Recent changes to beer: allergies

[OVERKILL]

I used to be able to drink any type of beer from any manufacturer and never had an issue.

However, in the last year or so, I don't know if the hops in many of the North American beers have changed or what it is, but certain brands/types simply do not agree with my colon

I can drink any German beer and I'm fine. I can drink German Beck's, but the American version, colon problems. Which I thought was weird.

I can't drink Upper Canada, but I can drink Coors Light. I can Drink Bud Light and Budweiser, those are fine. I can drink the British Spitfire Ale, but can't drink Lancaster Bomber.

I can't drink Heineken anymore either. Same issue.

What is funny is that my dad is having the same reaction, which means the pair of us are now being rather selective in our beer purchases, and by necessity, not by choice. It sucks, because I enjoy a variety of beers but can't drink half of them anymore due to this issue.

Now of note is that my dad recently spent a few weeks in Germany and drank beer every day, and the variety was rather extensive and he didn't have a single negative reaction to any of them.

 

[BISCUT]

Sam Adams, Dog Fish, Sierra Nevada??? ... what about Anchor Steam? Should be different hops than most of what you mentioned.

I've notices since I turned 40 (41 now) I don't like lagers as much and have moved to pale ale and IPA's.

 

[OVERKILL]

IIRC, Sam Adams is fine. So is Rickards Red. I don't know if I've seen those other two at the LCBO.

The problem with experimenting however is finding one that doesn't work and then I'm spending the day on the toilet

 

[fdcg27]

IDK.
My guess would be that a new preservative or clarifying agent is in use in at least some beers.
I doubt that it's the hops.
I personally am blessed with the digestive tract of a hog, since nothing I eat or drink causes me any problems.
I am also blessed with what I guess is a fairly high BMR, since nothing I eat or drink seems to cause me any problems with weight gain.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
IDK.
My guess would be that a new preservative or clarifying agent is in use in at least some beers.
I doubt that it's the hops.
I personally am blessed with the digestive tract of a hog, since nothing I eat or drink causes me any problems.
I am also blessed with what I guess is a fairly high BMR, since nothing I eat or drink seems to cause me any problems with weight gain.


I used to be that way, this is the first time I've had an adverse reaction to anything I've eaten or drank really

I also have the 2nd "problem", as I don't gain weight

 

[Whimsey]

That's a bummer, I don't drink a lot of beer but I always enjoy variety. I try anything but Bud, Coors, Miller or most other MAJOR American beers on tap or in bottles/cans. I've found Yuengling lager to be a quality tasting American beer from a semi major beer company, even in bottles. I'm allergic to milk and grapes. I can take pills for the milk allergy but not grapes. So no wine for me sad to say.

Whimsey

 

[itguy08]

I hear you - I think I'm the same way. Was having a bout of constipation and a few of the guys at work were talking about how surprisingly good and cheap Old Milwaukee Light was. Ended up picking up a case and they should rename it Old Milwaukee Laxative. Take 1 or 2 a night and you will stay regular!

It may be the grains or hops that are in them. For me, I'm not a fan of too hoppy/bitter beers and some of them do a number on me.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

I can't drink Heineken anymore either


So many places to go with this one...

 

[Rolla07]

Beer messes with my stomach the morning after..maybe the yeast?? I drink vodka soda or rum and coke zero instead and no more stomach problems the next day..although it does not prevent headaches lol!!

 

[DoiInthanon]

I think we have got to get to the bottom of this. Otherwise the problem will keep running and running. My thought is to do some testing. VBA on a good beer and VBA(Virgin Beer Analysis) on a [censored] beer. Then follow with UBA on each. We won't be helping with the sample for UBA. That is all on you.

Post the lab results and we will go to our thinking perch and solve the problem. You might be able to get an article published in a paper like BEER Craft Weekly. As you already know, the job is not finished until the paperwork is done.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I used to be able to drink any type of beer from any manufacturer and never had an issue.

However, in the last year or so, I don't know if the hops in many of the North American beers have changed or what it is, but certain brands/types simply do not agree with my colon

I can drink any German beer and I'm fine. I can drink German Beck's, but the American version, colon problems. Which I thought was weird.

I can't drink Upper Canada, but I can drink Coors Light. I can Drink Bud Light and Budweiser, those are fine. I can drink the British Spitfire Ale, but can't drink Lancaster Bomber.

I can't drink Heineken anymore either. Same issue.

What is funny is that my dad is having the same reaction, which means the pair of us are now being rather selective in our beer purchases, and by necessity, not by choice. It sucks, because I enjoy a variety of beers but can't drink half of them anymore due to this issue.

Now of note is that my dad recently spent a few weeks in Germany and drank beer every day, and the variety was rather extensive and he didn't have a single negative reaction to any of them.
Have you tried Creemore Springs beers? All natural with no preservatives. Its the only beer I will drink.

 

[dernp]

Might be the gluten that's causing you problems.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

If you think it's allergies, try taking an antacid with an anti-histamine in it before drinking the beer in question (ie. ranitidine).

 

[AdmdeVilleneuve]

Long time lurker her. This site has kept me informed and entertained for a long time, and I recommend it to people often. But, I was prompted to sign up today because of this post on beer.
Overkill, on my father's side of the family I am an unlikely mix of French-Canadian and British Columbia Scots-Irish. (Sounds benign now, but in the 1890's, a tough way to start a marriage.) The Scots-Irish are the likely source of the prevalence of celiac sufferers in our family. A sister was diagnosed in her 30's, I was diagnosed at age 55 after I rather quickly went from 175 lbs. to 160 lbs. Another sister and my daughter are very gluten sensitive, but not true celiacs. We all avoid gluten (not because it's trendy) and barley or wheat based beers will contain gluten. Can't speak to most of those beers you mention, but Budweiser I can tolerate because it is made with a rice mash, altho' it is not 100% GF. There are some sorghum based GF beers out there, but only Red Bridge (an A-H product) is worth the bother, IMO.
Sorry to ramble on, but I would suggest researching celiac sprue, or gluten intolerance, and see if any of that info may apply to your situation. Much more information available and research going on now compared to even ten years ago. Good luck.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: dernp
Might be the gluten that's causing you problems.


Then why no issue with any of the German beers? The one thing about the German beers is they have that "purity law of 1516" which means they can only have three ingredients, period. So I'm thinking it has to be a preservative or some sort of genetically modified hops or something that is causing it

And that whatever it is simply isn't present in the "old school" German beers and some of the ones we have here.

Also, I have no problems with anything with gluten in it

Based on the rest of the stuff I eat of course

 

[widman]

I'm certainly no beer expert, but my son is, as he has been brewing test batches for a few years and now has a pilot system installed while we build a craft brewery in Virginia.

So here are his brief comments on these comments.

German law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Purity_Law_of_1516
"so outdated that it isn't relevant, but people love to throw it around in arguments"

""German purity law" is pointless. Its just something people like to point to for helping their arguments. The law was put into place before they even realized yeast was an important factor. It also does allow for clarifiers too"

"There are some people who allergic to hops, and North american hops in general are much stronger in acids than european hops. but I've never heard of "colon" issues from hop allergies"

The next comment worries me, as I have severe allergies to fish:

"Clarifiers could be something to look into. Some people use isinglass to clarify and that's made from fish bladders, others use gelatin, and some use plastics".

"Yeast could be another item worth looking into. there are so many different kinds, and he could be having a reaction to certain strains."

He also says the brewery dose not have to disclose what clarifiers they use, even if you ask.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: widman
I'm certainly no beer expert, but my son is, as he has been brewing test batches for a few years and now has a pilot system installed while we build a craft brewery in Virginia.

So here are his brief comments on these comments.

German law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Purity_Law_of_1516
"so outdated that it isn't relevant, but people love to throw it around in arguments"

""German purity law" is pointless. Its just something people like to point to for helping their arguments. The law was put into place before they even realized yeast was an important factor. It also does allow for clarifiers too"

"There are some people who allergic to hops, and North american hops in general are much stronger in acids than european hops. but I've never heard of "colon" issues from hop allergies"

The next comment worries me, as I have severe allergies to fish:

"Clarifiers could be something to look into. Some people use isinglass to clarify and that's made from fish bladders, others use gelatin, and some use plastics".

"Yeast could be another item worth looking into. there are so many different kinds, and he could be having a reaction to certain strains."

He also says the brewery dose not have to disclose what clarifiers they use, even if you ask.






Thanks Widman

I'll respond point-by-point:

Quote:
""German purity law" is pointless. Its just something people like to point to for helping their arguments. The law was put into place before they even realized yeast was an important factor. It also does allow for clarifiers too"


I thought it might be significant simply because I've not had any adverse reactions to any of the "Made in Germany" beers. And with Beck's, I only have the reaction to the US-brewed version, the German version (which we get in cans up here) is fine

Quote:
"There are some people who allergic to hops, and North american hops in general are much stronger in acids than european hops. but I've never heard of "colon" issues from hop allergies"


I would think if it was a hops issue, volume consumed would be relevant no? If so, I can sit back and drink six Holsten 500ml (half litre tall boys) while at the cottage and it does nothing to me. But I have ONE Heineken and I'm peeing out my back-side.

Quote:
"Clarifiers could be something to look into. Some people use isinglass to clarify and that's made from fish bladders, others use gelatin, and some use plastics".


He could be onto something here. I haven't had fish in quite a while........ Guess I could test, LOL!!

Quote:
"Yeast could be another item worth looking into. there are so many different kinds, and he could be having a reaction to certain strains."


Certainly a possibility.

Quote:
He also says the brewery dose not have to disclose what clarifiers they use, even if you ask.


Well, that's no fun! LOL!

 

[widman]

If it is any consolation to you, I need to take omaprazol before drinking Bolivian beer (owned by AB) or I have serious reflex. I can drink all I want of what my son makes with no problem.

 

[striker456]

Could be sulphites or perhaps different ingredients such as corn syrup, etc. Maybe particular malts. Yeast could be a factor as mentioned previously. I don't think hops are the issue. Could also be clarifiers are previously mentioned.

My background is commercial brewing.

Something that just came to me is that high quantities of magnesium can give you the runs. Maybe certain breweries add magnesium chloride.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Try O-Mission beer. It`s gluten free,and my friend who`s allergic to wheat drinks it. It`s really good! It`s a dark beer.