Since moving to Kelowna, the first BC microbeer I was exposed to was from Tree Brewing, which has been crafting beer since 1996. Putting a great beer on the market earned them a growing fan base and distribution across Canada, extending north to the Northern Territories. The Kelowna Beer Institute opened in 2014 under Tree Brewing Beer Insititute. In 2016, its ownership changed from Tree Brewing, but it maintained its association with it when it rebranded to Kelowna Beer Institute. Little-known factoid - its current location in downtown Kelowna used to be a Mexican restaurant with quite an impressive selection of Tequila. But that is the history, and Kelowna Beer Institute is the future of this location.
From the outset, the institute has strongly emphasized offering a diverse range of beer styles, often incorporating local ingredients to showcase the region's flavours. This commitment to quality and creativity has helped the Kelowna Beer Institute garner and maintain a loyal following among locals and visitors alike.
Upon entry, you are immediately greeted by a large wooden bar. If you can look past the taps offering their freshly brewed beer, you can see the production area where their brewing occurs. To bring your attention to this area, they chose smartly by having string lights strung about, providing an extra glow to their production area. But it's easy not to look at this as you are greeted with an important question to answer - what to drink from their taps?
Today, they offer 9 out of 10 taps of different creations. What do you do if this is your first visit and you don't know what you'd like to drink? Well, they offer a flight! You can select four taps to receive a 2-4 oz sampling to enjoy. Alternatively, they have some suggested flight compositions posted that change along with their changing offerings. As this is my first time here to review, I brought along my baby sister.
My selection consisted of;
Tangerine Wheat Ale (5.2% alc) - This one had more of the smell of tangerine than the flavour of it. However, its colouring was a perfect tangerine. I found this flavour to be like a light IPA with citrus peel.
Crusher Pale Ale (4.1% alc) - As a Star Trek fan, I had to choose this one as part of my flight. This one has a lovely copper colouring to it. But where I was expecting sweeter notes, I was surprised by its mellow and tasty flavour profile. It's way more refreshing than its colouring implied.
Snake Bite (5.5% alc) - A combination of beer and cider, this was an easy choice for my flight—a dry and crisp flavour profile. An odd observation is that it looked like cider but with beer-like bubbles.
KBI Rotating Radler (2.4% alc) - A refreshing combination of beer and grapefruit juice. On a hot summer day in Kelowna, this is the PERFECT drink. Thirst quenching, citrus refreshing, and a bit-o-beer make this the stand-out for summer consumption.
They do offer food, and I almost entirely missed their posted menu. When standing at the bar placing your beer order, look to your right at that column. Like I said…. it's easy to miss. Looking at the menu, I regret not having an appetite for food. Some classic pub grub fare is done with their flair - Fried pickles, poutine, wings, and pizza. They have also incorporated vegetarian/vegan dishes along with some well-imagined salads.
All the tables on their patio have patio umbrellas to provide shade. The variety of chairs creates a tremendous beach-like feel. One detail that surprised me while enjoying their patio was the string lights they had all over. Hmmmm…. I will have to visit this place after sunset to check out how this patio is lit. As I know this place is open year-round, I had to explore more of the interior out of curiosity. Behind the bar, between the bar and the back production area, are some tables and bench-style seating. Continuing my exploration, I found a retail shop they have onsite where you can purchase cans of their product. On my way to discover this area, I found that Kelowna Beer Institute also provides a variety of board games for guests to play during their visit.
A large flight of stairs leads to more space upstairs. Large open rooms are suitable for group reservations and beer education workshops. One room has all its walls decorated in street-style graffiti advertising Kelowna Beer Institute. This room is also open to the street below, so I'm not sure how much use this room gets in winter. I came across this tremendously informative mural showing the brewing process here. This is not in their graffiti room but in a room adjacent to it.
Of course, I went to check out the bathroom during my visit. I immensely enjoyed their "steampunk" feel. Modern and preindustrial components provide a uniquely designed area. Even though there are industrial inspirations, this space is much cleaner than you'd imagine for a factory.
Overall, the Kelowna Beer Institute has quickly become a respected institution known for its commitment to craftsmanship, education, and the promotion of beer culture. As it continues to grow and evolve, it remains a strong player in shaping the vibrant landscape of craft brewing in Kelowna. So, if you're looking for a break from the wine tasting or have someone in your party who isn't a wine drinker, I happily suggest this as an option for something different.
Cheers 🥂
-BC Wine Nerd
Website: Kelowna Beer Institute
Address: 1346 Water St.
Phone #: 778-484-0306
Dietaries: Menu offers Vegetarian and Vegan
Wine Beer by the glass Menu: 100% 🇨🇦
Menu $: 🍷🍷
Menu $ Legend
🍷= Inexpensive. Entree items are $10 or less 🍷🍷= Moderately Expensive. Entree items fall in $10-$25 range
🍷🍷🍷= Expensive. Entree items fall in $25-50 range 🍷🍷🍷🍷= Very Expensive. Entree items are $50 or grater