Gluten-Free Drink Options in Park City

When you’re gluten-free, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with Celiac’s disease, finding a fermented brew that is safe to drink can be challenging. However, you can discover celiac-safe brews in Park City that can please your palate.

Lynn Smargis

March 23, 2020

Gluten-Free Drink Options in Park City — Mountain West Hard Cider

My favorite gluten-free brew is hard cider, which differs from beer in that the main product being fermented is not a grain, but a fruit—usually apples. This gives hard cider a crisp and light body. Although not a true beer, ciders are fermented and typically don’t contain the gluten crops that beer is known for, such as hops and barley. Another difference is that many ciders have a higher alcohol content than beer—usually 10 to 12 percent.

Ready to get your hands on gluten-free brews in Park City? Find your fill of gluten-free fermented bliss as a ski apres, on your next dinner date, or hanging out with friends in Park City.

Twisted Fern has featured Mountain West Ruby for a couple of seasons. Owner Adam Ross states, “It is one of my personal favorites in the cider scene.” Find Mountain West Ruby Cider in the bottle along with a local mountain brew, Grandeur Peak Spiked Sparkling Seltzer, named after our peak in the Wasatch Mountains. Get your hands on Grandeur Peak’s grapefruit flavor on draft, and Utah Cherry from the can at Wasatch Brew Pub.

Amanda at Wasatch says Mountain West Ruby is brewed locally in Salt Lake and is “a traditional cider—not too dry and not too sweet.” You can also pick up Grandeur Peak’s Utah Cherry and Grapefruit when dining at Squatters Brew Pub, along with one of their grass-fed, mouth-watering burgers.

Speaking of food, pair my favorite cider, Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider, with celiac-safe fried food from a dedicated fryer at Blind Dog. Penny Kinsley, the owner of Blind Dog, has a gluten-free sushi bar, which accommodates those who lead a gluten-free lifestyle with such offerings as gluten-free soy sauce, ponzu and eel sauce.

Sean Doyle, general manager at Handle Park City, suggests pairing their gluten-free brew, Incline Marionberry—a light, and refreshing brew—with their popular Hamachi Crudo or their Kale and Beetroot Salad. He also seconds Mountain West Ruby for a clean, not overly sweet taste, more familiar to a beer. His choice to pair?

My favorite—General Tso’s Cauliflower. This dish will impress even the most erudite foodie! Handle also accommodates their menu for dietary restrictions, which gives the gluten-free more choices from their menu.

Boneyard and Wine Dive offers Aces Pineapple Cider, which you can pair with one of their gluten-free menu items, labeled with a ”gf” so you can easily find plates without gluten.

Whether you’re celebrating a gluten-free friend’s birthday, or you’re gluten-free yourself, you can have your ”brew” and drink it too, minus the gluten, when dining in Park City.

Beer Stories, Go Local, Park City

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Lynn Smargis

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