Another brewery has joined the Central Okanagan with the goal to give people more options.

Grey Fox Brewing opened on Friday, Dec. 17, becoming Lake Countrysa国际传媒檚 first brewery. The newest brewery is notable for two reasons, including that itsa国际传媒檚 the Okanagansa国际传媒檚 first fully gluten-free brewery.

sa国际传媒淚 was diagnosed with celiac disease 20 years ago,sa国际传媒� said Grey Fox Brewing Owner, Founder, and Brewmaster Chris Neufeld. sa国际传媒淭he whole gluten-free scene has changed a lot in 20 years but beer is a void, theresa国际传媒檚 really no good gluten-free beer in British Columbia.sa国际传媒�

Neufeld told Capital News the idea of opening a brewery started in the fall of 2019.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been a long road,sa国际传媒� said Neufeld. sa国际传媒淚n a lot of ways, it was a relief to finally cross that line and be open, but then reality set in that wesa国际传媒檙e really only getting started. Theresa国际传媒檚 still a lot of work to do.sa国际传媒�

Neufeld and his team had troubles early on as the pandemic started, but then got possession of their Lake Country location in October 2021.

They also received help to open their brewery by starting a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $20,000 from 112 people.

When it comes to gluten-free beer, the procedures can be more complex than regular beer, because it is based from millet and rice instead of barley.

sa国际传媒淭he process is a lot more complicated than brewing regular beer,sa国际传媒� said Neufeld. sa国际传媒淲e have a much more complicated mashing process. Historically, theresa国际传媒檚 been the challenge with gluten-free beer.sa国际传媒�

The second reason why Grey Fox is notable for the Central Okanagan is that itsa国际传媒檚 not a pub. They are manufacturing their beer at their facility to distribute to other breweries around the Okanagan.

sa国际传媒淵ou can come here and buy beer but you cansa国际传媒檛 come here and have a beer,sa国际传媒� said Neufeld. sa国际传媒淥ur plan is wesa国际传媒檙e going to be available in the other breweries around town and [theysa国际传媒檙e] very receptive of that. The concept is that me, as a celiac, I can go to my friendsa国际传媒檚 favourite brewery and share a beer with them even though Isa国际传媒檓 gluten-free.sa国际传媒�

Neufeld also said that since the pandemic, itsa国际传媒檚 been harder to find gluten-free beers in liquor stores.

Grey Fox is the Central Okanagansa国际传媒檚 19th brewery, and people have been excited about having another option that opens up to more people.

sa国际传媒淲hen we opened, we got absolutely slammed, wesa国际传媒檝e been pumping beer out of there like crazy,sa国际传媒� said Neufeld. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a combination of people coming in who said they havensa国际传媒檛 been able to drink beer in years and are super happy to have an option to the beer geeks that want to try out the newest brewery all the time. Wesa国际传媒檝e had a really good cross-section of people and really interesting conversations.sa国际传媒�

Grey Fox Brewing is located at 105-310 Hiram Walker Court.

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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