Gluten-free beer lovers have another option: Estrella Damm DAURA beer, made in Barcelona with barley malt, now is available in the United States. The company says it uses a proprietary process to strip the gluten protein from the barley malt, "leaving only the 'real beer' taste," according to importer United States Beverage.
"Because the gluten protein has been stripped away, DAURA's gluten content level is less than 6 parts per million, far below the 20 ppm required for gluten-free products," according to the importer.
DAURA, which won "Best Gluten-Free Beer" honors in both 2008 and 2009 at the annual World Beer Awards, resulted from a four-year investigative research project between the Estrella Damm brew masters, the Gluten Unit of the Centre of Research of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, and various celiac organizations, the importer said.
I have to tell you: I won't be drinking DAURA. I'm sensitive enough to trace gluten to react to liqueurs and vinegars distilled from gluten grains, so I have trouble believing a product made from barley malt wouldn't provoke a reaction as well. I'd also urge caution in others who are sensitive to trace amounts of gluten in food and products.
But if you're not particularly sensitive and long for the taste of "real" beer, DAURA might provide that for you. DAURA will be distributed nationally through Whole Foods, Publix, Harris Teeter, Total Wine & Spirits and BevMo. The suggested retail price is $7.99 for a four-pack.
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It is too bad that you are saying to avoid this excellent beer. You yourself said that it is far below the minimum ppm gluten content required to label something as gluten-free. In addition to this, I do not know a single person who has CD who reacts to this beer, including my wife, who is about as sensitive to gluten as you can get.
Have tried this beer. And was a bit strong. I added some lime to it. And found it very very good with the lime. I feel like I have gained my social life back. Yeah!!!! And it is available at most stores I go to. Not so available at bars. But if you go to a local bar regularly they will get it for you. I am happy. And no reaction to it.
Just had this beer for the first time a couple of days ago. I do have CD, and I have tried most GF beers. This beer is in my top two favorites. Did not have any adverse reaction.
This is a tricky one for us coeliac sufferers which I think illustrates a problem with the “less than 20ppm” is ok advice. It depends how much of the food you eat whether it will be harmful and this is not explained normally.
For instance you are unlikely to eat more than 100gms of gluten free flour in a meal.
One 333ml bottle of this beer will have 2mg gluten. 2 bottles 4mg total. Peer reviewed medical evidence suggests that most coeliacs can tolerate 10mg per day. So one bottle is a fifth of this limit.