Gluten and Histamine Allergies and Alcoholic Beverages

Gluten Intolerance
Because the gluten-free commercial market has grown so much, many manufacturers make alcoholic beverages that are free from wheat and barley. Microbrews have been available in some markets for five years or more, and Anheuser-Busch recently rolled out Redbridge Beer, a sorghum-based beer that is the first gluten-free beer to be sold nationally. Some other common beers - including Budweiser and Coors Light - are wheat-free but not gluten-free, though always check labels, as ingredients may change.
Common alcoholic beverages that are naturally gluten-free include wine, sake, and most brandies. Most liqueurs and some wine coolers are gluten-free as well, but it's advisable to check labels or manufacturer websites for these, since there are exceptions.
Histamine Intolerance
Many foods, including aged cheese and red wine, are high in histamine, the same chemical involved in a number of allergic reactions in the body. Two enzymes, diamine oxidase (DAO) and histamine-N-methyltransferase (HNMT), bind to histamine in food and metabolize it in the body. In some individuals, however, these enzymes don't work properly due to genetic disorders or gastrointestinal diseases. This can cause a variety of histamine intolerance symptoms, including the so-called "red wine headache." (There is some evidence for histamine being associated with migraines.)
While red wine is especially high in histamines, all alcoholic beverages are histamine-rich. Antihistamines are somewhat useful in treating histamine intolerance symptoms when they occur, but the best treatment for histamine intolerance is a histamine-free - and, therefore, alcohol-free - diet. Other histamine-rich foods include cured meats, spinach, tomatoes, and fermented foods like kefir.

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