International Beer Day is Today! Yes, That Includes Gluten-Free Beer!

Just in time for tonight’s happy hour, or to begin your weekend, throw back a bottle of beer. Saying to yourself, “but I can’t have beer … I’m gluten-free?” Well, actually you can enjoy beer and still stay within your g-f guidelines. There are several options available, but some are still only local to their brewery. Still, keep them in mind, in case you’re ever in the area and want to give them a try. 

Here are a couple brews Daily Forage has taste tested:

Redbridge Beer – brewed by Anheuser-Bush. It is made from sorghum and has a moderately deep, lager taste. I tend to like the stouts (loved Guinness Stout before I became gluten-free), so this beer was a nice, heartier beer easy for me to adjust to. Redbridge is one of the more popular g-f brands and is more readily available than many others listed below. I called four local (within a 10 mi radius) liquor stores in my area, and they all had this beer in stock.

Estrella Damm DAURA -  is actually a barley malt lager beer. The brewing process used by the Estrella Damm Brewmasters declares that DAURA maintains a consistent result of less than 6 ppm gluten. For some this is still one to stay away from, but for those who feel comfortable with these parameters, this beer has a good “beer” flavor. DAURA was awarded the World’s Best Gluten Free Beer Award in 2008 and 2009. I was able to find this beer readily in stock at two of my local liquor stores. 

Here are a few more gluten-free beers to keep in mind:

New Planet Beer – currently only available in Colorado (unfortunately didn’t get a chance to try it while I was there in July). They brew three varieties: Tread Lightly Ale, 3R Raspberry Ale, and Off Grid Pale Ale. These New Planet varieties are all certified gluten-free to 20 ppm.

Schnitzerbrau Gluten-Free Beer – brewed in Germany, currently imported into the U.S., this beer is brewed in an entirely gluten-free brewery and made from organic millet malt instead of wheat. It comes in two varieties, the original and the German Hirse Citrus and Lemon Blend.

New Grist Beer – brewed by Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, WI. An award-winning gluten-free beer offered in many locations throughout WI and MN. Their website says it is now also available in Ontario, Canada. New Grist is brewed from sorghum and rice. 

So, throw back a bottle, and enjoy the company you're with. How often does International Beer Day come around? (Sorry, it's a rhetorical question, I know, but I couldn't resist. Int'l Beer Day did fall on a Friday, after all!)