Mark Green says locals are flocking to his Narre Warren business to buy the ingredients to brew their own gluten free beer.By Liesel Rickarby
MARK Green has been living in Narre Warren for the past 25 years and for 20 of those he’s been brewing his own beer.
Eight weeks ago he added a new item to his repertoire: gluten-free beer.
The owner of Narre Brew Supplies began brewing beer on the suggestion of his wife, who told him he spent too much money on beer.
Thinking there must be more to making good ale than buying a supermarket brew kit; he went looking for more.
“I found out there was such a thing as a home brew shop where you could buy the proper ingredients.”
When he realised there wasn’t such a shop in Narre Warren, he started his own.
Just over 14 years later he says his wife’s very happy about it.
Two years ago a doctor approached Mr Green and suggested gluten-free brewing as he had celiac patients who couldn’t drink regular beer.
In the interim two years Mr Green sourced and priced the ingredients for the beer, which he said had been very popular in the eight weeks since its debut.
Home brewed gluten-free beer is a quarter of the price of the store bought equivalent and according to Mr Green it’s important to have gluten-free alternatives on the market.
“Celiacs need an alternative. They enjoy beer as much as anyone else. All gluten-free products are really dear. We’re trying to make beer affordable for celiacs,” he said.
The gluten-free brew is just the last in a line of many beers brewed by Mr Green, who has brewed every beer he’s had in his shop including wheat beers, pale ales, Guinness, Corona and milk stout.
When asked what his favourite beer is, he pauses for a split second: “Cold beer.”
