When my beer-loving pal Rick told me a couple of years ago that he could now drink only gluten-free varieties, I felt sorry for him, having to scour the shelves to find something remotely decent. Now, though, I no longer do, because there are so many well-made beers out there that are gluten-free, it’s often hard to tell them from those that are produced conventionally.
Rick is not alone: 10% of UK consumers now follow a gluten-free diet, according to Coeliac UK, and they suffer from symptoms that range from a snuffly nose to potentially life-threatening damage to the gut lining that prevents the body from absorbing key nutrients.
