{"id":34056,"date":"2022-11-21T11:47:27","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T19:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=34056"},"modified":"2022-11-23T09:51:13","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T17:51:13","slug":"sipping-in-summerland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/sipping-in-summerland\/","title":{"rendered":"Sipping in Summerland: Craft Beer in the Okanagan\u2019s Hidden Gem"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was a teenager in Summerland back in the ’90s, there was barely a hint of the craft beer explosion that would hit the Okanagan two decades later. The Peacock\u2019s Perch Pub was pretty much it when it came to beer. However, my little hometown is now primed for craft beer, and brewery owners are stepping up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This fall is a particularly good time for Summerland beer. The past month has marked both the first anniversary of Giant\u2019s Head Brewing<\/a> and the grand re-opening of Detonate Brewing<\/a>. I had the chance to sample the beers on tap and chat with the brewery owners to learn about what business has been like for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Detonate
Jonah Cadieux-Johnson and sister Pascale, Detonate Brewing in Summerland, BC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Detonate Brewing originally opened in 2017 and quickly became a popular spot. However, owner and brewmaster Nathan Rosin struggled to keep the business afloat during Covid and closed the doors in early 2022. The brewery went up for sale around its fifth anniversary, which is where Jonah Cadieux-Johnson comes in. A longtime craft beer lover with aspirations to open his own restaurant, Cadieux-Johnson had just finished a lengthy cycling journey in the US when he saw the ad for Detonate. He walked into the brewery on its last day of business, tried some beer, and knew that he wanted to take on this challenge. The final papers were signed in August, and he jumped in with both feet.<\/p>\n

\"Jonah
Jonah at Denotate Brewing, Summerland BC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He faced some unique hurdles, however. Unlike many brewery owners, Cadieux-Johnson had never brewed before \u2014 not even as a home brewer. Knowing this weakness, he planned ahead: his sales contract with Rosin included all the brewery\u2019s recipes as well as a training program. With established recipes on hand and a brewer to guide him, Cadieux-Johnson felt he could make the business work. A major challenge, he said, was learning how to use Detonate\u2019s brewing machinery, all of which Rosin made or cobbled together. \u201cYou can\u2019t just look up a problem in the equipment manual,\u201d Cadieux-Johnson laughs. \u201cThere is no manual.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Detonate
Detonate Brewing in Summerland, BC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Judging from the grand reopening on November 5, the risk is going to pay off. The brewery was packed with local drinkers until it closed at midnight. Live music was playing, children and dogs were welcome, and \u2014 most importantly \u2014 the beers on tap were delicious and true to style. My favourites were Joey\u2019s First Fresh Hop Pale Ale, the \u201cBitter!? Hardly Know \u2018Er!\u201d ESB, and the Shot in the Dark Imperial Dark IPA, an oddball beer that Cadieux-Johnson made from some aged New Zealand hops and a hefty grain bill of pilsner and chocolate malts (he\u2019s not sure if he can replicate it but he\u2019s going to give it a try!). He plans for a core lineup of a pilsner, a pale ale, a hazy IPA, and the Imperial Dark IPA, with some fun and seasonal additions when possible \u2014like the brewery\u2019s famous \u201cDon\u2019t Wanna Tacoabout It\u201d taco-flavoured beer or the fresh hop pale. He\u2019s a one-man show for now but plans to hire a brewing assistant and front-of-house staff soon (his sister Pascale and his mother are helping for the moment). Canned beer is also coming soon, with label designs by graphic artist Jessica Repetowski.<\/p>\n