I Miss Beer

[BeFree]

I also used to love beer, most of all the seasonal ones, and my very favorite was Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat. It was a ritual for me to go out and buy some of this beer on the first warm beautiful day of Spring. In fact, I still have some in my fridge from LAST summer, because I just can't bear to throw it away! Mind you, I'm not tempted to drink it, but I just can't throw it out! The gluten-free beer that I have tried tasted pretty good to me, but just does not have the emotional appeal of that special Summer Seasonal beer that was my favorite.

It was actually the first sign for me that something was wrong, way back last July. I began to notice that I could not digest these wheat beers anymore. I used to have a couple on the weekend as my Saturday treat, and I began to notice that I was always sick with D on Sundays.

[killernj13]

It made me very sick.

Same here - it is off my list.

[tom]

Ugh Estrella Damm & their "but we remooooooved the gluten" story that they apparently believe, but then again over there they can also call actual wheat starch de-glutened.(?)

My Whole Foods started carrying Estrella Damm & I always want to write "not really" next to the gluten-free label, though I'd only seen one celiac review at all & that person DIDN'T get sick from it. If I'd seen many celiacs saying it was ok for them I'd probably eventually try it.

Thanks for the info, not-so-gluten-free-beer adventurers!

[Ryniev]

I really miss Blue Moon. Not a big fan of Redbridge and really, really don't like Bards. Hard cider is ok. Lately I've been drinking Smirinov and Cranberry juice because I just can't stomach wine or any other hard liquors. I used to love Margaritas as well but last time I drank a couple I was so sick the next day, I can't even bring myself to drink one again.

[killernj13]

Ugh Estrella Damm & their "but we remooooooved the gluten" story that they apparently believe, but then again over there they can also call actual wheat starch de-glutened.(?)

My Whole Foods started carrying Estrella Damm & I always want to write "not really" next to the gluten-free label, though I'd only seen one celiac review at all & that person DIDN'T get sick from it. If I'd seen many celiacs saying it was ok for them I'd probably eventually try it.

Thanks for the info, not-so-gluten-free-beer adventurers!

I did drink Mike's Lemonade last summer as they are stating their process removes the gluten despite it being a malt beverage and did not get sick from those.

[Ryniev]

I did drink Mike's Lemonade last summer as they are stating their process removes the gluten despite it being a malt beverage and did not get sick from those.

Isn't it just supposed to be the "light" ones with only 3.5% alcohol?

[peeptoad]

I won't even try the Red Bridge since it's made by Anheuser-Busch

The only two gluten-free beers I've found so far that are tolerable (imo) are the aforementioned Green's and New Planet Pale Ale. The New Planet is my favorite, mainly because it comes close (close, mind you) at capturing that "pale ale" flavor. It's still light on body compared to real beer though.

Fortunately I've grown quite fond of wine...

[killernj13]

That is pretty narrowminded concerning Red Bridge - with such limited choices you should at least try it.

As far as the Mikes Lemonade - from what I read last year the light one was the one that they had tested by a third party. However, I believe they claimed on their website that they use the same process on all brands so if one was gluten-free then they all should be. I know it is going out on the limb.

[MinnesotaCeliac]

I Enjoyed my fair share (and then some) of gluten filled beers prior to diagnosis. Even brewed my own for a while. So I developed a love of heavily hopped beers. I have found that the best gluten free beer IMO is new planet's off the grid pale ale. If that is not available I will drink red bridge (most available), bards and ciders. The more we request and buy gluten-free beer the more options we will have in the future. So enjoy the gluten-free beer (you may actually develop a taste for it). Cheers!

[peeptoad]

That is pretty narrowminded concerning Red Bridge - with such limited choices you should at least try it.

I need to remember that sarcasm doesn't translate very well on the internet...

[killernj13]

I need to remember that sarcasm doesn't translate very well on the internet...

Sorry man -just thought it is worth a try. But I was a Bud guy in my prior to celiac disease life.

[xjrosie]

I know how you feel.

I can't drink liquor anymore because of gastric bypass surgery. For whatever reason, it makes me vomit - I think maybe it's too strong? My doctor said I should have no problems at this point out (8 years) but I can't handle it. So I started drinking beer and was able to drink socially again. However I would get chest and stomach pains. Not all the time, and some cases worse than others. It was inconsistent so I never connected it to drinking beer. I finally told my doctor and he said it was probably an allergic reaction. So I dealt with it.

Now that I know that it's Celiac and can hurt me worse than just temporary chest pains, I cut it completely out. It's not worth it anymore! However, it's going to be hard being the designated driver 100% of the time now.