I miss beer. Andrea Duchon’s recent post naming Seattle’s Top 10 Beer Tweeters isn’t helping. Being a climber around these parts doesn’t help either . . . beer is one of the primary other things climbers do together by way of “social interaction.” Climb. Beer. Food. Climb. Repeat. My climbing partners have long since given up on trying to pack snacks I can share, or choose eating destinations that are “Rose-friendly.” When it comes to food, I’m essentially on my own. And that’s fine; I’m getting good at identifying which French fries are and aren’t dusted with flour. It’s the beer thing that’s sort of a problem. So far, all the gluten-free beer I’ve found has been (frankly) gross. About three years ago, I was introduced to hard cider. Although initially unconvinced by the concept, I have to admit that it’s grown on me over time. Then yesterday I made a trip out to Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown, and realized that the bars around here have been seriously holding out on their gluten-free patrons. Did you know: In the state of Washington alone, there are at least 10 different craft cideries? Ten! (And none of them are named Strongbow.) What’s more, cider actually comes in multiple different forms, from the “mass produced” to the extremely limited-edition, single-batch, “aged in whiskey barrels” type. It may appear as a classically dry, English-style cider, or as something dessert-sweet, much like an iced wine. Fortunately, Full Throttle Bottles’ owner, Erika Tedin, knows her cider, and was happy to help me navigate the overwhelming number of options. Cider, much like beer and wine, can range anywhere from $1.50 a bottle to astronomically expensive. But most of the local craft-cider options at Full Throttle are inthe $12-$16 range for a bottle similar in size to the average wine bottle. Clearly not something you’d throw in your backpack on a camping trip, but great for a dinner at home. If you’re plotting summer camping trips, though, they also offer smaller bottles of cheaper, more mass-produced ciders which are still good non-beer, non-gluten options. Full Throttle Bottles is located at 5909 Airport Way S. Stop by to check out their collection of ciders and allow yourself a little extra time to talk with Erika, who will be happy to educate you about any cidery thing you want to know. If cider just isn’t your thing, you might also check out the other gluten-free options: g-free beer, sake, wine, and a wide selection of meads. If you’re not sure whether cider is your thing, keep an eye on the following links for more information and news about tasting events: The Northwest Cider Association on Twitter.Old Time Cider on Twitter.Wildfire Cider on Facebook.Tieton Cider Works’ blog.