Top Gluten-free Beers

Lately there has been a lot of talk in diet circles about the evils of gluten. When you see something that claims it's 'gluten-free' it's really not totally without the substance. It's just so low in gluten that what remains is harmless.

Some diet-specialists claim that squeezing as much gluten from your daily intake will help you lose weight. The judge is still out on that. It does get medical recognition from doctors as a method of dealing with wheat allergies and celiac disease.

Since gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and malts, you'd think that the celiacs among us would be SOL when it comes to beer. Not so. We've put together a bunch of brews that are very low in the additive 'dextrin.'

Some are good. Some really suck. Whatever, here's the list starting with the better suds on the market:

Green's Endeavor. ABV: 7%. Key Ingredients: Belgian yeast.

This will not only knock you on your butt, it will also deliver a dark, full-of-flavor, malt-ridden palate.

Brunehaut Bio Blonde. ABV: 5%. Key Ingredients: Barley.

While birthed with barley, the gluten has been taken out. What's left is a well-balanced beer. This one could become a regular with folks not sensitive to the substance.

Dogfish Head Tweason'ale. ABV: 6%. Key Ingredients: Sorghum.

To call this ale quirky would be a misnomer. It's downright insane! Very fruity and fulfilling. You have to love Dogfish for everything they do. Tweason'ale is no exception.

New Planet Tread Lightly. ABV: 5%. Key Ingredients: Sorghum.

It's good, but we're getting close to the bottom of the barrel when it comes to great gluten-free beer. Don't be discouraged by what we say, though. Sure, it's a hybrid, but it's a fine choice.

Bard's Tale Dragon's Gold. ABV: 4.3%. Key Ingredients: Sorghum.

Once you have Dragon's Gold you'll either come back again-and-again or you'll throw the unemptied bottle at a brick wall. It's got a bold, resonant taste. This is a love-or-hate beer.

Redbridge. ABV: 4%. Key Ingredients: Sorghum.

It's amazing that Anheuser-Busch, part of Big Beer, would be able to come-up with a gluten-free beer which actually has a nice quality to it.

St. Peter's Sorgham Beer. ABV: 4.2%. Key Ingredients: Sorghum

We're now in the 'this sucks' category. It's bitter, it's got a toilet aftertaste and the only reason to drink something like this is if you're tired of being water boarded with H2O.

Daura. ABV: 5.4%. Key Ingredients: Gluten-free barley malt.

Daura is weak and expensive. Not the worst of the bunch. As you swallow a gullet-full, just keep repeating to yourself, 'Bud, Bud, Bud.'

New Grist Sorghum Beer. ABV: 5.75%. Key Ingredients: Sorghum.

Do you like Pabst Blue Ribbon? Then this one is right up your alley. For the rest of us, the only reason you'd quaff any of this low-in-taste gluten-free product is to pour 3/4 of it down the gutter.

New Planet 3R Raspberry Ale. ABV: 5%. Key Ingredients: Raspberries.

This stuff refuses to be beer. It's terrible. This brew is so bad that one might misinterpret the beverage for Faygo's 'Red Pop' with an alcohol content.