(Portland, OR) – Is there a battle brewing between Harvester Brewing and Widmer Brothers over the gluten-free beer market?
Sure, there are other players in the gluten-free market though Harvester is sending a loud-and-clear message with this press release: it does not approve of what Widmer Brothers is doing with its recently-launched Omission Beer ‘gluten-free’ line. Widmer Brothers removes gluten through an intensive process during brewing. Both companies operate out of Portland.
Check out the press release that Harvester just shipped out below.
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On May 24th, the United States Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a ruling on gluten labeling for alcohol beverages. The ruling, TTB Ruling 2012-2, reinforces Harvester Brewing’s long-standing decision to use only inherently gluten-free ingredients in its beer. This stands in contrast to other production methods that use barley and attempt to remove gluten proteins enzymatically.
The ruling determined that products made from ingredients that contain gluten (barley, wheat, and rye) cannot be labeled as gluten-free. From the TTB’s press release:
TTB will not allow products made from ingredients that contain gluten to be labeled as “gluten-free.” Because TTB is concerned about the potential health consequences associated with the consumption of gluten by individuals with celiac disease and, because there are currently no scientifically valid testing methods available to accurately measure the gluten content of fermented products, we will only allow these products to be labeled with a statement that they were processed to remove gluten but that the product may still contain gluten.
If a beer is made with gluten containing ingredients, the following warning is required for consumers:
Product fermented from grains containing gluten and [processed or treated or crafted] to remove gluten. The gluten content of this product cannot be verified, and this product may contain gluten.
Harvester’s decision over three years ago to make gluten-free beer without barley, wheat, or rye means that their ales do not require this warning. In Harvester’s dedicated facility no gluten-containing ingredients are ever used at any point in the production process, enabling testing for gluten allergens before fermentation occurs using proven testing methods. As testing regimens evolve we are in continued contact with certification groups, independent labs, test manufacturers, and industry professionals regarding the state-of-the-art in gluten testing.
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Back to that labeling and specifically, “this product may contain gluten.” Regardless of actual testing results, the consumer only has this message to go by in the liquor store. If the customer is looking for a gluten-free beer, do they trust this beer after reading this message? And how heavily does Craft Brew Alliance have to lean on wholesalers and sales reps to train stores that stock this brand? People in the beer department would likely need to be specially-trained to communicate to the customer to ignore that warning and re-assure them that the product is fine.
It’s yet another challenge for Widmer Brothers on top of a stack of many.
I’ve had numerous conversations with customer who’ve had serious reactions to even small portions of gluten, so much that I sometimes advise against purchasing one gluten-free beer in particular due to severe reactions with a few customers. When a person’s health is at possible risk due to a product and a person’s allergies, I say the more informed the customer is about the product and possible side-effects, the better.
For the record I have given people with gluten intolerance the new Brunehaut beers and they were fine. I think that brewery uses a similar process as Widmer where you remove the gluten to under 5 ppm.
“People in the beer department would likely need to be specially-trained to communicate to the customer to ignore that warning and re-assure them that the product is fine. ”
Why would they do that? The message is 100% accurate and should not be ignored by anyone who avoids gluten for health reasons.
There are no tests that can detect gluten in concentrations less than 5ppm, and even that small amount can make some people very sick. Fermented beverages, especially those produced from barley, are even less accurate than that. Some people may be fine with that amount, but that is not true for everyone.
I love that Widmer has made their test results available to the public for each batch. Transparency is key, and if they actually care about the health of their customers, they should have no problem alerting them to the fact that their beer is not so much “gluten free” as it “contains minimal gluten.”
One thing I’m wondering is whether they can put gluten-free on any of the exterior packaging. Not sure whether that have to submit such packaging to the TTB for approval.
For anyone clueless about the effects of gluten on people with Celiac disease, check out this post. It won’t kill you but it doesn’t sound fun either.
I don’t suffer from it but I find it a stretch that if people are so sensitive that they realize it after first bite of something with gluten in it, that they will feel safe with a message along the lines of, “While it probably doesn’t, we can’t say for sure this doesn’t have gluten in it, sorry!”
I believe the CEO of Widmers parents have celiac and thats why they wanted to make a gluten free or (low gluten) beer for them to drink. I also heard that the laws for different for food. It can be 20ppm and be labled gluten free, but with alcohol it has to have zero for some reason. You can get it a beer Celiac Certified if it has a low enough ppm number, which is what widmer did. There is a gluten free cafe in Dunedin Fl, that sells tons of Estrella Dura, which is 6ppm. The lady that owns it has Celiac and she swears by it.
Sure, Omission is not gluten free, but the levels of gluten are so low that it “performs” like a gluten free beer. The reason i use the word “performs” is because a similar labeling issue arose back in the 90’s with the development in high grade motor oils.
Mobil One syntheic oil is not actually synthetic oil at all. its very high grade pretroleum based oil (just like every other oil out there) but it “performs” as good as a TRUE synthetic oil under the typical oil change regiments prescribed by your cars manufacturer. I think its a load of crap, because i buy TRUE synthetic oil (Amsoil) so i can go 10,000 to 15,000 miles between oil changes…can’t do that with Mobil One Synthetic. But i digress…
Omission is as good as gluten free, and whether you like it or not, our legal system has precedence that will allow this to occur…it might get overturned a few times, but in the end, it will be labeled gluten free.
as it should in my opinion.
Sure, Omission isn’t gluten free, but the levels of gluten are so LOW that it “performs” like a gluten free beer. i use the word “performs” because this isn’t the first time this issue has come up in our legal system.
Back in the 90’s, Mobil One Synthetic oil was sued because the oil wasn’t actually synthetic oil; Its actually a VERY high grade petroleum oil (just like regular oil, but processed to be better) they claimed that it “performs as good as synthetic oil,” as long as you stick to the regular oil changes as prescribed by your car’s manufacturer. Problem is that people like me use TRUE synthetic oil so I can go 15,000 miles between oil changes…can’t do that with Mobil One Synthetic. but i digress…
This is not the case with Omission. Celiacs can drink it. 5ppm is plenty LOW enough to not be a problem. (and if you drink 12 beers in one night, your celiac disease is the least of your stomach problems).
Millet/Sorgum beers have their place, and some people like it. but it shouldn’t be the only beer people can drink without having to worry about gluten.
btw, Clarex is no secret in the brewing industry…you’re gonna see more breweries come out with these beers if this all pans out. Widmer is the front runner, and props to them!!!
I’m allergic to gluten and all I can say is thank God for MIke’s, Cayman Jacks, and many more thanks to Widmer Bros for the best tasting Gluten Free (or what ever you’d like to call it under 20ppm) beverages. These are the best tasting out there ATMO and it’s no coincidence that they all use malted barely to create their alcohol and then remove the gluten. I was a brewer prior to being diagnosed and all I have to say is that the Omission IPA stands on it’s own when compared to regular IPAs.
Harvester needs to buck up and just admit there’s a better tasting beer out there that is consumable by all but the most sensitive cielacs.
Reminds me of the sugar substitute industry suing Splenda a few years back. It’s better, get over it and try to beat it.
I never touched one of your beers prior to being diagnosed but now you’ve got one loyal consumer. Thanks Widmer Bros for the Omission IPA!
Pale Ale not IPA, sorry.
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I am only allergic to barley, not gluten, how can I find out if a gluten free beer is also barley free? Btw, I have a class 5 IgE to barley, so I have very serious reactions when I consume it.
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I have Celiac and cannot drink ANY non- gluten free beer, including OMission! Please don’t confuse the masses. 5ppm, 6ppm, not safe for celiac. Also, Estella Dura sent me to the hospital, so, not safe. It is your life, your health if you wish to risk it, but it definitely should not be marketed or sold as gluten free if it is not.