Low Gluten Grewing

[Kevnlis]

Sorry for the crosspost greg, but I was hoping maybe some of the fellas that don't post at AHB might have some info on ths as well.


I got some bad news a couple weeks back, and the second opinion today confirmed it. I need to cut gluten from my diet, but I was thinking maybe I could continue to drink beer if I could find a way to use a lot less malted barley/wheat and a lot more oats/rice/corn/sourgum etc.

I have done a fair bit of reserch into GF brewing and am not all that interested in malting my own exotic grains.

I was thinking if I use a bit of a high power grain like Galaxy, add some promalt and use some dextrose alone with a heap of unmalted oats/rice/corn depending on style I could still make some decent brews.

One thing I have not figured out is how I would make spec malts, but that could always come later.

If anyone has any info/experience with a brew like this, or has a good reason why it would not work please let me know.

Cheers,
Kev

[Chris]

Consider some grains like spalt, dinkel, sorghum etc.

There was a bit about it in one of Charlie P's books (either CJoHB or HBC).

Aside from that, someone needs a subscription to zymurgy for Christmas...

[rwh]

Commiserations, mate.

Have you had a look at Silly Yak yet? They have information on their website about all aspects of making gluten free beer, and you can buy their malted grains (Sorghum) from Grain and Grape. You would need to have your own mill, and you will only be able to make AG beer, but this is probably your best route to getting something even vaguely similar to traditional beer.

[rwh]

The wikipedia article Gluten free beer has some good references at the bottom.

[Kevnlis]

Thanks rwh, I am shattered at the news!

I had been to Silly Yaks before but missed it in my recent searching.

I am not sure I will need any malted gluten free grains just yet.

For my first brew I think I will try:

50% Galaxy
35% Popped Corn
15% Dextrose

4.5% ABV and maybe 25 IBUs of Crystal

[rwh]

If my memory serves, diastase has been isolated and sold as a pure powder, which you might be able to use to boost the enzyme activity if you have to reduce the proportion of barley-malt. Umm... there might be some role in a protein rest also in reducing the amount of gluten in the beer, but I'm just guessing here.

[Chris]

You could also consider using koji enzme to mash. Aside from that, you could always try amylase- chew-and-spit method, or purified.

[Kevnlis]

You know Chris, I did a beer that was 35% rice and did not notice any taste or body contribution from it. I may as well have used dextrose...

As for putting spit in the mash, I thought of that, but it is just too gross really.

Not sure what you mean by "purified"?

[Chris]

Purified- basically just the enzyme. A nicer way of doing it rather than mouth-mashing.

Try a chem supply company.

[Kevnlis]

Wouldn't it be better to use Promalt which contains the Beta Glucanase and Protease as well?

Promalt 163
Consists of Alpha Amylase, Beta Glucanase and Protease.
Added at the beginning of a mash, where it will improve extraction rates in mashes that have high levels of unmalted grain.
25 ml Vial suits 50 litres beer.
$5.50 per 25ml vial

[Chris]

Probably. Haven't used it before though.

[James L]

Kev, why do you need to cut the gluten? how did you find out? sounds like my worst nightmare...

[Kevnlis]

Kev, why do you need to cut the gluten? how did you find out? sounds like my worst nightmare...

Actually I was diagnosed with IBS (Chronz Disease) about 10-11 years ago. Over the past couple years I started getting nasty random bouts of eczema, then about a month ago I got it real bad and finally went to the doc about it. They ran all kind of tests to test for alergens that may have caused it. In the end they found that it was a combination of things, one of which was the gluten intolerence.

Honestly I am one week in and already feeling better (it can take up to 2 months to clear from your body).

Goon is shit... I miss my AG beer!

[James L]

Geez.... thats good but bad...

dont suppose you have a cheap urn for sale... HA

[Kevnlis]

Geez.... thats good but bad...

dont suppose you have a cheap urn for sale... HA

My wife still drinks my beer like a fish

On the good side, I probably do not have Chronz Disease, it was most likely the Coeliac Disease making it look like I did.

If I can go the rest of my life without feeling like shit 24/7 just by avoiding beer and bread etc. I will be a happy happy man!

[James L]

maybe you could start making mead? you could be the mead master... apparently after reading charlie papazians microbrewed adventures, there is a fair bit involved... could be your new quest...

[matr]

I feel your pain mate..

I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis late last year (google it coz I'm not explaining it) and I had to give up all booze for 3 months (to see if it was the booze or the disease affecting my liver)
I'm really not suposed to be drinking now either but hopefully a few won't hurt????

[Kevnlis]

maybe you could start making mead? you could be the mead master... apparently after reading charlie papazians microbrewed adventures, there is a fair bit involved... could be your new quest...

Thanks James, good to see you back BTW.

I am actually working on Cider ATM but have sourced some local bulk Macadamia honey which I will be using to do a mead as soon as I find a cheap glass flaggon large enough (it takes about a year all up I think?)!

I feel your pain mate..

I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis late last year (google it coz I'm not explaining it) and I had to give up all booze for 3 months (to see if it was the booze or the disease affecting my liver)
I'm really not suposed to be drinking now either but hopefully a few won't hurt????

That sounds pretty nasty!

Honestly drinking less does not bother me. I have always been in this hobby for the sheer love of beer and honestly enjoy making it as much or more than drinking it! My wife still drinks enough for me to be able to brew a few beers here and there, and I am going to start experimenting with my gluten telerence in a couple months once the symptoms have all cleared and I can make a fair judgment on the effects of certain amounts.