Moses
06-09-2005, 03:46 PM
Here's a story I posted on TheDrunk (http://www.thedrunk.com/) but thought you RealBeer fella's may also be interested in it.
For millions of people with Celiac, gluten is a dangerous substance found in foods made with wheat. For beer lovers with the disease it makes their favorite brews dangerous substances. Two Missouri brewers wouldn't take no for an answer, however, and are now selling a gluten-free beer. "The whole purpose was to research and produce a gluten-free beer. A real beer, not one of these substitutes," said co-founder of Bard's Tale Beer.
Celiac disease is a hereditary condition that affects one in just over 100 people. For Seplowitz, the condition appeared when he was nearing 30. Suddenly, he and business partner Craig Belser, two home brewers, were without their favorite beverage and pastime. "It was a double-edged sword because I miss it," Seplowitz said. "But at least we knew what good beer was supposed to taste like."
What began as a simple desire for craft-brewed beer that wouldn't threaten their health became a process that would span over three years and and involve the testing of dozens of possible brewing grains. Finally they have released Dragon's Gold made from sorghum, a grain without gluten. "We had a rice syrup recipe three years ago we could have launched with," he said. "But we wanted to maintain the integrity of the brewing industry. While we couldn't use barley and other grains, we didn't feel that gave us the right to redefine what constitutes a beer."
Dragons Gold tastes like a typical American lager with a few surprise flavors. Beeradvocate.com rates it as "worth a try". One reviewer said it was the first beer he'd had in 10 years, presumably due to celiac disease. "To get recommended by guys who consider themselves beer snobs is just great," Seplowitz said.
Bard's Tale brews in 500-case batches, putting out 2,000 cases of beer each month. Seplowitz said the company is looking to farm out some of its brewing to boost production and free up time to make different beer styles.
Gluttony (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2035&dept_id=490352&newsid=14660248&PAG=461&rfi=9)
For millions of people with Celiac, gluten is a dangerous substance found in foods made with wheat. For beer lovers with the disease it makes their favorite brews dangerous substances. Two Missouri brewers wouldn't take no for an answer, however, and are now selling a gluten-free beer. "The whole purpose was to research and produce a gluten-free beer. A real beer, not one of these substitutes," said co-founder of Bard's Tale Beer.
Celiac disease is a hereditary condition that affects one in just over 100 people. For Seplowitz, the condition appeared when he was nearing 30. Suddenly, he and business partner Craig Belser, two home brewers, were without their favorite beverage and pastime. "It was a double-edged sword because I miss it," Seplowitz said. "But at least we knew what good beer was supposed to taste like."
What began as a simple desire for craft-brewed beer that wouldn't threaten their health became a process that would span over three years and and involve the testing of dozens of possible brewing grains. Finally they have released Dragon's Gold made from sorghum, a grain without gluten. "We had a rice syrup recipe three years ago we could have launched with," he said. "But we wanted to maintain the integrity of the brewing industry. While we couldn't use barley and other grains, we didn't feel that gave us the right to redefine what constitutes a beer."
Dragons Gold tastes like a typical American lager with a few surprise flavors. Beeradvocate.com rates it as "worth a try". One reviewer said it was the first beer he'd had in 10 years, presumably due to celiac disease. "To get recommended by guys who consider themselves beer snobs is just great," Seplowitz said.
Bard's Tale brews in 500-case batches, putting out 2,000 cases of beer each month. Seplowitz said the company is looking to farm out some of its brewing to boost production and free up time to make different beer styles.
Gluttony (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2035&dept_id=490352&newsid=14660248&PAG=461&rfi=9)