Breweries in Kelowna / Penticton

Wine and beer seem to go hand in hand but Kelowna really did not even start to appear on the beer scene until recently with most of the breweries popping up within the last 10 years.

The easiest beer route to do would be in the downtown core:

1. Start: Kelowna Beer Institute (hit & miss, small seating area, limited beer options) - BNA Brewing (massive outdoor patio with fire pits, dog friendly area inside, sometimes has food)
2. Red Bird (live music, relaxed atmosphere, and solid beer options that never really seem to change) - Vice & Virtue (super creative, you are sure to find some unusual beers here) - Jackknife Brewing
3. Kettle River (limited options but everything is made inhouse)
4. Rustic Reel - Unleashed (dog friendly patio, a variety of beer to choose from)
5. The Office (toilets remind me of phonebooth boxes, lots of chances to theme but falls short, beer is good and they also make Kombucha for those that don't drink)
6. Welton (English style beer which is great for those that "just want a lager")
7. Finish: Bad Tattoo (lots of beer options and really good pizza)

While we have yet to visit all of the locations listed above (it seems like there is always a new one every time we go!) we have visited the majority of them. If you are looking for food before you head out, the Craft Beer Market (if you have been to the location in the Olympic Village in Vancouver, BC you will be familiar) is walking distance to Kelowna Beer Institute and usually where we start.

If you are not staying in the downtown core but want to check out some breweries there are a few spread out throughout the city and across the river

1. Shoreline: South Pandosy (haven't tried them yet, they are always closed when we are in the area!)
   
   
2. Barn Owl: Lower Mission (super neat place, unusual beer choices and it is in an old barn)
   
   
3. Copper Brewing: just outside Central City (lots of vintage arcade games and a rewards card for growler fills.)
   
   
4. Freddy's Brewpub: Rutland
5. Wild Ambition: Rutland
6. Kelowna Brewing: Rutland (near the university so always a lively crowd and lots of beer choices)
   
   
7. Lakesider: West Kelowna (I love their nitro sour's but it is not beside a lake)
8. Hatching Post: West Kelowna (very well themed like an Old Western Saloon, lots of meat to eat but sells out fast, limited beer options if you only drink sour or fruity)
9. Kind Brewing: West Bank (their website is not good and the hours can be funny but Kind is coming into their own and worth a visit)

Bonus: coming in 2023 - Connector Brewing: West Kelowna

Which are our favorites? It is so hard to choose just one as they all have their strengths and weaknesses. It really depends on what type of beer you drink and what is being served as most of them have rotating seasonal taps that will tend to be light and fruity in the summer then thick and spiced in the winter which means every time you visit, there will be something different!

Explore the Okanagan Valley’s craft distilleries and breweries on this guided bike tour. After being shuttled to the trailhead, ride along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and get a taste of the local beers (tastings are an additional charge), plus enjoy lunch on this easy downhill cycling trip. On the way back, travel through downtown Penticton.