Beverages
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About alcoholic beverages: Almost all distilled beverages are gluten free, with the possible exception of those that add flavoring after the distillation process. The distillation process removes the harmful gluten components.
Beware of commercially sold mixed alcoholic beverages. It is recommended to contact the manufacturer to determine if there is any gluten.
New GF labeling regulations on alcohol: The Gluten Free Watchdog (Tricia Thompson, MS RD) blog in July 2012 reported on a new interim policy by the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on the GF labeling of alcoholic beverages. Read article. Make sure to read Tricia Thompson's "Caveat" paragraph at the end of the article.
Further information about gluten in alcoholic beverages can be found at:
GF Beer: All regular beer is made with either barley or wheat (NOT gluten-free). However, there are many gluten-free beers now on the market made from gluten-free grains. Redbridge from Anheuser Busch is probably the most common at this point. More information about GF beers can be found at "About Gluten-Free Beer", and a list is found on the Glutenista blog.
Wine: Wine is naturally gluten free. Sulphites in some wines are known to bother some people, but it is not gluten-related.
Wine barrels sealed with wheat paste have been a concern to some in the past. The "Gluten Free Watchdog" tested wines aged in oak barrels that had been sealed with wheat paste. They found that the wines they tested were below the 20ppm standard, and therefore would be considered gluten-free. Much more info. is given in the article.
Wine Coolers: Beware of commercial wine coolers. In the June 2010 publication of Gluten Free Living, they stated "Most wine coolers are actually malt beverages fermented from barley and are off limits on the gluten-free diet." Check with the manufacterer of these products before consuming.
Hard Ciders: Several brands are purported to be gluten free. A new one in 2012 is Michelob ULTRA Light Cider, which is labeled gluten-free. For more brands, see the websites above.
About Coffee: In the June 2010 publication of Gluten Free Living, they state "Plain coffee is gluten free. This includes ground regular and decaffeinated and instant coffee. Flavored coffee has always been considered suspicious in the gluten-free community, but in most cases it, too, is gluten free."
The following manufacturer's provide gluten-free information on their websites. If you have further questions, contact the manufacturer directly.
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