On Wednesday, Scotts Brewing Co started brewing craft and gluten-free beers at its new Oamaru brewery after closing its Auckland brewery and moving its plant south. The gluten-free beers are made using sorghum, buckwheat and corn instead of the usual wheat, rye and barley.
Company owner Phillip Scott said it was ''definitely something special'' to bring brewing back to the town.
Some equipment still had to be installed and the tasting room was still under construction, but the brewing was going well, he said.
''It's been a bit of a challenge but no major hurdles.''
There had been some issues with refrigeration and grain milling equipment not working, but local tradesmen had fixed everything, Mr Scott said.
The brewery bottle store will open on November 17.
Tours of the brewery will start on the same day.
Mr Scott said he ''can't wait'' for the beer to be ready.
People were already ''keen to get in the door'' to try it, he said.
- David de Lorean.
