A new craft brewery in Kelowna will be making gluten-free beer.
Grey Fox Brewing founder and brewmaster Chris Neufeld is behind the project and is very familiar with the gluten-free lifestyle.
香蕉视频直播淚 was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003, back when nobody even knew what gluten was,香蕉视频直播 said Neufeld. 香蕉视频直播淔inding a gluten-free beer that stands up to its more traditional counterpart is tough. It香蕉视频直播檚 a real hole in the market.香蕉视频直播
Neufeld learned from brewers in Oregon who taught him some of the science in extracting the starches from the gluten-free grains that aren香蕉视频直播檛 so easily extracted as they are from barley. He uses a combination of millet and rice along with hops and yeast to produce his gluten-free beer.
香蕉视频直播淚 was giving it to my friends, and they couldn香蕉视频直播檛 tell they were any different from the beers they were drinking at the taproom down the street,香蕉视频直播 said Neufeld. That香蕉视频直播檚 when I knew things needed to be bigger, and that香蕉视频直播檚 when Grey Fox started.香蕉视频直播
The gluten-free beer market in Western Canada is spotty right now according to Neufeld. There are only a handful of taprooms, and liquor stores struggle with consistent supply.
香蕉视频直播淚n the last five years there香蕉视频直播檚 been an explosion of gluten-free craft beer in the States,香蕉视频直播 he explained. 香蕉视频直播淚t really hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been something that香蕉视频直播檚 caught on here in Canada. There香蕉视频直播檚 clearly a need, and we want to change that.香蕉视频直播
There are challenges in doing that. Neufeld pointed out gluten-free malt is not available in Canada, so he has to source it from Colorado and it香蕉视频直播檚 expensive to ship. It香蕉视频直播檚 also more expensive to brew gluten-free beer.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 why everybody is scared to get into the market I think,香蕉视频直播 said Neufeld. 香蕉视频直播淏ut my thinking was if I build a gluten-free facility then I can supply or contract to other breweries and they don香蕉视频直播檛 have to make that capital investment.香蕉视频直播
Neufeld has secured agreements with taprooms and restaurants throughout the Okanagan that want to carry Grey Fox beers. What he香蕉视频直播檚 looking for now is a final push to open the doors. He is relying on support through a to help raise an additional $20,000.
香蕉视频直播淐onstruction costs have spiralled out of control, so we thought the Kickstarter might be a way to raise a little bit of extra money, and we香蕉视频直播檙e getting close to opening,香蕉视频直播 said Neufeld.
Grey Fox Brewing is slated to open this summer on Hiram Walker Court, near Jim Bailey Road and will feature a tasting room and small retail space selling a lager and an IPA in kegs and cans.
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