TWØBAYS Brewing Co; gluten-free beer

Aussie start-up taps into gluten-free beer boom

February 24, 2020
By Alana House

TWØBAYS Brewing Co is on a mission to show Australians with coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity that a refreshing beer isn’t off the agenda.

And it’s quickly found a receptive audience – TWØBAYS beers are already found in more than 550 venues and bottle shops across Australia, just over a year since launching.

The global gluten-free beer market is expected to grow from $US5.6 billion in 2017 to $US18.7 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period from 2018-2025, according to a recent report by market intelligence company Fior Markets.

With around one in 70 Australians diagnosed with coeliac disease and 14% reporting a sensitivity to gluten, TWØBAYS Brewing Co is the first dedicated gluten-free brewing company with a taproom in Australia, in Victoria’s Dromana.

TWØBAYS Brewing Co; gluten-free beer

TWØBAYS Brewing Co was born after a trip to America, which opened the eyes of Founder, Richard Jeffares, to breweries in Portland, Seattle, Denver and Montreal who were crafting high quality, gluten free beers.

Jeffares decided to bring the gluten-free craft beer ethos to Australia. He’s joined by head brewer, Andrew Gow, who has more than 20 years of experience.

Jeffares said “gluten free grains have their own flavour profile, which is different to barley, but we don’t see that as a barrier; we see it as an opportunity.”

“Wine is pressed using an assortment of grape varieties and beer can be brewed from many grains – not just barley, wheat and rye.

“There is no doubt that barley is the predominant beer-brewing malt, but gluten-free grains – like millet – have been used in brewing for more than 5000 years – so it’s been done before.

Several of TWØBAYS Brewing Co’s products are certified and endorsed by Coeliac Australia.

“Alternative grains include, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, rice, quinoa, corn, lentils and even chestnuts,” said Jeffares.

TWØBAYS’ Pale Ale is also currently ranked the No.1 gluten-free beer in Australia on www.untappd.com, soon to be usurped by its IPA and XPA.

TWØBAYS is particularly popular on tap, a market where people are more open to sampling.

“In venues where we are on tap our beer sells just as well as any barley beer,” Jeffares told news.com.au.

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