One of the biggest and fastest-growing sectors in British Columbia is the brewery industry, and it can be seen in Âé¶čAV as there are now 18 different breweries.
âItâs been exciting to watch because itâs been so rapid,â said Ken Beattie, executive director of the B.C. Craft Brewers Guild. âItâs really become a hotbed. Itâs really built to a destination, and weâre really encouraged by what we see.â
Since 2018, 12 separate breweries have opened in Âé¶čAV, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of all breweries in the province that opened in that time.
There are currently 235 breweries across B.C.
Everything is coming together at the right time for the brewery industry, as pandemic restrictions are lifted going into the spring. The brewery district took a bit of a hit during the pandemic, but with restrictions being lifted and the provincial government extending the simplified licensed patio program until 2023, itâs a big win.
âHistorically, breweries had to apply for a food-primary license in order to get a patio but during COVID because Dr. Henry and our health and safety, we wanted everyone outside, they allowed breweries to open patios and it really was the lifeline the breweries needed across the province to maintain and stay open,â said Beattie.
Beattie is also impressed by how breweries and restaurants came together and helped each other out over the last two years.
âA lot of breweries are quite small and they donât have room for a kitchen, so it makes it great to be able to support the community,â said Beattie.
During COVID, many breweries partnered with restaurants with breweries providing their beer to the restaurant and the restaurant would provide its food to the brewery. Some breweries hire food trucks to provide the food for the day.
âThatâs the bit of the silver lining,â said Beattie. âBreweries tend to be community hubs and community meeting places and we encourage them to work with their local partners down the street.â
With the number of breweries growing throughout the province, some have been able to expand and some have collaborated when creating a new beer.
âWeâre going to see some consolidation of maybe breweries working together in order to expand because thereâs opportunity,â said Beattie. âCanadian craft breweries and B.C. craft breweries are working together in situations to expand their reach or diversify their distribution and weâre going to see more of that.â
One of the best examples of that is in the Okanagan where Bad Tattoo Brewing opened in Penticton in 2014 and expanded to Âé¶čAV in 2021.
There are 16 breweries in Âé¶čAV and many are in close proximity to each other, while two are in West Âé¶čAV.
With summer around the corner and the restrictions lifted, thereâs an amazing amount of choice available for everyone in Âé¶čAV.
âBy all indications, people are itching to get out and enjoy and stay local,â said Beattie. âIâm really expecting the breweries and patios and will be packed and busy all summer.â
READ MORE: Âé¶čAV Ale Trail launches tasting passport
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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