When I went to Qwest Field the other day, they had added another beer to their list of beers on tap-it was specifically called "Gluten Free beer". I was dubious to say the least. This was the same stand where popcorn, hot dogs, and nachos with orange-yellow microwaved cheese were sold at a venue where people brutally attack each other on the football field. What was going on?


My first  conclusion was that this is Seattle, where not only are the health-nuts catered to, the healthy-drinkers are catered to as well. At my friendly neighborhoood convenience store down the street, when I was searching for a six-pack of brewski, I found not one, but two organic beers for sale. The store also had a small selection of organic budget-friendly wines, which gave me considerably smaller hangovers. Even after my foray into the organic selections in my neighborhood, I still remained curious about gluten-free beers.

My intense research into the "Gluten-Free Beer" mystery yielded some interesting results. Gluten intolerance is caused by Celiac Disease, which is known to cause intestinal damage and affects approximately 2 million people.  That is unfortunate for the beer-drinkers with Celiac disease because Gluten is a protein found in many of the grains used to make  beers. Gluten is also a problem for people who have the misfortune to suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

As you know, traditionally beers are brewed with barley and hops. However, in an effort to make beer that is without Gluten, sorghum and buckwheat are often substituted for the typical grains. For a list of gluten-free beers, please check out this informative website.

That still doesn't explain how or why the Glute-free beer found its way into a Seattle stadium. For some strange reason, I doubt you would find this kind of beer sold at Wrigley Field.