Gluten-free Beer & My Quest for "Yes"

Food allergies can take the fun right out of food. 

So, on my birthday (Tuesday, May 17, mark your calendars), I decided to finally try a gluten-free beer.  I hadn't tasted a beer for nearly 10 years, so I was hesitant and a little excited.  It actually felt naughty.   I am becoming so used to "NO" and "CAN'T" that choosing to drink a beer actually felt like I was jumping out of an airplane, not just tossing back a little beverage with a friend. 

I took the leap and had a Redbridge. 

When gluten-free beer first came onto the market, it got less than stellar reviews.  In fact, the feedback was that gluten-free beer wasn't worth drinking, even if that was the last booze on earth.   As time has passed, however, the reviews have improved, but I still didn't holler, "Barkeep!"  What inspired me that night was the bartender at The Winchester.   She said, "We have gluten-free beer, you wanna try it?"  At that moment, she became a co-conspirator in my Quest for Yes.

I was pleasantly surprised.  Redbridge was good.  My beer drinking friend even liked it.  It was familiar and had a sweetness that made me instantly think,  "how refreshing this would be on a hot summer's day."

Redbridge is made from sorghum, a gluten-free grain that is best when toasted before cooking.  It is used in hot cereals, ground into flour for baking or popped like popcorn.  It, along with millet and other grains can be brewed into gluten-free beer.  And in my research for this article, I discovered that honey and bananas could also be used for that once-forbidden brew.  Who knew?

The Great Gluten-Grain Debate

There are several gluten-free beers out there that use barley or other gluten-containing grains.  According to certain brewers, distillers and even some celiac experts, the distillation and brewing processes remove the protein from gluten grains, making it "safe".  But other experts disagree, saying you can't rely on this.  Plus, there is no standard set by the FDA on what really constitutes a "gluten-free" product.  This includes alcohol.

For me, I do not react well to gluten grain alcohols, so I am in the camp that avoids those religiously.  Now that there are several beers (without any gluten-containing grains) that are worth a try, I am a little farther in my quest for "yes".

Gluten-free Beers that Use NON-gluten Grains. 

Have you tried them?  What's your favorite?

Redbridge:  Made from sorghum.

Bard's Tale Beer:  It advertises that it is 100% gluten-free malted sorghum.

New Grist Gluten-Free Beer:  Made from sorghum and rice.

Sprecher Mbege:  made from bananas, millet and sorghum in the tradition of East Africa.  This beer sparks my curiosity.  "Originally conceived of in an effort to provide a traditional African style beer for Milwaukee's African World Festival, our Mbege and Shakparo have won the hearts of people here at the brewery and have been promoted to year round beer status."

Sprecher Shakparo:  made from sorghum and millet.  "Sprecher's gluten free Shakparo Ale is a West African Shakparo-style beer brewed from sorghum and millet. An unfiltered, light, crisp ale with a cider or fruit profile and a dry vinous aftertaste, it is best characterized as an easy-drinking or session beer perfect for summer gatherings."

Ramapo Valley Honey Beer:   is made mainly from honey.  Another intriguing beer on my list to try.  "Molasses is used for flavor, nutrients and color. Bright golden in color, the taste naturally has notes of honey and hop. Noble hops add a touch of bitterness to balance the honey sweetness. This beer is Kosher certified for Passover."

Les Bierres Nouvelle France:  is a micro brewery in France that uses the assay Elisa process to test for the presence of gluten in their gluten-free beer.  They have three:

• Messagère is "a limpid and crystalline pale ale, with a bouquet of honey, reminding a touch of citrus fruits. Gluten-free beer"
• Messagère Red Ale is a gluten free rice and buckwheat beer with "a delicate, woodsy taste".
• Messagère Millet is a gluten free malted millet lager beer.

 
I'm inspired to try more.  Are you?

Update on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 1:36PM by Elisabeth Veltman, The Tender Foodie

CORRECTION:   The Les Messagere Factory is in Quebec, Canada, not France.  Thanks to a reader for this correction.

Comments

[KBB]

I too had not experienced beer for 10 years and was excited to try the only brand available in the local liquor stores - Messagère. The company 'Les Bierres Nouvelle France' is in Quebec Canada (New France?) not France - and is very expensive. At $19.00 for a six pack in New Brunswick it is not justifiable for the sake of being gluten free. Even with so much time away from beer and after the initial novelty of drinking from the much missed brown bottle - I decided the aroma and flavour really were not much better than the average home brew, very disappointing. Sadly - the words 'gluten free' have become license for unwarranted high prices without any guarantee of quality - much the same as the word 'organic'.

[Elisabeth Veltman, The Tender Foodie]

Thanks for your comments and clarification, KBB As a first time, gluten-free beer drinker, I really appreciate this critique. The gluten-free market is worth 2.6 billion dollars right now, and high prices are sadly, a part of that number. My hope is that as the customer market becomes more and more aware of the best products, quality and pricing will come more into balance.