In a world where the word gluten gets tossed around just as much as selfie, Tik Tok, and Tesla, its important to know what gluten is, and more importantly, how to tell if something is actually gluten free.
Gluten is a protein that can be found in the endosperm of grains. Overall, gluten makes up 75-80% of the protein in bread wheat (wheat flour). Gluten can also be found in Barley, Rye, and a crossover of wheat and rye called triticale.
Products, including beer, can be made gluten free by leaving wheat, barley, and rye out. However, even if these ingredients are left out, products can still be cross-contaminated, which can negatively effect those with Celiac Disease. This especially pertains to beer, as many companies will make “gluten reduced” beer, that isn’t actually 100% gluten free.
Gluten Reduced Beer
Gluten reduced Beer is brewed very similar to regular beer, using wheat, barely, or rye. The catch is, in the fermentation process, the beer is exposed to an enzyme called “Brewer’s Clarex,” which breaks down the gluten into microscopic pieces that are too small to be detected into laboratory tests. Some brewers claim that these particles are too small for your body to detect gluten. Other brewers claim that these particles are converted into amino acids that are not harmful to those who are gluten-intolerant. However, these beers are not 100% gluten free, and depending on your sensitivity to gluten, could be harmful to you.
Some popular national brands of gluten-reduced beer are Stone Brewing Delicious IPA, Wicked Week Gluten FREEk, and New Belgium Glutiny.
Gluten Free Beer
Gluten Free beer can be truly classified at truly “gluten free” if there is no gluten in the original recipe. This means no wheat, barley, rye or other grains that may contain gluten. Instead, brewers will use sorghum, buckwheat, millet, and quinoa, which are all gluten free.
While gluten free beer is tested to make sure there is less than <220ppm of gluten (the threshold for most people with Celiac or gluten intolerance), there is still a risk of cross contamination, as very few breweries are 100% gluten free.
What is LakeState?
LakeState is proud to be one of the few 100% gluten free brewing companies out there. Our beer and cider is not only brewed with gluten free products, but is crafted in a completely gluten free facility. Our beer is crafted with sorghum and buckwheat, two of the fan-favorite beer bases in the gluten free beer world.
While we are pumped that breweries around the company are making gluten reduced beer, we want to make sure that our drinks are safe for people of even the strongest levels of gluten sensitivity. We take pride in making sure that our customers can come in and enjoy a beer without having to worry about their personal help. We hope that our trailblazing efforts inspire others to consider the gluten-free brewery business. While we love running the market (we’re the only one, cough cough), we want to plant a seed in the minds of people around the country, and world.
LakeState Life 