Gluten-free options at the liquor store can save the party
The government says 1 percent of all U.S. residents are gluten-intolerant or have celiac disease. But like us, you probably know several people who can’t digest wheat – so we think the percentage is higher.
That used to make planning a spring get-together or bar tour tricky if you want to include all your friends. But today there are gluten-free drinking options. That means you have more to serve your friends, and you can also pour out the emergency half-empty bottle of white wine you keep in the back of the refrigerator.
There was a time when no beer sold in the U.S. was gluten free. That’s because beer in this country is traditionally brewed with wheat and barley, and the proteins in both those grains (and rye) are responsible for gluten.
In the past decade or so, some brewers have imported beers from Africa, where sorghum replaces barley. Their taste is considered fresh but kind of bland. Then craft brewers picked up the beat and their products were – also kind of bland. Until recently!
We have found three brewers of gluten-free beer, from pale ale to stout, that you can serve to anyone. We also reviewed hard cider. Ciders are made from apples, and while they might be a touch sweet if you traditionally drink an IPA, they won’t upset the stomach of anyone with a gluten allergy.
Decent gluten-free beers
Ground Breaker Brewery
Based in Portland, Oregon, this brewer produces only gluten-free beer. It imparts extra flavor by using just-picked hops. Although IPAs are sometimes difficult to find in gluten-free options, the Harvester’s Fresh Hop IPA works because it is made with toasted chestnuts, white sorghum, certified gluten-free oats and fresh hops from the nearby Williamette Valley.
This brewer is committed to gluten-free beer and offers four: Pale ale, Golden Blonde Ale, Oatmeal Cream Stout, and Pumpkin Spice Ale. The stout has gained the most attention because of its rarity: Most gluten-free beers are light and are often flavored with fruit to tamp down the sorghum’s pucker. Bon Appetit Magazine described Steadfast’s stout as “a silky indulgence” suitable for any drinker of dark beer.
It can be hard to find your favorite gluten-free beer. Most are not distributed nationally, and although you can order many online for delivery, that clearly isn’t the best option for an impromptu party.
If you can’t find a gluten-free craft beer at your local liquor store or health food store, you should be able to put your hands on a six-pack or two of Redbridge. It’s made by Anheiser-Busch and if your friends are craft beer devotees, don’t offer them a Redbridge. But on a hot day, it might be a port in a gluten-brewed storm.
Also note that some beers are marketed as gluten-reduced. As the label implies, these beers are not gluten free and should not be offered to your friends with strong gluten intolerance.
Cider is for friends who don’t like beer
It’s difficult to brew beer without gluten. That’s why you are less likely to find a gluten-free version at your local brewery. But no hard cider has gluten, so you can find a delicious offering sold at the nearby apple orchard as well as the local liquor store.
If you want to test your palette on a national brand first, JK’s Scrumpy is a good choice. JK’s Farmhouse sells Scrumpy’s and a handful of other recipes, but Scrumpy’s reflects the old style, developed a couple of centuries ago in Europe and North America as an alternative to water, which was often dangerous to drink back in the day. JK’s Farmhouse products are organic and brewed with yeast that occurs naturally in the orchard.
Cider also mixes well with certain liquors to produce unique cocktails or pitcher drinks, like this recipe for cider sangria.
Shopping for gluten-free options can be a challenge. Not every liquor store carries brands you will recognize and you might want to test the bottles you do find to make sure you should share them with friends. Cider is becoming more widely accepted but again you might not find the brands you are looking for in every store. Just as with the beers, taste-testing is part of the fun as you search for gluten-free favorites that your and your friends will enjoy, and feel good about it in the morning.
(Banner photo cred: Scrumpy Cider)