By: David Orban

Beer and football, there is no better combination.  For those people who suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance, having a refreshing brew while watching their favorite NFL team can be detrimental if it is not gluten-free.  The Brewing Industry is beginning to realize the need to develop beer that is gluten-free and there are varieties that are now hitting the shelves, although some are not available nationally.  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects 1 in 133 Americans and gluten intolerance affects 1 in 20.  The person who suffers from these two dietary woes cannot consume gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye and barley.  The staple in beer is usually barley, but now the brew masters have to be creative in finding alternatives to make a flavorful beer.  Some of the substitutes being used and that are considered safe for this population are buckwheat and sorghum; rice, maize, corn, and sunflower; amaranth, flax, millet, quinoa, teff, wild rice, soybean, ragi, and rape. Sorghum and buckwheat are the most common ones used in Western gluten-free beer.  Don’t be confused, buckwheat is not wheat, rather it is an herb of the Buckwheat family Polygonaceae.

The reviews of these beers have been mostly positive and more breweries are jumping on the brewing bandwagon.  A website that promotes, reviews and represents the gluten-free beer industry is www.glutenfreebeer.org,

Some of the more popular American breweries that are offering gluten-free beer are:

Anheuser-Busch – Redbridge, available nationally www.anheuser-busch.com/

Bard’s Tale Beer – www.bardsbeer.com

Harvester Brewing – a dedicated gluten-free brewery, www.harvesterbrewing.com.

Sprecher Brewing – www.sprecherbrewery.com/index.php

So for Week 3, pick up some gluten-free beer, sit back, cheer on your favorite NFL team and enjoy this tailgate recipe that incorporates gluten –free beer!  This week the recipe is finger licking good Texas Barbecue Ribs with a honey and gluten-free beer BBQ sauce.  This recipe is in honor of the Dallas Cowboys who are playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because nobody does barbecue like Texas Cowboys, go Dallas!

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Written by Joan

Joan Schmidt is a Registered Nurse with an MBA who has over 20 years of healthcare experience. Joan, with her sister, Barbara Callanan, own and operate JCB Consulting Services, Inc., a company that offers gluten-free and allergy consulting services to foodservice venues as well as individual client care. Joan lives on Long Island with her husband and two children. Her daughter was recently diagnosed with a tree nut allergy and her sister, Barbara, has celiac disease. Joan’s passion is to educate and raise awareness for food allergies and celiac disease ensuring safe consumption of food for all those affected. Contact her at joan@consultjcb.com and visit her on Facebook or www.consultjcb.com.