Hold the Gluten\u2019s Question: <\/strong>What is your gluten-free story and what prompted you to go gluten-free?
Karen\u2019s Answer: <\/strong>In my early 30\u2019s, I survived both melanoma and thyroid cancer, leading to a treatment regimen including a gluten-free diet. After adopting this diet, I found easy replacements for foods I once enjoyed but one thing was hard to replace. I struggled to find a great-tasting, 100% gluten-free beer. This meant I couldn\u2019t partake in social activities in the same way my friends and family could. If the lack of good tasting, gluten-free beer options was a challenge for me, I assumed it was a challenge for many others as well. I was driven to solve this problem and spent years researching gluten-free ingredients, taste-testing numerous GF beer alternatives, and building an understanding of brewing processes in order to create a better solution. Thus, the idea of Holidaily Brewing Company was born: a company dedicated to brewing only excellent tasting gluten-free beer that everyone can enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hold the Gluten\u2019s Question:<\/strong> What is the difference between gluten-reduced beer, gluten-free beer, and dedicated gluten-free beer?
Karen\u2019s Answer: <\/strong>see breakdown below<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bGluten-reduced beer<\/strong>: Gluten-reduced beer is brewed with gluten-containing ingredients like barley or wheat and adding an enzyme during the brewing process that breaks the gluten into smaller pieces. Think of it as a bracelet with beads that represents a gluten protein. The enzymes cut the protein, leaving smaller pieces of beads (gluten) in your beer. The gluten is not removed. It\u2019s not safe for people diagnosed with Celiac Disease to consume gluten-reduced beer. Those with gluten sensitivity also may not be able to tolerate gluten-reduced beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gluten-free beer<\/strong>: Gluten-free beer is made with gluten-free ingredients, but it is brewed or packaged on equipment that also produces or packages traditional gluten-containing beer. Because of this, there\u2019s a risk of cross-contamination, similar to the side of a box of crackers warning consumers about peanuts produced in the same facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dedicated gluten-free beer<\/strong>: Dedicated gluten-free beer is made with gluten-free ingredients and produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. The ingredients are safe for Celiacs and there is no chance for cross-contamination within the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of gluten-free ingredient options. At Holidaily Brewing, we use gluten-free grains including a variety of roasts of millet and buckwheat. We are considered a dedicated gluten-free brewery because the only product we make is gluten-free beer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hold the Gluten\u2019s Question: <\/strong>There are only nine 100% dedicated gluten-free breweries in the United States including Holidaily Brewing. What procedures are implemented to ensure there is not any cross-contamination from external sources?
Karen\u2019s Answer: <\/strong>At Holidaily we take the safety of our products extremely serious. We have processes in place to ensure safety in every aspect of our brewing facility. We work with our suppliers to ensure their product is safe and has been tested. Our primary ingredients come from a certified gluten-free facility. We have an inbound process in place where every delivery to us is inspected for safety and quality and we document every delivery. In order to maintain our Gluten-Free Certification, we are required to test both our ingredients and our final product. We own all of our own packaging equipment to avoid cross-contamination in that part of our process. There is a whole lot to think through when a company is committed to ensuring zero cross-contamination in their products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n