Wheat... I'll fix it, if it kills me!

[bigdave]

Many if you know that I have a allergic reaction to many/most wheat beers, so far with the exception of Blue Moon and all wheat based foods (ie; bread). Discovering that Heineken (in any reasonable quantity) has the same effect has got me pondering what it is I'm actually allergic to!? I figured that the best way to do this I'd to brew a series of ales to try and catch the rouge ingredient....

So far my list of things to try:

Lager/pale malt + wheat beer yeast
Wheat malt, lager/pale malt + wheat beer yeast
Wheat malt, lager/pale malt + ale yeast

This is where you guys come in...
Can anyone recommend reasonable %'s of the above ingredients to help me test them or even suggest other things to consider testing?

If it helps I have the same allergic reaction to shellfish as I do wheat beers & Heineken.

[subfaction]

Could it be isenglass (I doubt that's spelt right)... Thinking along the lines of fishguts being similar to shellfish...?

[Matt12398]

That's a bit like comparing a hippo with a jellyfish. Shellfish and fish are completely different animal phyla.

[AnthonyD]

At least on finding the rogue ingredient, you'll also have a few batches of beer too!

I like your style!

[super_simian]

What is your reaction?

[bigdave]

What is your reaction?

Swollen tonsils & swollen throat. It makes it hard to swallow, hard to talk or breathe and fires up gag reflexes. So I spend all day gasping gulping and gagging.

[jaroporter]

this is true dedication. i salute this man

it'd be interesting to find out what adjuncts are used in heineken.. do you get the reaction with beers that use a token amount of wheat (maybe a threshhold could be investigated.. )? would there be a difference between malted and unmalted wheats? as a note, i've read blue moon is fermented with chico yeast. could be worth a clone brew also

good luck in your quest!

[bigdave]

I've used <5% torrified wheat in brews, with no ill effect. Got a kilo of malted wheat in the garage so think I'm going to start by brewing a 90% lager malt, 5% wheat malt & 5% Rolled oats (can't forget mouth feel can we!! lol).

[mysterio]

There could very well be wheat in Heineken - lots of industrial lagers include a small amount as an ingredient.

[mysterio]

Well, their website says no wheat so I guess we can rule that out.

[aamcle]

Sounds nasty, get your medic to refer you to an allergy specialist!! It's not a good idea to mess about with bad allergies.

ATB. Aamcle

[bigdave]

Sounds nasty, get your medic to refer you to an allergy specialist!! It's not a good idea to mess about with bad allergies.

ATB. Aamcle

I might just do that.... gunna make some ale first thou just in case they tell me to pack that in too!

[crafty john]

?

If it helps I have the same allergic reaction to shellfish as I do wheat beers & Heineken.

Seems strange that you get the same reaction with sea food.

[bigdave]

It might just be my body's default reaction to anything I'm allergic to??

[subfaction]

Good luck figuring it out, must suck to have something like that