What Are the Signs of an Allergic Reaction to Beer?

The signs of an allergic reaction to beer typically include breathing problems, a flushed appearance, headaches, dizziness, and a tingling sensation in the face or mouth. People with sensitivities to a certain ingredient in the beverage may also experience increased nasal congestion, fatigue, or outbreaks of hives. Different allergy sufferers often have sensitivities to only one beer ingredient such as wheat or hops, and these reactions often come with different signs of an allergic reaction. As with other types of food allergies, avoidance in one of the main ways of preventing an allergic reaction to beer.

People who are sensitive to the yeast used in beer fermentation can sometimes have a histamine allergic reaction. The main signs of this reaction are sneezing, increased nasal discharge, and itchy eyes. Increased feelings of fatigue or even vertigo can also accompany this kind of allergic reaction to beer. These types of allergic reactions are normally mild in many cases and can be successfully relieved with an over-the-counter antihistamine medication. A few rare histamine reactions to beer are more serious and require treatment with an injection of a more concentrated antihistamine medicine.

An allergic reaction to beer can also result from a sensitivity to the malted barley in the beverage. Signs of an barley-based allergic reaction usually appear on the skin surface as well as the lips or the inside lining of the mouth. These symptoms often include red and itchy hives, raw patches in the mouth, and uncomfortable swelling of the tongue or lips. Some sufferers of this beer allergy can also experience throat swelling that makes breathing more difficult and can often be dangerous if the reaction is severe enough. Although some of these allergic reactions can be minor and will normally clear up on their own, others can be life threatening and require prompt medical attention.

Some people with celiac disease may have side effects from drinking beer that are unpleasant but do not normally constitute an allergic reaction. This particular health condition entails difficulty properly digesting foods and beverages containing gluten. Since many brands of beer are brewed with gluten-rich ingredients such as barley and wheat, beer drinkers with celiac disease sometimes experience stomach cramps, diarrhea, or occasional vomiting. These symptoms can be mistaken for the effects of a hangover or an allergic reaction, but celiac sufferers can have this adverse reaction from only one or two beers in many cases.