Melbourne brewer TWØBAYS Brewing Co says hospitality operators are turning their backs on millions of customers by not stocking gluten-free beer.

One in four Australians now avoid gluten, including one in 10 who exclude it entirely from their diet for health reasons.

TWØBAYS Brewing Co leads the gluten free craft beer market by a long margin, but its beers are available in less than 5% of Australia’s 50,000 licensed venues.

CEO and Founder Richard Jeffares says while the industry has shown growing support, many decision makers still underestimate the scale of the opportunity.

“Gluten free is one of the most exciting subcategories for growth in the entire beer industry,” he said.

“The smart operators already know that if you do not have a gluten free beer on the menu, or in your bottle shop fridges, you are turning away up to 25% of your clientele. For too long, gluten free consumers had very little options, often forced to settle for cider, wine or spirits. That barrier is gone, yet availability of beer remains the biggest issue holding them back from being treated like everyone else.”

TWØBAYS is one of the few beer brands in Australia recording astronomical growth in recent years. While national beer consumption has slumped to a 60-year low and dozens of craft breweries have closed following the COVID-19 boom, TWØBAYS grew 18.6% in FY25, selling more than 1.3 million cans in the last year, and has achieved over $20 million in lifetime sales.

Its beers are now stocked in more than 2500 venues nationwide, including Dan Murphy’s, Liquorland, leading Independent bottle shops and great pubs and restaurants  – it is even available at the MCG.

TWØBAYS is also Australia’s largest direct-to-consumer online brewery, selling approximately 7500 cartons of beer annually through its own online store, more than any other independent brewery in the country.

Jeffares was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2015 and told he could never drink regular beer again. Refusing to accept life without a pint, Jeffares travelled to the United States to learn specialised gluten-free brewing techniques and source the world’s best alternative grain malts. Two Bays launched in 2017 with a mission to create “the shout that doesn’t leave anyone out”.

Today, the brewery produces Australia’s largest gluten-free beer range, brewed with millet, buckwheat, and rice malts instead of barley or wheat.

TWØBAYS is now inviting the public to become part of its journey through an equity crowdfunding campaign on the OnMarket platform.

“Beer consumption is in long-term decline, partly due to drinkers taking gluten out of their diets, but it remains a central part of Australia’s drinking culture and we are in prime position to bring millions more Aussies back to drinking beer,” Jeffares said.

“What sets us apart is that the gluten free market is growing strongly year after year, and with more than 50,000 liquor licences in Australia and only 2500 currently offering TWØBAYS, the upside is enormous.

“The funds we raise will allow us to expand distribution, boost production, and open a new city venue to showcase our range.”

TWØBAYS already has high-profile investors including Grill’d restaurants founder Simon Crowe and former Foster’s CEO Trevor Hoy.

“Now investors have the chance to join us as we take gluten free beer from the margins to the mainstream, in line with global forecasts showing this category is set to grow more than 14% annually to reach nearly US$400 million by 2030,” Jeffares said.

Learn more about the funding raise here.