Strange Symptoms: Allergic to Beer?

[parmenides]

I am a 24 year old male, and I've always loved to have an occasional beer with dinner. About 8 or 10 months ago, though, I started getting ridiculous hangovers (extended vomiting, headaches, etc.), after having only 3 or 4 beer. (These symptoms would never occur, however, until around 9am the next day.) So, I switched to rum and whisky, and the sickness stopped happening. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been testing my luck again, trying one beer on occasion, and nothing happened. So, two nights ago, I shared about 3 or 4 glasses of draught with some friends, and at about noon yesterday I quickly broke out in a strange skin rash -- 100's of small red spots (like small blood blisters) from my shoulders to my knees. They are still there today, although it's not getting much worse now (I've been taking an antihistamine, and I'm awaiting the results of a blood test).

Are these normal occurences? I suspect I might be allergic to something in the beer as it digests... But, I have noticed that these weird things have only occurred when I'm drinking domestic (Canadian) beer, while imported European beers have never yet affected me like that... Any thoughts on this would be appreciated! Are there different ingredients that might be doing this? I really hope I there something I can do...

[johnenglar1]

I am a homebrewer. I have not had any problem. I make all grain, no sugar, or very little, and low percent alcohol 3.5 to 4%.
I recently bought a mix pack of Guinness, as it was half price and since then, I have been getting hives that come and go, on my torso, forearm, and bottom
My mother has celiac diesase and my father stopped drinking beer, he said, due to a skin rash. They were also eating a lot of cake and bread, however. I eat very little bread myself and no cake, or pasta, etc.

[Danicia]

i have been getting very sick with some beers and liquors, and not sick at all with others. i just did some research, and found out that im allergic to all the beers and liquors that use GMO ingredients.
anything made by the Boston Brewing Company is now my safest bet for beers, they are all GMO free!

[hellcat28]

Hey sounds like u are developing sensitivity to something.. check the ingredients of what u drink and record it, i developed several allergies all at once to various things and i kept a diary of what i was eating/drinking. A local beer that i used to drink was the culprit. I stopped drinking it, switched to a low carb beer that doesnt have preservatives or additives and have no problems with it. Id been to several drs about it and still waiting for an appointment with a dermatologist, but have had several blood tests and all have been negative, so it really pays to be your own detective. Good luck!

[67Honda]

I discovered my issue after much research and a doctor filling me in a bit.  You see, there is a reason many people have the issues here with cheap, American beer.  They usually contain a much higher level of sulfites/sulfates. These are used for preservation.  Many beers in Europe or "higher quality" beers don't use it as much if at all. In Germany there is actually a purity law that prohibits beer from being made with anything other than water, hopps, wheat, rye, barley, etc.
I found out I am severely allergic to these preservatives. You can easily be tested to see if you are allergic to such.  This is the same reason I mostly stick to liquor and spirits (like many have said).  
I am not saying this is the exact culprit for all here, but I'm willing to bet at least a few of you will resolve your issue by reading this post.

[paytoplayresearch]

I grew up on beer.  Drank it for fun as a teenager in High School.  Was a normal binge dringer in college.  And continued as a weekender who liked a party in my 20's.  I got in my 30's and started to wake up with strange night sweats and needed to go to bathroom.  Heart racing as well.  Not once did I have a rash.  Symptoms then would go for about 45 min. and I could go back to sleep but I felt miserable (like I was poisoned ) for the next day and not so hot the day after.  I adjusted my consumption and now a few decades later am very picky about what I consume.  Now I find I can drink Organic wine (Daily Red) without any symptoms.  But if I drink beer it better be a good one and in small qty 1-2.  Then if I wait a week or two I might get away with another beer or two with minimal symptoms.  But if I deviate and have more frequent or more qty I get very sick for 2-3 days.  Symptoms now are go to bathroom a few times until I am empty, very hungry (regardless what I have  had to eat), feel posioned/toxic much like a hangover (even though qty of alchol does not justify).  I have not solved it but believe that while some have simple explanations (i.e. celiacs, sulfides,allergy to hops) other may have complex reactions where the kidneys or pancreas are influenced and start a chain reaction that no scientist or doctor yet understands.  

[Calchick]

Ok, so I tried bottled Bud Light one night and Okay.  Next I bought Great White (with Shark on label) by Lost Coast Brewery - drank one last night no problems.  I also bought gluten free Redbridge and will try that one too. have appt. with allergist next week.   For the last 2 weeks, any Bud Light in CAN or Draft is giving me hives, along upper arms and waist - so I am wondering if they treat the cans/kegs with some chemical prior to filling that isn't used in the bottles?  I called them and waiting to hear back.   I know that I have sulfa allergy, but Bud says they don't add sulfites?  but I also read that yeast puts out natural sulfites so who knows.