I love beer. But seems I cannot drink it!

November 21, 2018 10:32 AM

I love beer. But seems I cannot drink it! My system cannot take carbonation. (irritable B.D.) I am wondering if there might be a way around this. Not likely?
posted by ebesan to Food & Drink (14 answers total)

Have you tried any nitro ales?
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:52 AM on November 21, 2018

I am not an expert. Find one and ask if Scottish Cask Ale (Real Ale) might be something you can drink.
posted by CathyG at 11:12 AM on November 21, 2018

barley wine?
posted by brujita at 11:42 AM on November 21, 2018

Do you have the same problem with other carbonated beverages? Perhaps it’s the gluten (found in wheat but also oats, barley, and rye). I have seen several patients over the years with celiac disease which had been previously diagnosed as IBS.
posted by sudogeek at 11:42 AM on November 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

Can you drink plain (unsweetened) seltzer? For me it's the carbs, not the carbonation.

This is just personal anecdote, but I was recently on a several-week course of common antibiotics for a procedure -- accompanied by probiotics -- and since then I've had no problems with gas and I can almost set my watch by my BMs. (Just ancedote, mind you. But if bacteria aren't making that gas, who is?)

Some people also report success taking Beano with their beer.

If it really is carbonation, you might try some meads, or "still" (uncarbonated) apple beers or cider if you can find them.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:50 AM on November 21, 2018

Easiest test case, open the beer, pour it and wait and stir until it is flat, then drink a small amount and monitor.

If you want other grains-based drinks to try, consider Postum, barley tea, kvass. You could always add some liquor or liquer to those to make it booze.
posted by SaltySalticid at 12:39 PM on November 21, 2018

I have this problem. For me it seems to stem from a couple things partially the carbonation but also gluten. My gut generally speaking tolerates gluten-free beer & cider fine but also darker, very bitter and/or higher alcohol beers.
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:44 PM on November 21, 2018

Get a wheat allergy test , ignoring it and putting up with the symptoms can hurt you over the years .
posted by hortense at 1:23 PM on November 21, 2018

Oats don't naturally contain gluten but most of the oats in this country are contaminated by being processed on equipment used for wheat. Some gluten free beer is brewed with oats.
posted by Botanizer at 1:34 PM on November 21, 2018

I too am not a fan of carbonation (but not related to IBS) - can you tolerate lower-carbonation beers like stouts, porters, or lambics? One of my favourites is Newcastle Brown Ale which is also lower carbonation.

Some/ certain beers gives me a mild allergic reaction (runny nose) and I suspect it might be the variety of yeast that is used.
posted by porpoise at 1:44 PM on November 21, 2018

You could brew your own beer from a kit, and just not carbonate it when you bottle it.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:58 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

Similarly, I enjoy the taste of beer, but can't drink more than 6oz of most beers before I feel terrible. Stouts and porters seem to be the exception. Maybe an intolerance for hops?
posted by pingzing at 3:06 PM on November 21, 2018 [1 favorite]

"You could brew your own beer from a kit, and just not carbonate it when you bottle it."



Beer carbonates because of fermentation, you cannot make your own beer and have it be not bubbly unless you mess up.
posted by masquesoporfavor at 7:29 AM on November 23, 2018

unless you mess up

Just skip the secondary fermentation (under pressure). There'll be a tiny bit of carbonation, but not much.
posted by porpoise at 12:39 PM on November 23, 2018