still going gluten-free come baseball season (no diagnosis yet and this is only my second week on the diet), I don't know what I'm going to do. It just seems wrong to sit there drinking wine or not drinking at all Maybe if my team wasn't always in the cellar, it would be easier ...

I think if you try to sip a glass of wine at a baseball game then I have no doubt that a "Milwaukee's Best" can will come crashing down on you.

Tom

[jkmunchkin]

The way I figure it, if Budweiser were gluten-free, Anheuser-Busch would never spend the money to come up with a gluten-free beer; they'd just put "gluten-free" on the Bud label.

Okay that is exactly what I was gonna say.

[hathor]

Oh, I don't mean to whine. They do sell gluten-free food and drink, just not the stuff I want I don't know that I could get a doctor to explain why I need hard cider I haven't been officially diagnosed yet, anyway. I try to stay away from doctors all I can. I'm awaiting my ordered Enterolab tests now ...

I'm sure the selections will be better in a year when we have our new stadium (fingers crossed). But I'll certainly bear in mind the doctor's note idea -- it may come in useful.