Help me figure out bloating and beer

September 25, 2024 7:32 AM

I never used to drink beer because I found it so filling and bloating, but I’ve recently discovered that I can enjoy a couple Coronas without any issues. I’d like to figure out some other options, but this would require understanding why I get bloated in the first place…

… I asked Reddit, and most people seem to think it’s the C02 in beer, but I looked at a list and Corona was one of the most heavily carbonated. I have no issues drinking it straight out of the can or bottle, and I also regularly drink sparkling water and other carbonated drinks with no problems.

One person said it might have to do with the fact that it’s made with corn as well as wheat? Possibly, but I find I tolerate wheat pretty well in food. I do plan to try other corn options.

When I try to google “less filling” or “less bloating” beers, I only get results for low calorie. Some people say sours are great, some say they cause worse bloating.

How can I even begin to narrow down what causes this issue? I know the answer is probably just “try everything and see what happens”, but I despise being bloated and wasting money so I’d like to have a couple viable options rather than just going in blind.

posted by anonymous to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

Corona is made with barley and corn, but supposedly it has a fairly low gluten content compared to other beers. I think your first step would be to try some entirely gluten-free beers and see how you react to those.
posted by ssg at 7:39 AM on September 25 [11 favorites]

American beers also use rice as part of the brewing process.

In your shoes I would try Pacifico, Bohemia, or possibly Dos Equis. All are brewed in Mexico and have different ingredients and a different brewing process than their American counterparts.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:43 AM on September 25 [2 favorites]

It's possible the higher carbonation is helping you, because you burp more easily with it. Or something like that. Bodies are weird and you have evidence that you do better with one high CO2 beer. So you could try other high CO2 beers as well as other Mexican beers.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:49 AM on September 25

Have you tried beers carbonated with Nitrogen instead of CO2? Guinness comes to mind, but there are others.
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:21 AM on September 25

I find that filtered beers are much less rough on my system than unfiltered ones. Or to put it even more plainly, mild gold beers (macrobrew lagers and pilseners) are fine, more elaborate microbrew stuff like IPAs, etc. chew me right the hell up. In my case, this wasn't just about how filling it is, but also about histamine content.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:40 AM on September 25 [1 favorite]

Have you tried NA beers? Unfortunately it might be a reaction to the sweet sweet alcohol.
posted by credulous at 9:03 AM on September 25

Were the previous beers you found bloating lighter, golden beers like DirtyOldTown mentions, or were they heavier craft brewed ales such as IPAs? I find most craft brews to be quite bloating, even through the following day, and I suspect it's because there's a lot more complex, unfermented sugars in them than in macrobrew lagers. These can be digested by microorganisms in our intestines, which I suspect causes is at least part of the bloating. Unfiltered and lightly filtered beers that are unpasteurized will contain yeast, which can also cause bloating.
posted by mollweide at 9:14 AM on September 25 [1 favorite]

This may not be relevant, but I have a friend who gets digestive issues with draft beer from a certain brewery but not their canned beer, and suspects it's a reaction to the products they use to clean the lines.
posted by terretu at 9:17 AM on September 25

There are a lot of different contributors to the haze in "hazy" (unfiltered) beers, but given that my digestive system doesn't tolerate cloudy beers or oatmeal all that well, I personally side-eye beta glucans as a likely culprit. In general they're supposed to be a positive for people, but part of that positive is that they promote slower gastric emptying, which I already have quite enough of without any additional help. YMMV.
posted by deludingmyself at 9:55 AM on September 25

Was also going to suggest trying non-alcoholic beers as a test. They've come a long way since O'Doul's! Athletic Brewing is turning out some absolutely fantastic NA beers.

Might also ask at your local corner store or wherever you find a nice beer selection, and see if they'll let you buy singles or build your own 6-pack. Great way to try a lot of options without committing to a bunch of stuff you may not enjoy.

It also might be hop-related? I brew a slightly-sweet heather ale that has absolutely zero hops in it (relying on a high ABV% instead of hops, as a preservative) and so many people that have tried it tell me they usually hate beer, but love this stuff. Maybe try a brand that makes a lighter pils, and also an IPA or double IPA, and compare?
posted by xedrik at 12:36 PM on September 25

Could also be related to mash temperature in the brewing process. Lower mash temp = more fermentable wort and higher = less fermentable wort. Lagers tend to be lower mash temp and end up lighter/crisper-feeling. Heavy-feeling beers have higher mash temps and tend to taste sweeter/thicker. Modern NEIPAs generally have higher mash temps, too.
posted by msbrauer at 3:32 PM on September 25

Mod note: From the OP:

I have tried nonalcoholic beers, and it’s the same as with regular - some cause extreme bloating, and others only mild.

posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 4:17 PM on September 25

Try Beano, and try a Michelob Ultra.
posted by credulous at 10:24 PM on September 25