{"id":59188,"date":"2025-02-15T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T17:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=59188"},"modified":"2025-10-03T11:25:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T18:25:29","slug":"sips-in-the-shuswap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/sips-in-the-shuswap\/","title":{"rendered":"Sips in the Shuswap: Discovering Salmon Arm’s Brewery Scene"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, Nick from the Thirsty Explorers Club went on a weekend ale-venture to the Shuswap region of BC, where he explored Salmon Arm and its three unique breweries. Get his take on Salmon Arm’s brew culture, the tasty eats, and community and sustainability values in practice here every day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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What Even Is a Salmon Arm?<\/p>\n

Salmon don\u2019t have arms, they have fins. At least, I think they do? Hold on a minute while I go check Google\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u2026.okay, upon further investigation, I have determined that salmon do not have arms and the name Salmon Arm has nothing to do with the anatomy of a fish. My bad.<\/p>\n

The truth of the name comes from one of BC\u2019s most precious natural resources. Salmon Arm is one of four ‘arms’ that feed into the stunning Shuswap Lake in British Columbia. This particular arm has historically been a prime location for salmon runs during September and October. So, while the name isn’t about a mutated fish like the one Bart Simpson caught, it is about fish abundance. Makes sense now, right?<\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019ve learned a little bit of toponymy, let\u2019s dive in to another Salmon Arm fact. Did you know it\u2019s home to North America\u2019s longest, curved wooden wharf? It\u2019s true! I saw it with my own eyes while on assignment with the BC Ale Trail and the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS).<\/p>\n

Beyond its impressive wharf and endless beautiful scenery, Salmon Arm also boasts a vibrant beer scene. Despite being a smaller city with a population under 20,000, it’s a must-visit destination for craft beer lovers. The three breweries I’m about to highlight each offer something unique and distinct to the region.<\/p>\n

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Foreshore \/ Raven Trail in Salmon Arm (photo: Nick Nicholson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ricochet Brewing<\/h3>\n

Located in the heart of downtown, Ricochet Brewing’s<\/a> Taphouse fills a much-needed void in Salmon Arm, with a diverse selection of craft beer and cider from across BC. With 36 taps, including 10 of their own brews on tap when I visited, the Ricochet tasting room has something for all BC craft beer and cider lovers. They also offer delicious food sourced from local kitchens and restaurants. The meat pie I ate was perfect on a chilly winter day.<\/p>\n

Ricochet is also a family-friendly spot that offers an array of games, kid\u2019s food and drink options and, my kids\u2019 favourite, the snack flight. It features two flight glasses of soda or juice, a glass of candy and a glass of cheezies. And let\u2019s be honest here, it wasn\u2019t just my kids\u2019 favourite; it was mine too! So don\u2019t be shy about ordering one for yourself, it isn\u2019t just for the kiddos.<\/p>\n