Although famed as a wine destination, the Thompson Okanagan also offers a great selection of locally produced beers, ciders and spirits.
Tree Brewing and Crannog Ales are some of the breweries offering handcrafted ales and lagers (and tours), while brewpubs serve selections of cold, local brews and food. The Okanagan Fest-of-Ale beer festival is a great place to sample them all.
Local cideries take advantage of the abundant Okanagan apple harvest. Cool off in summer with refreshing ciders from Orchard Hill Estate Cidery or Raven Ridge Cidery.
The region's distilleries also use fresh fruit to produce rich fruit liqueurs, eaux de vies (fruit brandies) – even absinthe. Sample a few at Okanagan Spirits, a craft distillery that was awarded the Master-Class Distillery title at the World Spirits Awards (2010).
Craft Breweries
In Kelowna, Tree Brewing produces award-winning, small-batch beer. Try the Hop Head India Pale Ale for a distinct, hop-heavy flavour. On a brewery tour, check out the high-climbing hops scaling the brewery's exterior walls.
Sorrento's Crannog Ales is Canada's only certified organic farmhouse microbrewery, and is noted for their unfiltered, unpasteurized brews. The brewmaster's Irish heritage is reflected in the brewery's ales (try the traditional Irish red ale) and Celtic artwork.
Make sure to try a pint of Okanagan Springs' Pale Ale, brewed locally in Vernon. One of BC's first craft breweries, they have been producing popular beers since 1985.
Other breweries and brews to tour and taste are Penticton's Cannery Brewing and Tin Whistle Brewery.
Brewpubs
After golfing, swimming or cycling, relax in a brewpub with a pint of in-house brewed beer. The Barley Station Brewpub in Salmon Arm offers great beer and has hops vines covering the brewery's front entrance.
More local watering holes that serve their own beer and good food are The Barley Mill Pub in Pencticton, Freddy's Brewpub in Kelowna and The Ridge Brew House in Osoyoos.
Cideries
Orchard Hill Estate Cidery uses blends of Okanagan apples in their ciders. Tour the orchard near Osoyoos, and munch on apples before sampling the ciders: try the Red Roof or the Okanagan Bubbly.
Kelowna's Raven Ridge Cidery specializes in iced ciders, which are pressed from frozen home-grown apples. Have some on its own, pair it with a meal in the orchard's restaurant or pour it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert.
Distilleries
Vernon's Okanagan Spirits has won numerous awards. Adventurous drinker? Try the absinthe, crafted according to traditional European recipes (which use fruit alcohol spirit and not grain). Taste hints of fennel, anise and lemon balm – botanicals that are all grown locally.
Maple Leaf Spirits' rich fruit liqueurs are distilled from Okanagan cherries, apricots and pears grown near its Penticton location. Pair a bottle of liqueur with fresh fruit stand treats for a sweet summer picnic.
Okanagan Fest-of-Ale
Beer enthusiasts should attend the annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, one of BC's largest beer festivals. Held in April, this weekend-long event showcases the newest and tastiest brews from more than two dozen, mostly BC, craft breweries.
Practical Points
- The legal drinking age in BC is 19. Two pieces of valid I.D. are required as proof of age.
- Some breweries, cideries and distilleries are open by appointment only.
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