Too cold to be outside? Explore Penticton's breweries instead

Photo: Visit South Okanagan

Cannery Brewing is one of many stops in Penticton for locally brewed beer.

"Four seasons of fun" is new a collaboration between Castanet and Travel Penticton showcasing what Penticton has to offer all year round. Watch for it every Monday morning.

It may be a little chilly for a mountain hike, but one trail open year-round is the Penticton Ale Trail.

Kim Lawton, the Penticton Ale Trail manager and Cannery Brewing Company marketing director, said the “beautiful thing” about breweries is they’re open all year-round, making them a fun “adventure” for those looking to stay local and stay busy. And with the Penticton Ale Trail, visiting all of Penticton’s breweries has never been more fun!

“You can enjoy breweries all year long,” she said. “All seven breweries (Bad Tattoo, Barley Mill, Cannery Brewing, Highway 97, Neighbourhood, Slackwater and Tin Whistle) are open, which is great. With each brewery you visit, you can grab a passport and enter for a chance to win a quarterly prize pack. It’s about a $500 prize value, which is really cool.”

Those prize packs, she added, are loaded with perks from local businesses. Draws are done quarterly.

“You can just make a goal to visit each of the breweries,” she said. “We do it ongoingly.”

For the first quarter of 2021, the prize includes a night’s stay at the Penticton Ramada, a growler fill at each breweries, and lots of swag.

And with hopes of less restrictions surrounding inter-provincial travel for the summer, be sure to download the BC Ale Trail app, which will give you access to nearly 200 craft breweries across the province.

Visit bcaletrail.ca for more information on the Penticton Ale Trail and BC Ale Trail.

Lawton added breweries are a great place to bring a board game and enjoy a game or two with your social bubble, as many of the breweries in Penticton are family-friendly.

And be sure to check out the latest tastings at Cannery Brewing, with the third annual “Ceres” beer set to kick off in support of the Pink Boots Society and women in craft brewing. It will also be available in time for International Women’s Day.

Cannery Brewing has also opened a new space called the “Cannery Brewhouse,” giving patrons the experience of enjoying their beer in the brewery’s brewhouse.

“It’s a really cool space, it’s a really cool vibe,” she said. “You’re surrounded by cans of beer.”

Cannery Brewing’s 20th anniversary event in April can't happen in person due to COVID-19, but they are currently working on other exciting and creative ways to celebrate, so keep an eye out.

And Cannery Brewing isn’t Penticton’s only brewery with lots planned for 2021, with Bad Tattoo Brewing aiming to launch over 30 new beers this year alone.

“We’re going to be busier than we ever have, we think,” said Bad Tattoo Brewing owner Lee Agur.

Agur said the team has also been reviewing the menu and plans are in the works for potentially adding some additional appetizers, as well as craft soda.

“We have a mixed pack of cocktail beer coming out here in March, which we’re really excited about,” Agur added. “We just released a Chai Stout, and that’s the newest one out for us right now.”

The brewery typically launches one to two new beers every two weeks, with Agur saying there have been some locals returning bi-weekly to try what’s new on tap.

But their plans don’t stop there: Agur said a location is being eyed up in Kelowna for a second brewery. While plans aren’t officially set in stone, the team is taking steps to hopefully make the Kelowna location a reality by the summer.

Be sure to keep an eye out on Bad Tattoo’s social media, or visit the brewery at 169 Estabrook Ave. to sample their new releases.

And while you’re on the same block, Neighbourhood Brewing is offering up some delicious bites alongside their latest release, a raspberry sour called “Mischievous.”

“Right now, the Gambler, people are liking that,” said Neighbourhood Brewing co-owner Mike Coghill. “It’s a west coast IPA.”

The brewery is set to release another new beer next week, too.

And while the brewery has only been open for several months, plans are in the works for take out for those who would like to take their meal home.

Up the street and you’re at Slackwater Brewing on Martin Street, which offers up a variety of weekly menu deals paired with their ever-popular beers.

On Fridays, you can treat yourself to the “Thank Fog It’s Friday” special, which features the New England IPA on for $5 a sleeve.

And mark your calendars for Jan. 29, with a dual beer release in the works at Slackwater Brewing.

Slackwater Brewing’s beer club is a must have for beer lovers, with discounts on growler refills and awesome swag.

And venture out of downtown Penticton and treat yourself to a locally crafted beer at the Barley Mill Pub, located at 2460 Skaha Lake Rd., and features a family-friendly upstairs dining space. Seasonal beers on tap are the Pen City Oatmeal Stout and Rude Pony N.E.I.P.A.

Learn more at www.visitpenticton.com and on social @visitpenticton