First dedicated gluten-free brewery set to open in Kelowna this summer

The newest addition to Kelowna’s craft beer scene will be a very exciting one for those who have issues with gluten.

Grey Fox Brewing is set to open in Kelowna this summer and it would become the first dedicated gluten-free brewery in British Columbia.

Founder and brewmaster, Chris Neufeld says the equipment is purchased, the Kelowna location is secured and the recipes are dialed in.

“Finding a gluten-free beer that stands up to its more traditional counterpart is tough,” he explained.

“It’s a real hole in the market. There’s clearly a need, and we want to change that. Grey Fox beer is not just gluten free, it’s real craft beer that even your non-celiac or gluten-sensitive friends will be excited to drink.”

However, Grey Fox has run into some hiccups of late, as supply chain issues and the increasing cost of construction has pushed the brewery slightly out of reach.

Neufeld has launched a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising the final $20,000 needed to get the facility built out and ready to officially open its doors this summer.

Anyone who contributes a certain amount to help finish the build can receive rewards through Kickstarter, which include some great looking Grey Fox swag and more.

Neufeld says the demand for quality gluten-free beer is clear and it’s not just coming from beer drinkers, as taprooms and restaurants all over the Okanagan have expressed interest.

That includes Gary Brucker from Barn Owl Brewing, who would love to have a gluten-free option on tap at his beloved Mission brewery.

“We knew we couldn’t brew it here, so we’ve been looking for the best option,” he noted. “From the minute I sampled it, I thought ‘we would serve that.’”

For Neufeld, making craft gluten-free beer is personal, as the Grey Fox founder was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003 and has lived completely gluten-free since then.

While it used to be very difficult to find gluten-free products, that has changed considerably over the years, but beer has seemingly remained exempt from that progress.

He first started experimenting with making beer at home, and it was a flop until he was introduced to brewers in Oregon who had been active in the gluten-free scene.

“They taught me some of the science in how to extract the starches from the gluten-free grains that aren’t so easily extracted as they are from barley,” he explained.

And once he learned the science behind it, the beer he was making changed dramatically.

“I was giving it to my friends, and they couldn’t tell they were any different from the beers they were drinking at the taproom down the street,” added Neufeld.

“That’s when I knew things needed to be bigger, and that’s when Grey Fox started.”

The brewery will initially launch with two styles of beer, a lager and an IPA, and will sell both kegs and cans.

To learn more about Grey Fox Brewing and throw your support behind the project, click this link.