Cannery Brewing has a compelling enthusiasm for the Penticton community and craft beer industry. As craft beer evangelists for 20 years, founding owners Patt and Ron Dyck brewed that same commitment into their family and staff. So much so, their son Ian and lead brewer Ross Thompson joined the ownership team, bringing a fresh generation of ideas to their initiatives.

Beer Beginnings

The name Cannery Brewing pays homage to where its first beer was brewed back on April 1, 2001. The Naramata Nut Brown Ale was brewed at the old Aylmer fruit and vegetable cannery in the historic Cannery Trade Centre.

The Cannery Brewing Company was born in 2000 when the original Brew Master, Terry Schoffer, came across some brewing equipment and was able to convince Ron and Patt, “two like-minded and equally brewing-enamoured folks,” to share his dream. Ready to explore a different direction, the three of them were culinary mavericks operating the pilgrimage-worthy Country Squire Restaurant in Naramata for some 23 years.

You have to maintain a good sense of humour to run such a food and beverage establishment, so brewing the first batch of beer on April’s Fool Day was a great fit. Plus, practical jokes persist within the corporate culture despite how seriously the quality of brewing is taken. At the time, there were about as many breweries in all of BC that are in Penticton alone today.

They continued to operate the restaurant for a few more years as Cannery Brewing got some legs under it. Beer was brewed and sold in kegs for local restaurants, pubs, and clubs. Then, Cannery learned pigs do fly when they introduced 8.5 litre Party Pigs of beer that flew out the doors. (Alas, the Party Pigs have retired.)

In those early years, Ron hit the trail across the province in Skruffy the cube van with one-litre EZ cap Grolsch-style bottles – those old bottles in which many early craft beers debuted. The heavy load that resulted and Skruffy’s propensity to break down on major hills and every difficult stretch of highway gave way to Cannery’s decision to package in 650ml amber bottles. On the other hand, Ron never missed an opportunity to spread the gospel of Cannery’s brews, so those breakdowns often resulted in craft beer converts.

Tailgate tastings may or may not have introduced many to a fine quaff of ale!

Beers, Cans, Growlers, and Leadership Evolve

In 2006, Cannery brought canning back to the Aylmer cannery when the Anarchist Amber Ale rolled out in 355ml six-packs. Much to the delight of the team and customers, the Naramata Nut Brown Ale also hit the canning line in 2007. The micro-brewery was becoming increasingly known for its fine ales and lagers and never compromising flavour, “a result of wonderful combinations of premium quality malted grains, carefully chosen hops, and carefully selected and scrutinized ingredients.”

Growlers, too, became popular and flew out of the brewery faster than the Party Pigs.

Cannery was part of Ian’s life as he grew up. He was only 12 or 13 when he first accompanied Ron on those epic Skruffy road trips. After pursuing Business Management at Camosun College in Victoria and cutting his teeth selling for Peller Estates and a few other jobs, it’s not surprising he returned to Cannery and ultimately became an owner. Both Patt and Ian are known to have incredible palates that can distinguish subtle flavour profiles.

Ross grew up in the north and had been drinking Yukon Brewing Co. since high school, which is where he developed his preference for craft beer. He had travelled south with his then-girlfriend, now wife, AJ. When he went to the Naramata Pub, he naturally ordered a local craft beer: a pint of Naramata Nut Brown Ale. AJ was working at Kettle Valley Winery at the time and asked for suggestions where her boyfriend could find a job. He went to The Tin Whistle Brewing Company first, then to Cannery, where Patt interviewed him.

About a week and a half before Okanagan Fest of Ale 2009, he got the job at Cannery.

He augmented his practical on-the-job training with professional development. He completed the Diploma in Brewing Science through the Siebel Institute of Technology – a Chicago vocational school with a focus on brewing education and brewing services since 1868.

Cannery’s marketing, too, has evolved from tailgate tastings. As the BC liquor industry has developed, Cannery has adapted and, on many occasions, helped lead the change. Some 14 years ago, Kim Lawton was added to provide strategic marketing consulting. She has been integral in rebranding and helping spread the word about Cannery over the years. Her long service, as well as that of other staffers who have stayed with Cannery, speaks to the brewery’s employment practices.

An employee named Jill, for instance, babysat Ian when she was 13 and is now a long-time employee at the brewery. Another named Geoff started working with the family when he was 13. Then there’s Jeff, who’s has been on staff for some 11 years, Ellie over 10 years, their microbiologist Scott for almost 10 years, Jess 7 years, Kelly and Landon for 6 years, Max their taproom manager for over 5 years, and Darcy for almost 5 years.

As Ross noted, “Not a bad track record for an industry not known as high paying given the required skill set.”

Craft Beer Forward Taproom

In its former location, Cannery had jerry-rigged equipment and popped out about as many walls as possible. As it outgrew its facility, the younger generation was adamant it had to offer more than a small tasting room to try the selections. Ross points out, “Penticton needed places appropriate for going on a date.”

Thus, the gruelling task of building a new brewery got underway in October 2014. Through the transformation of ANJ Automotive, 198 Ellis Street, the Taproom arose out of the metal scraps and sawdust. Alongside, the brewery was constructed and, by mid-Spring, tanks were moved and the production facility had a new home.

Here, too, having played such a critical role in handling the transition to the new space, Ross fulfilled his “goal of owning his own business and becoming self-employed.” Ross appreciates the leap of faith by the Dyck family to include him in the ownership of the brewery. “They’ve always been collaborative within the industry and are still so helpful. I’m proud to be part of a company that has amazing owners, great product and cares about local.”

“We had a person in Ross that we did not want to lose,” Ron says. “The best thing was to make him part of it.” Patt adds, “Ian and Ross are a matched pair with unique skill sets that complement each other.”

By mid-June 2015, doors opened on the taproom equipped with 12 taps, fantastic bar snacks and, as of 2016, is now home to live music performances and many special events. This gave “date night” an exceptional venue and the neighbours arrived in droves! At the family-friendly taproom, in addition to free music on Sunday evenings, there are old-school board games to enjoy.

Witnessing the production through the taproom windows, it’s clear Cannery is a craft beer-forward taproom rather than a restaurant that makes its own beers.

20th Anniversary Festivities Thank the Community

While the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictions have deeply impacted operations and plans for a 20th anniversary celebration, Cannery has navigated those rough waters with creativity. Accordingly, the 20th Anniversary will be marked with style amid “an abundance of caution”. On April 1st, there will be two new beer releases available in 473ml cans at the brewery and throughout BC later in April.

For those wishing to say cheers in person, there will be an experimental beer, anniversary beer pricing on all Cannery beers, and bubbly selections available from community partners Blue Mountain Vineyard and Creek & Gully Cider to enjoy on the patio. Penticton’s own Buy The Sea will also have shucked and unshucked oysters for take out from 3-7pm. Patio seating is limited.

“There’s history in those relationships, too,” Patt smiles. “The Country Squire was the first customer for Blue Mountain. Anders and Annelise and the Simonsen family of Creek & Gully have been connected to our family their whole lives. Anders and Ian went to school together, and Annelise worked with us at the brewery.”

Future

A new tier of beer will allow Cannery to add fresh ideas and bring back some old favourites. Wherever possible, local ingredients will be used. For this tier, you’ll see distinct designs by Skyler Punnett and Paul Higgins from local design company Super Deluxe Creative, who worked closely with Cannery on rebranding three years ago.

Cannery will continue to adapt with ingenuity as unforeseen challenges present themselves, just as they did for the hop shortage of around 2005/2006, bottle shortages, and the Covid-19 pandemic. It’ll continue to be deeply rooted in the community and will support local whenever and in whatever manner it can.

I’ve been a fan since I arrived in Penticton full-time in 2009 and learned more about them on a media junket in 2012. Much of what I learned about craft beer can be attributed to Cannery’s encouragement and advocacy.

As to future leadership, Ian and Ross have started families of their own and you’ll find their lively youngsters onsite quite regularly. The zeal and joy of the ownership is palpable, so I wager Cannery is in good hands for the next 20 years and beyond!

Cannery is known for its community work and has consistently been an active participant in so many of the region’s flagship events. On the other hand, it is Cannery who truly celebrates this community. Patt notes, “We want to emphasize how grateful we are for the absolutely amazing community support that we have received over all of these years.”

Whether you are in Penticton or beyond, grab your favourite Cannery beer and say cheers to 20 years.

Support Local, Stay Local:

COVID-19 Travel Restrictions: Like you, we’re passionate about exploring BC on the #BCAleTrail. But now is the time to stay local and support local businesses with just your immediate household or core bubble.⁠

BC’s breweries are strictly adhering to recommended COVID-19 safety protocols to keep both guests and staff safe. They are ready to welcome you for on-site tasting or pick up your favourites to go.

For now, please remember to stick close to home and be a Considerate Craft Beer Consumer. Let us each do our part now, so we can explore BC again, soon. We’re all in this together.

The post Cannery Brewing: 20 Years as Craft Beer Evangelists appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

I can’t resist using a bowling term to describe the major renovation at Freddy’s Brewpub and the connected family-friendly McCurdy Bowling. With the distinction of being Kelowna’s first brewpub established in 2001, Freddy’s embarked on a complete reset of its facilities in honour of nearly 20 years of business.

Chris Bunnage (Sales and Marketing) said “over $1 million in capital investment” went into an extensive revision of the site. “We expanded the brewery by 17 feet, which has tripled its size, giving us the ability to brew three times as many varieties of beer. Seating capacity increased by about 10 percent pre-COVID-19 numbers. Including the bowling centre we are licensed for 440 seats. Currently operating at 110 in the brewpub and 90 in the bowling centre during COVID-19.”

Highlights of the makeover, which took the building down to the studs, included a brightening of décor; sound baffling; an expanded floor plan in the indoor patio and lounge area with booth seating; windows into the brewing area; garage doors to the bowling facility; relocation of bar and retail space both upfront and in the bowling centre; updated washrooms; and a refreshed exterior.

Then and Now

I first visited Freddy’s in April 2012 on a ‘Beer & Spirits’ media familiarization tour, a collaboration by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Tourism Kelowna, and Tourism Penticton. At the time, the beer was brewed under the name of Mill Creek Brewery by brewmaster Jack Clark. He had worked for Labatt’s for many years and it was in this retirement gig that he found his love of craft beer. At the time, two lagers and four ales were brewed on-site in the microbrewery and tapped directly from the stainless-steel vessels adjacent to pub. Those beer were quaffable enough if a little lacklustre.

Over lunch in the traditional pub setting with heavy armchairs and worn wooden tables, Clark revealed that he secretly wished to produce darker and hoppier brews. At the time, the owners preferred to stick to tried and true Canadian styles.

Fast forward to 2020 and the craft beer industry has exploded across British Columbia and consumers are demanding diversity from light lagers to complex sours. In Kelowna itself, there are now over a dozen breweries.

Today brewmaster Keith Bennett, who has been with the company for over four years, apprenticed under Clark. Bennett has built relationships with a number of the other local breweries and cideries. Now you’ll find guest taps such as Wild Ambition, Kelowna Brewing Company, Kettle River Brewing, and Upside Cider. In fact, Bennett revealed Kettle River lent a hand to brew Freddy’s beer while the brewery was dismantled for the expansion.

As the wraps are taken off the shining new tanks and the final touches are in place, Bennett will be able to get even more creative. For our visit, selection was still limited:  we tasted Lebowski Lager, Harkrider Red Lager, and Channel Cat IPA, and Grand Poobah Chocolate Milk Stout – all 5% ABV. We particularly enjoyed the red lager and, while light, the stout was highly flavourful.

Food Program Inspired By Beer

In revamping the menu, Head Chef Jesse Rived is inspired by the in-house craft beers. With a unique and creative approach, he refreshes the menu a couple of times annually creating as much in-house as possible.

From his menu launched in October, we enjoyed a Cucumber Crunch Salad featuring mint-marinated cucumbers, lime yogurt, Sambal cucumbers, curry aioli, marinated tomatoes, curried crunchy chickpeas, and feta; and Chicken Tostado showcasing confit chicken thighs, peppers, black beans, roasted mushrooms, corn, roasted garlic crema, queso fresco, marinated tomatoes, fresh jalapenos, and fried flour tortillas. Feature of the day was Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Poutine with shredded cheese, gravy, pickles, white onions, beer-b-q sauce, and roasted garlic crema.

Selections are diverse with pub favourites such as burgers, fries, fish ‘n chips, and pizza, plus a myriad of surprises including six salad choices.

Bowling Bounces Back

According to sources such as bowlingguide.com, while it seemed bowling alleys were in decline since the 1970s, participation is on the rise again. Enough so that Kelowna’s BNA Brewing added bowling as a feature.

The COVID-19 pandemic has tempered growth, yet McCurdy Bowling Centre, with 24 lanes of 10-pin and six lanes of 5-pin bowling, has remained popular. When it was closed for renovations, the lanes were completely refurbished and space reconfigured to include garage doors between it and the brewpub. Freddy’s craft beer and menu is the perfect pairing as you throw for that perfect game.

Plan Your Return

I was delighted to see the shiny, new atmosphere at Freddy’s. It was like seeing an old friend faring well.

The post In Honour of 20 years, Freddy’s Brewpub Does a Reset appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

As the craft beer scene has intensified so, too, has the quest for perfect pairings with food. At one time if you’d have asked a restaurant server what to pair with your menu selection, you’d automatically hear a host of wine selections. Not so anymore as attention has shifted to make room for the fabulous and sometimes complex brews the talented craft brewers are creating. A prime example of this can be found in the perfect pairing between Kettle River Brewing and Provisions Kitchen in Kelowna.

The start of something special

When Kettle River Brewing opened, partners Russ Burmell-Higgs and Chris Dedinsky (general manager) knew from the start that the beers would be even more well received with a complement of food. The core business concept was to create a small batch neighbourhood brewery tucked away, yet not far from downtown Kelowna.

“The philosophy at Kettle River is a simple one, brew great beer in the back and provide an inviting space to enjoy them in the front.”

Rather than stray from the goal to experiment with new brew recipes and ingredients to create an “ever-evolving collection of beers on tap,” Kettle River put out a request to food trucks for the grand opening in August 2016. Sisters and owners Meiko and Courtney Koga of CrAsian Foods truck, answered the call as first responders and the match was divine from day one.

Says Dedinsky, “Initially we instituted Food Truck Fridays with rotating suppliers and our customers consistently gave us great feedback on CrAsian Foods. Their menu had some unique dishes that paired well with our beer and offered something different from the food found in other breweries. Plus, they were always reliable so we wanted their truck here as much as possible.”

Fast forward to winter 2018 when celebrated chef, Brock Bowes, joined the CrAsian Foods Corp team. The demand continued to increase, as did the catering base which quickly outgrew the truck facilities. Serendipitously, as the CrAsian team began to explore options, Kettle River entertained the idea of installing a permanent kitchen.

“Of course,” says Dedinsky, “We thought of them first and proposed the idea to them of leased space where they could create a kitchen that’d service our Kettle River customers and give them a base for their catering operations.”

Kettle River hatches Provisions Kitchen

Thus, they entered a new business arrangement – together, yet separate – and Provisions Kitchen and Catering was born inside Kettle River.

“We don’t pour their beer and they don’t cook and serve our food,” Bowes jokes.

The labour for the birth of Provisions was a collaborative affair. The Koga parents and Bowes’ dad stepped in for construction, while the electrical engineering skills of Burmell-Higgs and multi talents of Dedinsky proved invaluable, relates Bowes. Despite being a leased space for Provisions, it was designed by them and built to accommodate the cooking style and catering needs.

Says Courtney Koga, “It is a great relationship and Kettle River respects what we’re doing as we respect them. We try to keep our food distinctive from the other breweries in this district. We love to see what they’re brewing and develop dishes that work well with what’s on tap.”

For the beer enthusiast, it’s a seamless experience. You step up to the rustic counter to select from the chalkboard menus your beverages of choice and food items. You pay for the order, receive a numbered stand, and head to your seat with your number to await delivery. Single drinks travel with you; beer flights are procured and delivered; while the food order is given to the kitchen to prepare and serve.

When we popped into the cabin-like setting one Sunday, a running group had descended upon the brewery to apparently reward themselves for their healthy lifestyle. Despite the rush on the taps and food, the wait was minimal.

We enjoyed a well-crafted flight including Nice Driveway Pilsner, Medusa X(TRA)PA, Business in the Front Blonde Ale, and Couch Money Pale Ale.

As a lunch pairing, Mark opted for the meat pie and I went for the ever-popular poutine. One weekend we’ll return with friends to experience one of Provisions’ big boards. Inspired by the whim of the kitchen, these boards can be a hearty bucket of chicken, rib-eye or some other substantive (and delicious) protein, vegetables and condiments. Provisions sources the best of ingredients as locally as possible. It also supports food truck friends, serving Renegade Food Truck vegan burger patties and Artisto Gelato.

Provisions truly has a talented team crafting what is described as “casual camp-inspired food done right” that’s a great fit for cozy ambiance. The team is open to modifying the menu to respond to specific dietary requirements of its customers. Bowes, who serves on the Okanagan Chefs Association board, adds to his portfolio of accomplishments his role as one of the competitors in this season’s Top Chef Canada.

Come Taste Kettle River’s Provisions

Watch Kettle River and Provisions social media feeds for all the latest news. There’s often fun events for special occasions and Sunday Taproom Trivia in which to participate.

Along with its growler program, Kettle River does small batch canning for some of its popular brews so there’s no need to walk out empty handed. Select liquor stores in Kelowna also carry Kettle River cans. In the taproom, you can buy brewery-themed merchandise and local art on display.

Provisions and Kettle River share the same hours, closed Monday and Tuesdays, and open from 12 noon to 10 pm from Wednesday through Sunday. As spring approaches, Dedinsky is excited about the patio season. With new bathrooms installed (bringing the public ones to three and a separate staff facility), capacity has grown and now allows for 65 inside and 45 on the patio.

See you there soon?

If you are looking for more information for coping during the COVID-19 pandemic, please refer to these government resources.

The post Kettle River and Provisions Kitchen: The Perfect Pairing appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Trail Beer Refinery

The 13 local business partners who opened Trail’s first craft brewery (March 2017) thought the name should embrace the historic connection to mining, refining and smelting.

Brewmaster Sheri Konkin said, “Trail is a hard-working and friendly city. Our motto ‘Work hard. Play harder.’ reflects that.” Her husband Mike, Trail Beer Refinery CEO and spokesperson, was born and raised in the region. They returned 20 years ago to raise children. A former respiratory therapist, Sheri was mentored by brewmaster Andrew Anker, formerly of Mill Street Brewery, hired to assist startup. Sheri boosts brewing knowledge online through the Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago.

Rich wood tones, industrial accents such as lights, beer taps and beer flight containers, and art accents by local Claude Mocci exude warmth. Rich aromas wafting from its complementary kitchen offering handcrafted pizzas, shares and small plates, soup, salad, sandwiches, burgers, desserts and daily specials such as fish-and-chips are tantalizing.

Easy drinking Silver City Lager and Trail Ale, popular with locals, was sampled plus Thunder Road IPA, Sixty-One Lager, Oh Bourbon and Dirty Secret Stout. Trail Beer also manufactures Zero Vodka Soda in various flavours. Good food, good beer. No wonder the place is packed especially on game nights for the Trail Smoke Eaters hockey team.

Rossland Beer Company

The oldest of these craft breweries, Rossland Beer Company was established in 2012 by Owners/Operators Petri Raito and Ryan Arnaud, brewmaster. It crams a lot of community love into a small space. Evident by a 15 to 20 per cent sales growth annually, Rossland Beer lives up to its slogan “Small in size but big in flavour” despite limited space.

With Petri we tasted Red Zeppelin Raspberry Wheat Ale (seasonal), Helter Smelter Amber Ale, Green Jacket Pale Ale, 4 on The Floor IPA, and the new Faulty Towers Pale Ale featuring New Zealand’s Nelson Sauvin Hops. Many brews are one offs and may not reappear. In the taproom, the gold medal Seven Summits Milk Stout was out-of-stock.
Rossland Beer sticks to its beer focus and offers light snacks only. Occasionally a food truck is onsite and a local bakery sometimes offers sandwiches. People are encouraged to bring in their food to pair with the beer.

Tailout Brewing

Snow gods blessed RED with the most January snow days in over 15 years, making our drive more challenging. An hour added by wintry roads, we arrived at Tailout Brewing’s noon opening.

Beer tastes best in the summer – especially after scuba diving. Yet, the flight of finely made craft brews revived us completely. Open three months, Tailout Brewing is already a focal point. Without its own restaurant, it collaborates with local favourite The Grand Buddha Bistro conveniently located upstairs. Tailout specials include four items. Order take out to access the whole menu and bring it downstairs to eat with a beer. Thai food not your thing? Bring in other food.

Tailout’s owners are fishing enthusiasts. “Tailout” refers to that special shallow of water before it spills over into another riffle. Once monthly, the “Pint of Knowledge” evening includes topics like Alpine trout and Spey fishing in the Columbia. There are fly-tying nights, bingo, crib tournaments and concerts. When spring sweeps into the valley, Tailout will fling its garage door open and hopes to add a patio. “Another DIY project like inside,” noted Hedin Nelson-Chorney, owner/general manager, leading us through our flight of well-crafted Twin River Red; Bomb Blonde; Coffee Blonde (a limited-edition cold brew on nitro sourced from Seven Summits Coffee Company, Rossland); and Alpine Start Mocha Stout. We also tasted the flagship Single Spey IPA. Starting small, if pushed 10 brews could be produced monthly. Hedin added, “We all have an affinity for outdoor lifestyle including fishing. That’s why Castlegar is perfect. You can ski, bike or hike in the morning and fish in the afternoon. Who doesn’t need a beer to accompany that?”

Punctuating his comment, Mary Lusty, brewmaster, appeared after back-country skiing. For brewing training, Mary attended Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. She worked at the Canmore Brewing Company and Hedin at Parks Canada when craft beer love and zeal for the outdoors united them. The brewery team includes Mike Davidson, Kent Kristensen, Bruce Watson and Travis Verbeek.

More Alike Than Different

Each brewery has distinct style yet shares craft beer passion and connection to the communities that drive their success. The beer names are creatively intentional whether on theme with fishing, history or lifestyle: Pull up a chair to hear the stories. Each brewery has a tap on rotation showcasing other breweries and other drinks such as sodas, local wine and cider. The cooperative spirit extends to Angry Hen Brewing (Kaslo), and Backroads Brewing Company, Nelson Brewing Company, Torchlight Brewing Co. (Nelson) and beyond.

The Flying Steamshovel

An historic Inn and saloon in Rossland, The Flying Steamshovel is named from lore about a contraption built by Lou Gagnon to ferry gold ore off Red Mountain’s steep slopes, as told on the website’s ‘History’ tab. The gastropub with upstairs boutique rooms features an award-winning menu, 14 craft beer taps, BC-focused wines and handcrafted cocktails.

On stage every week in the neighbourhood pub venue are Canadian and International music artists. General Manager Dan D’Amour noted guest rooms are being renovated with plans underway for a basement expansion and the addition of six taps.

As part of Rossland’s upcoming Beer Goggles Craft Beer Festival, the Flying Steamshovel will host a tap takeover by Penticton’s Highway 97, Neighbourhood Brewing and Bad Tattoo Brewing. A special menu will utilize one beer from each of the breweries.

RED Mountain Resort

Drive about six minutes from Rossland to RED Mountain Resort – Powder Highway Canada’s first stop. RED identifies as “the last great, unspoiled resort” and delivers 3,850 acres of pristine skiing. Hilltop views are incredible. RED’s unique lure is in-bounds cat skiing ($10 per run).

On best lists by The New York Times, Powder and Skiing magazines, aside from the superb skiing and snowboarding, “RED boasts world-class cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat-biking and other activities all easily accessible” through the Get Lost Adventure Centre. For craft beer and other après action, Powder named Rafters Lounge “North America’s Best Ski Area Bar.” At Rafters for lunch we discovered Borscht with Sourdough and craft beer.

The Josie Hotel

“Experience the true soul exhilaration of living for today,” invites The Josie Hotel, named by World Ski Awards as Canada’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2019. We were hosted at this genuine ski-in/ski-out property, steps from RED Mountain chairlifts. Fortified by The Velvet’s elevated breakfast, we were stoked to hit the slopes. The Josie’s Ski Concierge mountainside spoiled us with the extravagance of slipping into warm ski boots before strapping on gear and sliding easily over to the lift.

While our ski timing missed the best of powder, RED’s many lifts, varied terrain and vistas made for a memorable experience. Having skied RED last in the early seventies, the expansion blew me away!

Modern chic design yet cozy, The Josie is welcoming. We loved the repurposed chairlift seats in the front lobby! Guests have access to a premier fitness facility, spa and crackling fire pits. Fair warning: Cloud-like beds in beautiful rooms could seduce you into spending your après ski time tucked away.

Another seduction awaits in the locally inspired craft cooking of The Velvet Restaurant and Lounge. Executive Chef Marc-Andre Choquette created a French-influenced seasonal menu and locally inspired drink list. We began with the Seven Summits Milk Stout by Rossland Beer Company. We shared Bison Carpaccio, Salmon Tartare feature, Beef Tenderloin and Molten Chocolate Cake paired exquisitely with Bench 1775 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2016.

Beer Goggles Craft Beer Festival

In its 7th year, the annual Beer Goggles Craft Beer Festival returns to RED, March 27 and 28, 2020. The “finest craft breweries, thirstiest beer enthusiasts and hungriest powder fans” gather for a weekend of “fun and foam”. Open to ages 19+ with proper identification, buy tickets online or at RED guest services

“Beer Goggles is not simply a beer festival, but a celebration of the craft beer industry,” says Don Thompson, GM of RED Mountain Resort. “And RED is kind of the ‘craft beer’ of ski resorts: better taste, less filler! We really feel a common bond with many of these breweries and respect their daring independence and devotion to making people happy.”

Embrace the outdoor lifestyle of Kootenay Rockies and track the locals to the best local après ales.

The post Skiing and Craft Beer in Kootenay Rockies West appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

I’m happy to live in the Penticton area. After all, it is home to a dynamic beer scene featuring some of BC’s oldest and newest craft breweries. Penticton is known for the Okanagan Fest of Ale – held annually in April and one of the province’s premier and long-standing craft beer festivals. Run by the Okanagan Fest of Ale Society, I see it as kind of an Easter egg hunt for adults and look forward each year to the new brews I’ll find.

Penticton Oktoberfest is also a well-established annual tradition and the annual Penticton Beer Run was on track for success out of the starting blocks. In support of all the Penticton brewers working together to highlight the Penticton Ale Trail with its vibrant and growing craft beer scene, the City officially proclaiming October 19 to 26, 2019 as Penticton Beer Week makes sense. Prost to that!

The Okanagan wineries have found autumn to be a wonderful time to profile the wine industry so why not celebrate craft beer, too? After all, the saying goes it takes a lot of great beer to make fine wine. It’s a natural fit.

What to expect during Penticton Beer Week

In this small city recently named by expedia.ca as Canada’s second-best beer town and by askmen.com as the only Canadian city to make the list of 10 best destinations for beer enthusiasts, there’s a lot planned for its first official Penticton Beer Week presented by Super Deluxe Creative.

Kim Lawton, who is one of the organizers of Penticton Beer Week explained, “Penticton Beer Week will kick off on Saturday, October 19 with the annual Penticton Oktoberfest. There will be a number of craft beer related events at breweries and local restaurants around Penticton throughout the remainder of the week.”

Collab beer by seven breweries

All seven Penticton breweries came together to make a special collaboration beer to be released during Penticton Beer Week. At Bad Tattoo Brewing, Barley Mill Brew Pub, Cannery Brewing, Highway 97 Brewery, Neighbourhood Brewing, Slackwater Brewing, and Tin Whistle Brewing representatives brewed the Community Common. This limited release beer celebrating 2019 Penticton Beer Week is a fundraiser, where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local non-profit/charity. Each year, the beneficiary will change. This year’s recipient is the Penticton and Area Cycling Association (PACA) that does an amazing job of developing and enhancing trails and local cycling infrastructure for locals and tourists alike.

Find Community Common – a traditional, easy-drinking and sessionable limited release beer – in draft format at the breweries and local area restaurants during Penticton Beer Week. Some will be packaged into 4-packs of 473 ml cans to be sold at private liquor stores in Penticton and beyond.

Terry McWhirter, PACA President, noted, “PACA is both excited and honoured to be the first recipient of the Penticton Beer Week collaboration ale fundraiser. Our mission is to advocate, build and support a better cycling experience for locals and visitors alike. This donation will be used to support our non-profit, volunteer-based association to help develop and enhance our trails and local cycling infrastructure. Trails in the Penticton area are used by cyclists, hikers, dog-walkers, bird watchers, photographers, nature lovers and more, so this donation will help us to improve the trail experience for all users. And since so many cyclists love to drink beer, we see this as a perfect match! Cheers and thank you to Penticton Beer Week for your generous donation to PACA from all cyclists and trail users in our area.”

Penticton Beer Week events at a glance

Saturday, October 19, 6 pm to 12:30 am, 10th Annual Penticton Oktoberfest:
Dirndl and Lederhosen costumes lead the way as the 10th Annual Penticton Oktoberfest at the Penticton Lakeside Resort kicks off the week. Oktoberfest is an evening of music with The Beer Barrels & Uncorked, German beer and authentic German cuisine. Sing “eins, zwei, g’sufa!” or dance the night away in the East Ballroom with a view of stunning Okanagan Lake. For tickets ($37.50 regular or $42.50 at door, plus fees and taxes) and more information, see the Penticton Lakeside Resort event page.

Sunday, October 20, Industry Penticton Beer Week kick-off at Nest & Nectar:
It’s always a pleasure to see industry support each other’s initiatives and this is no exception with Penticton Beer Week kicking off at Nest & Nectar.

Tuesday, October 22, 5:30 pm, Highway 97 – Tap takeover and BBQ at The Barking Parrot:
It’s great to see Highway 97 Brewing Company taking over the tap at The Barking Parrot in honour of Penticton Beer Week. There’s no cover charge to encourage you to help empty the kegs and enjoy the 97 Salted Porter Beer Barbecue and live music by Trilojay from 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, October. 23, 6 to 9 pm, Cannery Brewing – Brewers’ Showdown:
Join the Brewers’ Showdown at Cannery Brewing for the opportunity to try eight different experimental beers from members of the Cannery team. Vote for your favourite, and the winning brewer gets bragging rights. Enjoy a great evening of delicious snacks on a stick and raise a glass to celebrate Penticton Beer Week. For tickets ($25 or for growler members $20), go to Eventbrite.

Thursday, October 24, 3 to 6 pm, Barley Mill Happy Hour – Work boots, beer, and bacon:
Entry is free at “The Ultimate Bacon Experience!” in the Barley Mill Brew Pub, although reservations are highly recommended and can be made via Evenbrite or calling 250-493-8000 to reserve. Every sleeve of Barley Mill Beer includes a serving of bacon. Plus, enjoy an All-Out Bacon Menu with all Weekly Drink Features on special.

Thursday, October 24, pm, Neighbourhood beer-paired dinner at Brodo:
To welcome Neighbourhood Brewing to Penticton, Brodo Kitchen invites you to partake in a brewers dinner with four tasty courses served family style. Welcome appies gets the evening off to a delicious start. To purchase tickets ($65 per person including taxes and gratuity), call 778-476-1275.

Friday, October 25, Slackwater Bustin’ the Barrel:
Drop into Slackwater Brewing to enjoy its first three barrel-aged beer expressions, plus a couple of rare beer from friends:
– Saison aged in Odd Society Spirits Gin Barrels
– Brett Farmhouse Ale, aged in Bench 1775 Merlot Barrels
– 100% Oak Fermented ‘Jovaru’ Tart Lithuanian Farmhouse Ale
– Plus a few rare beers from friends!

Flight of four for $10, Slackwater Beer Club members get a bonus 4-oz taster of choice. Check out the fantastic new menu and table service along with these rare and beautiful beers.

Saturday, October. 26, 5 pm, Laughs and Drafts with Tin Whistle at Craft Corner Kitchen:
Tin Whistle Brewery presents Showtime Comedy on the Verge at Craft Corner Kitchen. with Andrew Verge and guests. A tap takeover by Tin Whistle Brewery is featured as well as Community Common, the special Collaborative Brew. To reserve tickets ($15 each), call 250-488-4861.

Make a vacation of it!

The harvest season in the Okanagan is a perfect time for a ‘craft beer-centric’ getaway. Brad Morgan, Marketing Manager at Travel Penticton suggests, “Check out the Penticton Beer Week page at VisitPenticton.com for more information, a list of Penticton Beer Week hotel packages, and detailed events listings. While in Penticton, be sure to soak up the beautiful fall colours as you walk or cycle our trails, explore our vibrant downtown, and check out the Penticton Farmers’ Market to savour the bounty of the fall harvest.”

There’s a great selection of activities for the inaugural Penticton Beer Week. For additional information, follow on Facebook and Instagram.

The post Penticton Beer Week is on from October 19 to 26, 2019 appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Sadly, I don’t get back often. I keep in touch with friends and follow the Nelson Star News and other Nelson pages on Facebook. I’ve been thrilled to see its craft beer industry grow; for a city with a population of around 10,000, having three active breweries is impressive.

An invitation by our nieces and nephews to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of my brother and sister-in-law at their home in New Denver was quickly accepted to spend time with our extended family. Perhaps we’d explore a beach day at Slocan Lake and play a nine-hole golf round. Plus, we could detour Friday afternoon and discover Nelson’s breweries.

About four hours from Penticton, Nelson’s welcome sign and a homecoming feeling warmed my heart. We drove by a few of my old haunts before parking downtown.

Backroads Brewing Company

We checked out some funky shops for outdoor enthusiasts, home entertainers and vintage collectors and arrived at Backroads Brewing Company, 460 Baker Street, as the doors were opening at noon.

Founder/CEO Brent Malysh proudly toured us through the facility which recently expanded, almost doubling its capacity for brewing and seating. Partner/Brewmaster, Mike Kelly, was attending to his latest batch while Partner/CFO, Tracey Brown, was handling the taps up front.

We tasted the Saison, El Dorado Golden Ale, Pale Ale 1st Descent Northwest IPA, Blackberry Grisette, Blackberry Tart Gose, and Steel Cut Oatmeal Stout. At 6.3 per cent, the IPA was the strongest among them. We loved the beautifully crafted beer that doesn’t pack a wallop. The cabin-feel taproom made it apparent the owners are winter sports enthusiasts. With a chair from a former lift at Whitewater Ski Resort, the room could be a ski lodge.

Intentionally without Wi-Fi, Backroads encourages folks to mingle over beer in its farm-style family tables. There’s live music Wednesdays and some Saturdays and the occasional film event showcases the area’s plentiful outdoor activities. It’s easy to see why Backroads has been a huge success since opening in 2017.

Torchlight Brewing Co.

Next we walked to Torchlight Brewing Co., located at 125 Hall Street close to the waterfront.

Hoping to connect with Josh Secord or Craig Swendson (owners), I was forewarned that it was a double packaging day with all engaged. I was lucky to catch Josh handling the taps and multi-tasking to tell me about the flourishing brewery. Later, I watched Craig work the packaging line.

These two buddies started the business when Josh was laid off a job in Halifax. Born and raised in Nelson, it was time to come home. With support from three years of saving, family investment, and some Community Futures funding, Torchlight started as a much smaller brewery. New tanks arriving this summer are highly anticipated to deal with the growing demand. Food was added with a new chef and, given the buzz, the menu is popular. Torchlight makes its own craft sodas as a non-alcohol alternative and may be packaging these soon as well.

Consistent with Nelson’s other craft breweries, Torchlight is committed to the community. It is part of initiatives such as Art Walk and the Rail Town Social and offers a schedule of live entertainment and activities. With a large choice of beer, it was tough to decide which to test.

Torchlight also noted a demand for lower alcohol beers so, again, I found well-made brews that didn’t overpower. The Kveikening Nordic Table Beer at 4.5 percent, Jazz Handz Radler, 3 percent, and Big Squeezy Stone Fruit Pale Ale, 5.5 percent, are great examples of Torchlight’s styles.

Nelson Brewing Company

Then it was up the hill to 512 Latimer Street, home of the city’s oldest brewery – Nelson Brewing Company, established 1991.

Simon Barna, head brewer, toured us through this historic setting. Primarily a residential neighbourhood, Nelson Brewing was able to operate here because it was built as a brewery in 1896 and housed Columbia Brewing.

The roastery for Nelson’s famous Oso Negro coffee shares the building so the businesses collaborate, with the coffee stout as one tasty result. The Virtue Early Grey E.S.B. is another wonderful collaboration with Virtue Artisan Tea across the street.

Nelson Brewing is organic since 2016, going to great lengths for that purity. Consider Wild Honey Organic Ale – the honey for which is sourced from an eastern BC farm with sufficient buffer to be certified organic. Also showcased in the outstanding flight we experienced was Cukey Monster Cucumber Kolsch, Bramble On Raspberry Wheat Ale, and Intergalactose Hazy IPA.

Licensed as a tasting room, the brewery offers growler fills and flights, with no pints permitted.  Another former Whitewater Ski Lift chair is proudly displayed on the porch.

Nelson is a wonderful winter destination, with the city and the rest of the Kootenay Rockies West Ale Trail providing a fine complement to the abundant outdoor activities. The three local breweries offer a selection of each other’s beer, true to the camaraderie and warmth of the community.

We’ll be returning soon to the area to experience the beer, golf, and stunning autumn colours. Then, in winter, we’ll hit the slopes and find a spot for that après-ski ale.

The post Nelson Craft Beer: My High School Haunt is Hoppier appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Predator Ridge Resort

Our excellent mood from soaking in the scenery en route to Predator Ridge is elevated by the warm welcome. It’s no surprise people come to stay-and-play golf then peruse its residential possibilities.

Amid the casual elegance, the staff made us feel at home as if we were recognized resort members. Even furry companions are welcome through pet-friendly options. Along with that hospitality and understated luxury, there’s lots to do. No wonder it’s unofficial home for those active folks of Hockey Canada!

World-Class Golf

Predator Ridge boasts two of the Okanagan’s finest 18-hole championship golf tracks. Plus, it hosts a world-class practice facility, award-winning golf academy and fully stocked golf shop offering high-quality rentals. It’s a bonus the courses are dramatically different given two distinct designers of The Predator Course and The Ridge. Carved into the landscape, my preference is The Ridge which is a scenic mountain style rather than a links course. Play both for the ultimate challenge and appreciation of the resort’s diversity.

The “19th hole” near and dear to golfers has new meaning at Predator Ridge. Golf carts sport a cooler for beverages purchased at the clubhouse before setting out. Failing pre-purchase, strategically situated on each course are Turning Point and Outlook Cabin to cater to golfers ready for a beverage, snack or light meal.

Resort Dining

Range Lounge & Grill

At game’s end, several onsite choices beckon and the gorgeous Range Lounge & Grill ticks a few boxes. First and foremost, the food in the “upscale casual restaurant featuring new age fusion cuisine” is delicious. We basked in the splendour of the luscious golf-scape as we dined. It’s pure gold to view the course you’re soon to attack or just played. Open 7:30 am to 10 pm, perch on the patio, chill in the lounge with a television tuned to sports, or linger in the dining room for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Ingredients are locally and responsibly sourced, Ocean Wise and part of the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Program. Never an afterthought, savour desserts by acclaimed pastry chefs. I highly recommend the Dulce de Leche Crème Brulee with coconut macaroons. Handmade confections by Chef Tina Tang were a highlight of our visit.

Local craft beer, cider, and cocktails featuring Okanagan Spirits and popular brands, and BC wines by the glass and bottle were available. On tap, find craft beers such as Highway 97 Brewing Amber Ale, Granville Island Brewing Raspberry Ale, and Vice & Virtue Brewing IPA.

Insider Tip: Truly a four-season resort, Predator presents cooking classes with its talented culinary team when the kitchen is less busy from November to March.

Pallino’s Italian Bistro

Equally ‘deliciso’ this casual setting and bright patio leans Italian. Think traditional pizzas, soups, flatbread, salads, pasta and sandwiches. Beverages are Italian inspired while featuring rotating craft beer and seasonal cider. Eat in or takeout. If you choose like we did to dine in the room, Commonage Market sells wine, beer and other spirits. (A one-stop shop in Predator Ridge Lodge, it offers quick, healthy eats and general groceries, local produce and delicacies, sundry items, Okanagan wines, beers and liquors.)

Serving the Okanagan’s Tennis and Pickleball Community

Recently unveiled, the Predator Ridge Tennis & Pickleball Club is a boon to the resort and broader Okanagan community. Play year-round on the perfect courts protected in the bubble. Dedicated personnel include two of the Okanagan tennis community’s most respected names. A stand-alone racquet clubhouse is under construction, league play is in full swing and lessons are offered.

In just under an hour with Joachim Nierfield, we had a thirst-inducing workout and walked away with practical and individually relevant recommendations on how to improve our games.

Outdoor courts remain available at Predator, and this addition truly makes racquet sports an all-season/all-weather pursuit.

Bike Trails Before Ale

Predator’s property offers more than 13 kilometres of biking trails, including a connector providing access to Ellison Provincial Park’s 40-kilometre-plus of trails. Trail Map.

In close proximity to eight world-class wineries and the Okanagan Rail Trail, Predator serves as basecamp with specialized rental bikes, bike storage and more. We participated in the inaugural Rail Trail Art Festival followed by the Vernon Bike Fest festivities at Ratio Coffee & Pastry, where we got to know some of Vernon’s biking community over craft beer, pizza and live music.

The next morning, we were introduced to Predator’s new shuttle service, operating between Coldstream and Lake Country. This 27-kilometre stretch of the Okanagan Rail Trail runs directly alongside Kalamalka Lake with a gentle grade and trail surface. It’s part of the 48-kilometre trail that once completed will end in Kelowna. At a slow pace peppered with pauses to photograph the lakeside scenery and admire the work of artists participating in the festival, it took us roughly 2.5 hours.

We loved being able to experiment with e-bikes and the luxury of the shuttle pickup for return to Predator. What a brilliant idea even if you live in Vernon or Lake Country to park at Predator, hire the shuttle and then enjoy a meal onsite before heading home.

Fine Folks and Fitness Facilities

Predator’s full-service fitness centre has fine facilities for a workout, swim, hot tub and library. As we explored all the resort’s amenities, the many walking paths were inviting and folks friendly.

Explore Vernon’s Ale, Cider, Spirits, and Restaurants

A 20-minute drive away, Vernon exudes youthful vitality. For craft beer don’t miss the Naked Pig Kitchen and Marten Brewing Co. Naked Pig specializes in “low and slow, artisan, smoked cooking” while Marten Brewing devotes its energy to craft beers and a new line of non-alcoholic Kombucha and Nitro Coffee line Underground Beverages.

Cider

It’s a quick drive up the hill to  The BX Press Cidery & Orchard for refreshing, natural ciders that are a true expression of the roughly 30 varieties of apples grown there.

Spirits

Visiting Vernon isn’t complete without stopping at Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery – Western Canada’s original craft distillery. Consider booking ahead for a private, seated Whiskey Tasting.

Water, Water Everywhere – Why Not Cruise?

We loved cruising Okanagan Lake on a 22-foot pontoon boat with Okanagan Life Private Boat Charters and picnic onboard. Consider the charter’s options to skip crowded beaches. Be captained to a private bay to anchor where you can take a dip, chill, enjoy your repast or even tube along the way.

Plan your trip!

Visit Tourism Vernon’s Visitor Centre or website for ideas on how best to explore Vernon. Bike trails, golf, tennis, whatever activities you choose to earn your ale, Predator Ridge is the perfect muster point. Explore the Kamloops, Shuswap & Vernon Ale Trail to plan your ale-ventures in the region!

The post Earn Your Ale with Lifestyle Activities at Vernon’s Predator Ridge Resort appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

With hardly any snow in the valley, this season heading up to Big White Ski Resort from Kelowna for skiing seemed surreal. The closer we neared the ski region, the more the white magic appeared along the roadside and its depth increased as we climbed. Inside the car, the three skiers became giddy and as if on cue, the clouds released big fluffy snowflakes.

We checked into our base camp for this expedition, the well-positioned Inn at Big White. Our vehicle was safely tucked away in its warm parking garage from which we could easily explore the village and skiing. Staff are welcoming and accommodating. The room was comfy with a queen bed and murphy bed, private bath, fireplace and television for your entertainment. It has a small kitchenette equipped with a coffee maker, kettle, microwave, hot plate, mini-fridge and dishes so there’s a choice to take some meals in which we did at breakfast. To ease those ski muscles, the Inn has a pool and hot tub.

Amenities and Activities

There’s much to discover on the hill starting, of course, with the many outdoor amenities. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there’s cross-country and snowshoe trails, tubing, ice climbing, skating, fat biking, horse-drawn sleigh and dog sled rides, and snowmobiling. There are even Mini-Z miniature snowmobiles for kids.

On the hill, you’ll find full spa services; fitness facilities; health and medical clinics; sports equipment shops and repairs; ski schools and rentals; a resort shuttle; and sitters for babies, pets and homes. There’s a grocery and liquor store where you’ll find a selection of craft beers.

Let’s get to the après!

Complementing these activities are restaurants and bars with local BC craft beers increasingly showing up on the taps for après ski beverages. At Big White, the craft beer scene goes one better with Canada’s highest elevation brewery – Elevation 57 Brewing Company – situated on site at Sessions Taphouse & Grill.

We wrangled assistant brewer Jeff MacLean for a tour of the brewing facility located on the lower level. We were given tastes of Booter Blonde Ale, Hazy Pale Ale, Involuntary Dismount IPA, and Smoked Porter, and found the beer to our liking. I later learned that the head brewer is Brandon Amond who brewed beer at Kettle River Brewing Co, which is one of my Kelowna favourites.

Sessions Taphouse has a gaming centre including Trapped Escape Rooms that you can rent complete with riddles, puzzles and clues to test your problem-solving skills to escape.

Kelowna Breweries

Of course, if you stay in town there’s a shuttle to and from Big White and you’ll want to add on to your stay to explore the many craft breweries on the Kelowna Ale Trail and a few new additions to the town. Tree Brewing is one of the originals and in its vicinity, discover Vice & Virtue Brewing Co, Red Bird Brewing Inc. Still in the downtown quadrant, there’s BNA Brewing Co. where you can bowl along with the brews, and the trendy Tree Brewing Beer Institute, offspring of Tree Brewing. If you’d like access to a host of options under one roof, there’s CRAFT Beer Market on Bernard Avenue.

Farther north toward the airport there’s Freddy’s Brewpub, nano-sized Boundary Brewing Company, and launched on December 8, Wild Ambition Brewing.

If you head south across Bennett Bridge, Kind Brewing is found along Main Street, West Kelowna.

More Craft Beer

The appetite for well-crafted brews keeps building and so, too, are new breweries popping up to satisfy that craving. Under construction is Rustic Reel Brewing at 760 Vaughan Avenue. Jennifer Widmer, Tourism Kelowna, reports there are others in “various stages of life; many just getting licensing” including four in Kelowna, one in West Kelowna, and another in Lake Country.

Wherever your snowy adventures lead you in Kelowna, it’s safe to say après ski ales is a delicious part of your discoveries.

The post Kelowna Après Ski and Ales at Big White appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

With tickets for the 24th annual Okanagan Fest of Ale about to go on sale December 1st, it’s a great time to take a closer look at the festival’s charitable activities and also explore what’s new and coming up in the vibrant city of Penticton. Between the beaches, vineyards, vistas, and craft breweries, this small city is definitely one of BC’s best kept secrets.

I recently joined the Okanagan Fest of Ale Society (OFOAS) Board, event volunteers, sponsors, supporters and charitable recipients to celebrate the success of the 23rd Annual. At the combined charitable grant presentation and volunteer appreciation evening, it was heartwarming to see $60,000 distributed between 20 worthy local charitable organizations.

OFOAS President John Cruickshank said, “One of the largest disbursements to charity we’ve had the pleasure of distributing, it brings the total donations made by the Society to $697,660.” He acknowledged vendors, sponsors, supporters, volunteers, entertainers, judges, media and attendees for their role in the accomplishment. For recipients’ list plus tickets and details on the 24th Annual, visit their website.

Recently named by Expedia travel site, as Canada’s second-best “beer town” after Vancouver, BC, Penticton presents numerous reasons to hit the Penticton Ale Trail beyond the wildly entertaining Fest of Ale.

Kick off your self-guided pub crawl at Penticton’s iconic peach on Lakeshore Drive by strolling up Winnipeg Street to Bad Tattoo Brewing. If you’re hungry, try delicious wood-fired pizza such as my favourite, Calabrese paired with a Los Muertas Cerveza Negra.

Established Penticton Ale Trail breweries Tin Whistle Brewing, Cannery Brewing, Bad Tattoo Brewing, Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro, and Highway 97 Brewery welcome two newcomers in Spring 2019 – Hatchery Brewing and Neighbourhood Brewing Company.

Neighbourhood Brewing Company

One block further on Westminster Avenue, Neighbourhood Brewing Company is under construction to open this spring. Founder of Yellow Dog Brewing Co. of Port Moody, Mike Coghill said along with his wife Melinda, he has spent a lot of time in the Penticton area and they’ve had a home in Naramata for quite some time. Given the vibrancy of the local craft scene, Penticton made sense to Coghill and partners as an ideal location for a complimentary brewery to Yellow Dog. While the beer line up and branding will be unique for Neighbourhood Brewing, when appropriate there’ll be some cross-promotion, so you might find a Yellow Dog special selection periodically. Coghill adds, “We are excited to become part of the Penticton community and add to the thriving craft beer scene. We’re striving to create world-class beers and help in the community any way we can.”

Hatchery Brewing

Across Westminster Avenue and a block down at 218 Martin Street, Hatchery Brewing is set to open in the former space of The Mule nightclub. Co-Founder/General Manager Liam Peyton, formerly of Whistler Brewing, says his wife and business partner, Kelsey was born in Penticton and they ultimately wanted to settle here. They invited Chris Vandenberg, brewmaster, formerly of Powell Brewery, to see if he’d like to brew here and he immediately felt at home. With this team’s depth, expect to see some incredible beer “stamped by the local environment in terms of both the natural bounty of the land and through fermentation processes”. Peyton and Vandenberg are excited to work with the local community and become active members. “We’re looking to contribute and hope our space becomes more than just a place to have a beer, rather a place to breed new ideas and friendships – a hatchery for the community”.

Other Downtown Options

South on Martin, Tug’s Tap House Pub & Eatery has pub-style food. For alternate libations, next door is Old Order Distilling Co, or a few blocks further Penticton’s urban winery, Time Winery & Kitchen. Alongside its award-winning wine, there’s a notable menu and craft beer.

On Main Street, two delightful casual restaurants proffer an array of craft beer – Brodo Kitchen and Craft Corner Kitchen. Off Main on Nanaimo Avenue, there are two establishments of interest – Brexit Pub with a decidedly British flair and the Polish Bistro with some European beers. The trail leads to Ellis Street, home of the iconic Cannery Brewing, its remarkable craft beer and fine snacks to accompany them. Change things up across the street at Mile Zero Wine Bar for delectable local wine selections, cocktails, and of course, craft beer.

Headed back to the peach, there’s craft beer in a Parisienne bistro atmosphere at the Front Street Brassiere or if you’re passionate about live music, across Front Street find The Dream Café.

By Penticton Lakeside

To explore the Penticton Ale Trail downtown, consider staying at the Penticton Lakeside Resort featuring restaurants with Okanagan Lake views, and you’ve got it – craft beer. The Hooded Merganser is upscale casual while the Barking Parrot is laidback with a wallet-friendly $5.95 menu. On-site, visit the Great Estates of the Okanagan Wine Experience Centre that showcases wines from Black Sage Vineyard, Inniskillin, Nk’Mip Cellars, Jackson-Triggs, Sunrock Vineyards, Dark Horse, Steller’s Jay, See Ya Later Ranch and Sumac Ridge.

For Okanagan Fest of Ale, staged in the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, consider the Coast Penticton Hotel or Ramada Penticton. Ramada has the Kettle Valley Station Pub, where the Murderers Row Cask Event has become a Saturday-night tradition of the festival. Within an easy walk, also shop the Penticton Wine Information Centre. It offers the most comprehensive selection of VQA wines and an expert staff to guide you through the choices. There, you’ll find an impressive array of wine-related accessories and books, culinary supplies and cookbooks. Little wonder modern couples select it for wedding registry!

To check out Penticton’s other urban breweries, near the Ramada is Highway 97 Brewery. If you’re feeling energetic, it’s about a 35-minute walk to Tin Whistle Brewing, the South Okanagan’s first microbrewery. In that complex, find Nest and Nectar for a tasty meal. Taxi cabs are an option and to visit the Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro about an hour’s walk on Skaha Lake Road they’re a likely alternative.

Tin Whistle, Penticton’s oldest brewery and still offering new choices

Other popular events

‘Brewski’ Craft Beer, Cider & Spirits Festival: Skiing or snowshoeing anyone? On February 16, 2019, more than 20 purveyors come together under the roof of Apex Mountain Resort’s Gunbarrel Saloon Restaurant to dispense beverage samples and complimentary bites with an after-party featuring live entertainment.

Penticton Beer Run: Organized by HooDoo Adventures Company and set for June 8, 2019, it’s a 10-km fun route starting at a genuine hops farm, Square One Hops. Run or walk the stunning KVR Trail and lakeshore into Penticton where beer tastings and food stations await. All net proceeds will be donated to Youth Outdoor Recreation Society ( YORS ) helping deliver affordable and subsidized outdoor education and leadership courses to Okanagans youth. Open for registration now.

Plan your trip to Penticton, let BC Ale Trail be your guide.

The post Explore Penticton – For the love of craft beer and to support a great cause appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.

Our home base is Penticton, so my husband Mark and I stayed at the Prestige Beach House in Kelowna for two nights arranged by Tourism Kelowna. With this central base in downtown Kelowna we were able to golf three courses and investigate several of Kelowna’s newest breweries. You could easily fly into the Kelowna Airport and replicate our three-day blueprint. You could make the trip much longer with all the golf courses and craft beer-centric sites to explore. You could also add cideries and wineries plus more outdoor activities to your itinerary.

Day 1: North End Kelowna

Our tee time at Black Mountain Golf Club was at 8:45am so we leisurely played the 18-hole Par 71 Championship Course before lunch. Part of a master-planned golf community, Black Mountain was designed to follow the natural topography and leverage the native vegetation of the land. The meticulously crafted 6,400-yard course offers eye-popping vistas and features a signature island green.

There’s a scenic clubhouse with a well-stocked Pro Shop and delicious dining at The Grill. As part of the great drink menu, rotating taps of craft beer are offered. The food menu includes a wide range of grab-and-go and sit-down options from breakfast, appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers to flatbreads, pastas and steaks.

From there it was a quick drive to nano-sized Boundary Brewing Company’s industrial park location. Specializing in German-style beers, and brewed in small batches in the only coopered oak-kettle system in Canada and just one of a handful in the world. With four to eight beer options depending on when you visit, the day we visited the Slam-Dunkel Dark Pilsner – a collaboration with Elevation 57 Brewing at Big White Mountain Resort, won our vote. Soon, a small licensed patio at the back of Boundary will sport a surprisingly serene meadow view as respite from the industrial area and increase the seating from the cozy interior.

After a quick stop back at Prestige Beach House we took advantage of its prime location and hit some downtown Kelowna hot spots. Located across from City Park with its beaches and facilities like tennis courts, you can get your rest and some recreation. In-house dining is available at West Coast Grill and Oyster Bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Happy Hour is daily from 3 to 6 pm and a “Pearls and Bubbles” Happy Hour from 8 to 9 pm with Buck-a-Shuck oysters and $6 sparkling wine.

We walked over for Happy Hour at micro bar bites, which is open from 3 pm to late, Tuesday to Saturday. It’s a tiny space with a pared down bar and food menu, however you always find some local and international beers and wines plus an array of cocktails such as barrel-aged hi-balls.

Next, we took a few steps down Water Street to have dinner at RauDZ Regional Table, a sister property. With a long history of saluting local farmers and producers, RauDZ has a locally-focused dinner menu. The drink menus are carefully curated and have a lovely selection of wines that showcase the Okanagan, cocktails that often highlight local distilleries, and craft beers and ciders from throughout BC.

What a bonus to be able to walk back to our hotel after all that food and libations!

Day 2: Central Kelowna

Our morning’s activity was a round at The Harvest Golf Club. You’d be hard pressed to find a friendlier golf course than The Harvest. In a beautiful orchard setting enhanced by stunning landscaping with water features, flowers, pathways with red bridges, it’s little wonder a lot of weddings are set here. As well as the 18-hole Championship Course, there are many amenities such as a specialty golf shop, extensive practice facility and full-service clubhouse. The course winds through a hillside orchard with sweeping views of Okanagan Lake. Depending on the season you’re negotiating the well-designed track, you’ll find trees laden with fresh fruit. You’re encouraged to help yourself if you’re not too greedy and don’t hold up the game. The Harvest Grille is a local favourite and features Okanagan flavour with West coast flair. Chances are you’ll find many of those orchard fruits on your plate in sauces and garnishes. Here, too, you’ll find a local leaning in the drinks menu with local wines, spirits, craft beers and ciders.

Thirsty after our round we headed to Richter Street, which is quickly becoming a hub for BC craft beer, ciders, spirits and wines. First up was Red Bird Brewing. This microbrewery is quickly becoming a hive of hipster activity. On Father’s Day, for instance, all sorts of games were underway including axe throwing and the Surf Side California Tacos truck was hand with Okanagan Ice Pops for a refreshing lick. In addition to its own brews, guest taps feature BC breweries and cideries. We tasted through the day’s Red Bird selections and left with a six-pack of The Tomb Stout.

Awaiting opening day when we visited, Vice & Virtue Brewing is just across and up the street a bit from Red Bird. Slated to launch Summer 2018, it’ll be another outstanding gastropub if the credentials of the ownership are an indication. From culinary artisans, winemakers to metal craftsmen, there’s a stellar team involved. (One of the ownership team and General Manager Matt Jewell gave me a tour of the facilities.)

We freshened up at the Prestige and walked a few blocks to peek through the windows of the brand-new CRAFT Beer Market located in the old Paramount Theatre on Bernard Avenue and scheduled to open June 28. Launched in Calgary 2011, CRAFT Beer Market is a “premium casual restaurant with a passion for serving fresh local food and great craft beer”. It now has locations in Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and Kelowna. With over 100 taps of beer available at any time as well as rotating taps of seasonals plus three lines each of white and red wine, you’ll be able to put your favourite craft beer to the test against an international array. Here you’ll find Hoppy Hour, Mondays to Fridays, 2 to 5 pm, every night 10 pm to close, and all-day Sundays.

For that sensation you’re on an exotic vacation within Kelowna, head to OAK + CRU Social Kitchen & Wine Bar. It is a waterfront patio restaurant within the Delta Grand Okanagan (also a wonderful central Kelowna location for explorations). You can watch boat and park activity as you feast on creations from the freshest of Okanagan Valley ingredients including over 200 wineries and many local purveyors and artisans. As you’d expect from such a classy establishment, there’s a fine selection of craft beers and ciders.

Day 3: West Kelowna

We opted to walk back to Bernard Avenue for breakfast at Sunny’s Modern Diner before heading across the bridge. Recently launched, Sunny’s is a little sister in the RauDZ Creative Concepts family of restaurants. With a nod to the diners of the past, old records to spin for a donation to the SPCA, it’s equally welcoming for boomers yearning for days gone by, and newer generations delighted by retro.

Across the bridge in West Kelowna, we golfed the highly popular Two Eagles Golf Course. It is shorter than the other courses we played, and has a championship feel despite allowing all caliber of golfers a fun round. Its Golf Academy has instilled love for the game in many. The views of Okanagan Lake and Mission Hill Family Estate Winery are incredible from the well-manicured fairways and greens.

Reluctant to leave, we had lunch at 19 Okanagan Grill & Bar overlooking the course. The building has a stunning native motif and the team here capitalizes on the bounty of the region. It, too, is a Kelowna Farm to Table Partner. You’ll find an excellent drink list with cider and brew choices including a rotating seasonal tap.

We just in time for Kind Brewing’s 2 pm opening to share a beer flight. Recently opened in West Kelowna along Main Street, it offers a surprisingly delightful view of Okanagan Lake from its tasting room. A casual and friendly environment we could easily see why it’s become a neighbourhood favourite.

Alas, it was time to head home to Penticton. Next trip we’ll check out BNA Brewing Co’s new bowling lanes and perhaps arrange some touring with Smile Cycle Tours, where you pedal along with 14 beer aficionados to check out Kelowna breweries. Maybe then we’ll see what’s new brewing at Tree Brewing Beer Institute and revisit old friends at Kettle River Brewing, Tree Brewing and Freddy’s Brewpub. Kelowna also has a raft of other golf courses to try! See Golf Kelowna for some options.

About those birdies, I did bag a couple, but who is keeping score when the views are that enticing and craft beer is waiting.

The post Birdies and Brews in Kelowna appeared first on The BC Ale Trail.