Is Omission Beer Gluten-free? The short answer is no. Omission beer isn't gluten-free. Omission beer is a gluten-removed beer. It's made from barley which, unlike other gluten-free beers, means Omission beer tastes much more like real beer. Is it safe for people with Celiac Disease? Now that's a more challenging question to answer. |
Omission Brewing uses traditional beer ingredients like malted barley and a proprietary process that breaks down the enzymes in the beer to create gluten-free options like Omission Pale Ale, Omission Lager, and Omission Golden Ale.
They describe their beers as gluten-reduced options because not all gluten can be removed. Keep reading for a deep dive into the Omission beer debate.
Jump to:
- Is Omission Gluten-free Beer Good?
- Is All Omission Beer Gluten-free?
- How Much Gluten Is In Omission?
- Can Celiacs Drink Gluten-Removed Beer?
- Omission Beer and The Craft Brew Alliance
- What Beer Is Safe for Celiacs?
- Unreliable R5 Competitive ELISA Test
- Be Aware of The Government Warning Before Consuming Alcohol
- Conclusion
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Is Omission Gluten-free Beer Good?
The first question most of us want the answer to "Is it good?" Omission gluten-free beer is popular because it tastes more like regular beer. In addition, the technique Omission uses to remove gluten from the beer means it can be made with malted barley like most traditional beers.
Other gluten-free beers taste pretty good but don't taste much like barley because they aren't made with it. But, let's be honest, beer tastes like barley, and without it, you probably won't get that signature beer flavor. So what does Omission taste like?
Omission Pale Ale
The Omission Pale Ale is described as having a caramel malt body, citrus, and toffee flavors. It's smooth and not too bitter, making it an excellent choice for India pale ale fans. Overall, it's a delicious gluten-free craft beer.
Omission Lager
Omission Lager is spicy and tart. It's a favorite of many, even those who don't usually drink gluten-free beers. Check out the taste reviews at Serious Eats for more details about the flavors and how you can enjoy them at your next gathering.
Is All Omission Beer Gluten-free?
Omission's beer is good, but is it all gluten-free? All Omission beers are gluten-reduced. Plus, you can test your bottle at Drink Omission to see just how much gluten is in the bottle.
Every batch of Omission beer is tested independently with R5 Competitive ELISA, a mechanism for detecting fermented gluten.
In 2013, the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) recognized Omission Beer as a great gluten-free beer option. The CSA is the largest non-profit Celiac Disease support group in America and boasts higher standards for certification than the FDA.
Today, many restaurants and bars are happily serving up Omission IPA as a gluten-free option. Even beer drinkers who don't follow a gluten-free diet are excited about this low-calorie option.
However, what do Celiacs have to say about it? It seems not everyone seems thrilled with the CSA's verdict. If you're very sensitive to gluten, you might still want to avoid Omission beer in favor of other 100% gluten-free options like Glutenberg beer.
Overall, independent batch testing with the bottle's r5 listed on the website and an endorsement from the Celiac Sprue Association is pretty good.
How Much Gluten Is In Omission?
So how much gluten content is still in Omission beer? Omission beers are made with malted barley. Then, some really high-tech science is used to break down and remove the gluten enzymes in the beer, essentially eliminating the gluten levels.
The result is a low-calorie barley-based beer you can feel good about, with less than 10 ppm gluten detected in the finished product.
Can Celiacs Drink Gluten-Removed Beer?
Some people with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivities are just fine after drinking Omission's gluten-removed beer. Others are not. It really depends on how sensitive you are and whether or not you're generally okay consuming low-gluten options.
Omission beer is gluten-removed, which means there is still some gluten; it's just not detectable.
That might be okay for you. Generally, doctors recommend people with Celiac Disease avoid any food or drink with more than 20 ppm, and Omission gluten-free beer meets that requirement.
However, some experts are sounding the alarm that gluten-removed beers might not be safe for people with Celiac Disease. A study was done by the Gluten Intolerance Group in 2021 to answer the question.
The Celiac Patient Antibody Response to Conventional and Gluten-Removed Beer study was conducted at the University of Chicago's Celiac Research Center and published online by the Journal of AOAC International.
They concluded that antibodies were found during blood testing after persons with Celiac Disease consumed gluten-removed beer.
Omission Beer and The Craft Brew Alliance
Kurt and Rob Widmer started Widmer Brothers Brewing in 1984. In 2004, they joined forces with Redhook Ale Brewery and became the Craft Brewers Alliance in 2008.
In 2010, they bought Kona Brewing Co. in Hawaii. The Craft Brewers Alliance is based in North Portland and makes beer under the Widmer Bros., Redhook, Kona, and Omission brands.
Joe Casey, the brewmaster at Widmer Bros., spent five years making a beer that his wife and boss, who are both gluten intolerant, could safely drink and that he could stomach.
He used barley to give it a traditional flavor but then removed the gluten. He gave the finished product to his wife, Sara, and to the chief executive of Widmer's parent company, Terry Michaelson, to try.
What Beer Is Safe for Celiacs?
So what beer is safe for a celiac disease sufferer? Many choose to stick with beer that's 100% gluten-free from start to finish.
It might not have the same barley taste and amber color as Omission beer, but undetected gluten isn't a concern.
So. if you are a longtime celiac and you're looking for a great craft beer, check out these three brands of gluten-free beer for another option:
Ground Breaker
Ground Breaker Brewing is a 100% dedicated gluten-free facility. They offer gluten-free lagers, gluten-free IPA, and fruity favorites like Olallie, a blackberry beer.
Ghostfish
Ghostfish Brewing Company starts with naturally gluten-free ingredients, so removal isn't necessary, and you're guaranteed your beer will be 0 ppm. Enjoy the grapefruit aromas in their Grapefruit IPA or taste the citrusy hops in their Belgian White Ale.
Glutenberg
With eight different kinds of gluten-free beer, you're sure to find something you like from Glutenberg.
They offer red, white, stout, blonde IPAs, and pale ale. Their blonde is lemony with floral hints and crafted from millet and corn, making it a totally safe gluten-free beer option.
Unreliable R5 Competitive ELISA Test
The R5 Competitive ELISA gluten test result is not accurate for checking if gluten-removed beer is really gluten-free. The Craft Brew Alliance asked the FDA to change the definition of gluten-free for their beer, but the FDA said no.
They also said the R5 test was not a good way to check if the beer was really gluten-free. A study by the Gluten Intolerance Group showed that people with celiac disease had reactions to the barley in the gluten-removed beer.
Many people with celiac disease also get sick from drinking this type of beer. In addition, it's not safe for people with celiac disease to drink Omission beer because it still has some gluten in it.
If you have celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance, it's better to stick with real gluten-free beer to avoid getting sick.
Be Aware of The Government Warning Before Consuming Alcohol
According to the United States Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery and may cause health problems.
You must also be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Always make sure to read the labels carefully before drinking to avoid any adverse effects.
Conclusion
So is Omission beer gluten-free? Maybe, that really depends on your definition of gluten-free. They definitely have some great flavors and low-calorie options with a real beer taste. However, there might still be gluten fragments in your batch of Omission beer.
Do you prefer gluten-removed beers with a barley taste like Omission or a naturally gluten-free option like Glutenberg or Ghostfish? Please share your favorite gluten-free beer in the comments so I can try it out too.
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