Gluten Free and Gluten Reduced Homebrewing Resources

Why Homebrew Gluten Free?

A notable percentage of people have some motivation to reduce or completely eliminate gluten intake.  Reasons vary from dietary choice to gluten sensitivity to serious auto-immune diseases like Celiac Disease.  Gluten sensitive people may still want to enjoy a fermented beverage and possibly a homebrewed one.  This post aims to pull together some of the gluten free and gluten reduced homebrewing resources that are available.

If you’re gluten sensitive, but not a homebrewer, consider starting.  Your local choices may be limited or non-existent.  Homebrewing gives you the ability and freedom to make what you want.

Gluten Free Home Brewing – dedicated GF homebrew shop.  Before getting into specific ingredients, kits and sources, I will bring GFHB to your attention.  GFHB is the only dedicated gluten free homebrew shop that I’m aware of.  They carry malted grains from both Eckert Malting and Grouse Malting Company including varieties of millet, buckwheat and malted rice in addition to a lot of other ingredients, recipe kits, how-to articles and recipe kits.   They also carry a great selection of enzymes, including newer options that haven’t been easily accessible to homebrewers.  If you’re wanting to brew GF all grain, you’re going to want to check out GFHB.

Gluten Free Homebrew Recipe Kits

Gluten Free and Low Gluten Friendly Ingredients

Note: Links to landing pages, searches and product pages contained in this post may include or refer to items that contain gluten.  Always read descriptions and packaging and consult the manufacturer and your Doctor if in doubt.

Gluten Free Yeast Options

Liquid yeast is generally cultured in a barley malt based solution.  When that’s the case, liquid yeast will contain some level of gluten.  White Labs FAQ says that their yeast is low in gluten.  Below the European standard to be considered Gluten Free (20 PPM) and that after fermentation of gluten free ingredients such as sorghum that drops to 2 PPM.  Update: Gluten Free Watchdog has conducted gluten content tests on White Labs Yeast.  They claim to have found gluten content well above 20 parts per million.  See: Gluten Content of White Labs Liquid Yeast

Dry yeast is generally cultured on non grain substrates.  For example Fermentis, manufacturer of US-05 says “We do not dose any Gluten in our products because in our factories the raw materials of our yeasts are Gluten Free.”  Read their Q and A to check and verify up to the minute info from Fermentis.

Fermentis/Safale Ale Yeasts @ Amazon | AIH | Beer & Wine Hobby | Bell’s Brewery | eBay (sometimes a good source for bulk US-05 buys) | Great Fermentations | MoreBeer | William’s Brewing

William’s Brewing has generally great pricing and selection on Dry Yeast.

Gluten Free Brewing Books, Magazines, Articles and Community

Using Clarity Ferm to Reduce Gluten Content?

Important: Before you employ Clarity Ferm to brew a beer for someone with gluten intolerance, please take tote that there is debate as to whether these techniques produce beers that are safe for people who have Celiac Disease.  Check out this Q and A on the Gluten Free Watchdog for more info.  In my opinion, evidence is inconclusive and it’s my recommendation that those with Celiac Disease refrain from drinking gluten reduced or gluten removed beers.

Personally, if you or a loved on have Celiac Disease, I would say skip gluten reduced beers and opt for completely gluten free options under the adage, better safe than sorry.  That’s my personal opinion based on the information I’ve gathered on this subject.

Clarity Ferm  – Available at MoreBeer | AIH| Great Fermentations | Amazon | William’s Brewing

Description via White Labs…

In addition to eliminating chill haze, Clarity Ferm significantly reduces the gluten content in beers made with barley and wheat. Clarity Ferm treated beer made from barley or wheat will typically test below 20 ppm of gluten, which is the international threshold for brewing considered “gluten-free.” White Labs also offers gluten testing for beers. While this test allows brewers to know the gluten level of their beers, the values may not be used on packaging labels until the FDA completes its own validation.

Read the Full Description via White Labs to check and verify current description and information.

Always read product descriptions.  Landing and product pages may include or refer to items that contain gluten.  A link to an item or product category page is not an endorsement that the product(s) are suitable for your situation.  If you are in doubt about an ingredient or technique, check with the product manufacturer and your Doctor for guidance on what’s best for you.

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