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.

害羞草研究所淚 was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003, back when nobody even knew what gluten was,害羞草研究所� said Neufeld. 害羞草研究所淔inding a gluten-free beer that stands up to its more traditional counterpart is tough. It害羞草研究所檚 a real hole in the market.害羞草研究所�

Neufeld learned from brewers in Oregon who taught him some of the science in extracting the starches from the gluten-free grains that aren害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淚 was giving it to my friends, and they couldn害羞草研究所檛 tell they were any different from the beers they were drinking at the taproom down the street,害羞草研究所� said Neufeld. That害羞草研究所檚 when I knew things needed to be bigger, and that害羞草研究所檚 when Grey Fox started.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚n the last five years there害羞草研究所檚 been an explosion of gluten-free craft beer in the States,害羞草研究所� he explained. 害羞草研究所淚t really hasn害羞草研究所檛 been something that害羞草研究所檚 caught on here in Canada. There害羞草研究所檚 clearly a need, and we want to change that.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 expensive to ship. It害羞草研究所檚 also more expensive to brew gluten-free beer.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why everybody is scared to get into the market I think,害羞草研究所� said Neufeld. 害羞草研究所淏ut my thinking was if I build a gluten-free facility then I can supply or contract to other breweries and they don害羞草研究所檛 have to make that capital investment.害羞草研究所�

Neufeld has secured agreements with taprooms and restaurants throughout the Okanagan that want to carry Grey Fox beers. What he害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淐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害羞草研究所檙e getting close to opening,害羞草研究所� 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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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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