Drinking beer is enjoyed by many people, but for some, ingesting beer can cause unwanted symptoms, such as stomach pain and heartburn. This reaction may be the result of various reasons and conditions, such as an ulcer, alcohol intolerance, food allergies and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Your family doctor or gastroenterologist will be able to provide you with a clinical diagnosis and treatment options. Stop drinking beer until the condition is diagnosed and resolved.
Ulcer
Ulcers may be the result of drinking too much alcohol on a daily basis. Ulcers are caused by erosion in the lining of your esophagus, stomach or small intestine. Alcohol is a harsh chemical that, over time, can wear on the protective lining of your digestive system. Once exposed, the soft tissue beneath the lining of your intestines forms into an open sore that will cause pain, discomfort and burning when you eat or drink. Drinking beer can exacerbate your symptoms because the alcohol content will continue to cause erosion in your digestive tract. The only cure for this type of ulcer is to eliminate all alcohol from your diet.
Alcohol Intolerance
Alcohol intolerance encompasses a few different conditions. A genuine intolerance to alcohol is the inability to digest and absorb alcohol. This is a hereditary condition that is incurable. Another common cause of stomach pain and heartburn related to alcohol intolerance is the presence of histamine, according to MayoClinic.com. Histamine is a chemical found in beer, produced during the brewing process. If you are histamine intolerant, drinking beer can trigger symptoms similar to an allergic reaction. Sulfite sensitivity can also cause stomach pain and burning in your esophagus after drinking beer. Sulfites are used in most beers as a preservative.
Food Allergies
If you have a known food allergy to wheat, barely or other grains, you will develop digestive complications within a few minutes of drinking beer. Most beer is made from grains, which contain proteins that can trigger an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction to grains will result in swelling and inflammation in your digestive system, causing pain, cramping and heartburn.
GERD
GERD is a condition where acids from your stomach are backwashed into your esophagus, causing chronic heartburn. This condition will cause heartburn and upper-stomach pain when you eat or drink. It is not limited to beer and alcoholic beverages.
