Kootenay Rockies Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
Glass of beer, Tourism BC/Toshi Kawano photo
There are a number of satisfying local beer options in the Kootenay Rockies – the perfect reward after a day of hiking, mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding.
Beer aficionados will love the small-batch beer made in Nelson, Fernie and Revelstoke's craft breweries. Want to see large-scale beer production? Don’t miss a tour of the Columbia Brewery (producers of Kokanee beer) in Creston.
Craft Breweries
The Fernie Brewing Company started in 2003 and, in just four years, became so popular that they had to move to a bigger facility. Weekly tours are available and visitors can sample three year-round beers and limited releases in the tap room. During the summer, look for What the Huck Huckleberry Wheat Ale, which is brewed with a type of sweet berry found in the Kootenay Rockies.
Show More
The Nelson Brewing Company is located in the same historic building where Nelson’s original brewery existed more than 100 years ago. All six beers made here use organic ingredients, just one of the many ways the brewery is environmentally friendly. Most of the barley used is malted in BC and beer waste is used by local farmers for feed and compost.
Want to learn more about the science of brewing? Take a tour of the Mt. Begbie Brewing in Revelstoke and meet the head brewer – who is also a nuclear physicist! The brewery's five beers (plus seasonal additions) pay tribute to the town’s history with photos on the labels obtained from the Revelstoke Museum and Archives.
Columbia Brewery
The Columbia Brewery in Creston brews Kokanee, one of BC’s best selling beers. Take a tour of the brewery to find out more about the brewing process and see if you can spot Mel the Sasquatch, Kokanee’s mascot. Tours end with a tasting and there is a gift shop with Kokanee clothing and collectibles.
Practical Points
- The legal drinking age in BC is 19. Two pieces of valid I.D. are required as proof of age.
- Some brewery tours are available by appointment only.
Show Less