Breweries & Cideries
BNA Brewing Kelowna
Kelowna
THINGS TO DO · KELOWNA & WEST KELOWNA
Spend an afternoon tasting hazy IPAs in the North End or sipping crisp apple blends overlooking the lake.
20 breweries & tours · Updated October 2026Things To Do guide · Go Kelowna
Photo: Meta World Reviewer · Britannia Brewing Co via Google
01AT A GLANCE
The details that matter.
The North End district packs multiple taprooms into a few walkable blocks along Richter and Ellis streets. Out in the orchards, family-run farms press local fruit into small-batch drinks. Guided shuttles handle the driving so you can focus on tasting flights and wood-fired pizza.
- Best Season
- Summer and Fall
- Book Ahead
- Tours and weekends
- Best Area
- North End Brewery District
- Good to know
- Many patios are dog-friendly
01LOCAL PICKS
Breweries & cideries to tour
Taprooms, flights and patio pints across the Ale Trail.
Breweries & Cideries
Red Bird Brewing
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Upside Cidery
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Kelowna Beer Institute
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Truck 59 Ciderhouse
West Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Copper Brewing Company
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Kettle River Brewing Co.
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Barn Owl Brewing
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Scenic Road Cider Co.
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Britannia Brewing Co
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Soma Craft Cidery
Kelowna
Breweries & Cideries
Folktale Cider
Lake Country
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•LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Mapping Out the Local Taprooms
Knowing which patios catch the afternoon sun and which taprooms pour the best seasonal releases takes a bit of local knowledge. We break down the top spots to grab a pint or fill a growler.
The short answer
Begin in the North End district, where you can easily walk between Red Bird Brewing and Kettle River Brewing Co. If you prefer to let someone else drive, book a trip with Canadian Craft Tours or Vivid Tours to hit multiple spots in one afternoon.
01Walkable Taprooms
The North End District
Richter and Ellis streets anchor a dense cluster of independent taprooms known as the Brewery District. You can easily spend an entire evening walking from one tasting room to the next without calling a cab.
Start at BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery, a massive space inside a historic tobacco building complete with an indoor bowling alley. A short walk away sits Red Bird Brewing, recognized for its massive outdoor patio, live music, and wood-fired pizza. Locals gather here around the fire tables to catch up over pints.
Keep walking to reach Kettle River Brewing Co., an early micro-brewery pouring a rotating tap list in a cozy garage setting. Just down the road, Vice & Virtue Brewing pairs inventive beers with a seasonally driven food menu. Down in the Lower Mission, Barn Owl Brewing pours small-batch beers inside a restored 1920s dairy barn.
Local tips
- Wear comfortable shoes since the downtown district is best done on foot.
- Check individual websites for live music schedules on weekends.
- Bring your dog along, as many patios welcome pets.
- Drink plenty of water between tasting flights.
02Following the Map
The BC Ale Trail
The BC Ale Trail maps out a specific route connecting the top craft beverage producers across the province. Instead of a physical hiking path, it functions as a checklist of the most notable taprooms in the Okanagan. Following this map ensures you hit the major highlights and regional favourites.
The route emphasizes the high concentration of tasting rooms downtown, making it simple to check off several stops in a single afternoon. It also pushes you past the city centre to find spots like Barn Owl Brewing in the Mission and Copper Brewing Company. These locations sit just a short drive away and pour excellent regional styles.
Using the official website or mobile app helps you plan a route, read the backstory of each business, and collect passport stamps. It is a highly practical tool for planning a structured afternoon of tasting.
Local tips
- Download the mobile app before leaving your hotel to map out stops.
- Look at the map to group walkable locations together.
- Watch for seasonal releases tied to the trail program.
03Farm to Glass
Local Apple Blends
Deep roots in the orchard industry translate into a highly active craft cider community. Producers press fruit grown right here in British Columbia, often pulling directly from their own family farms. Stopping by a local orchard gives you a crisp alternative to heavy stouts and IPAs.
Out in East Kelowna, Wards Cider runs its operation from a fifth-generation family orchard, pressing apples inside a vintage packinghouse. Nearby, Scenic Road Cider Co. runs a tasting room in a 1930s building where you can sit at picnic tables among the apple trees. These locations give you a direct link to the agricultural history of the region.
BC Tree Fruits Cider Co. crushes premium apples from their own growers in an on-site mill. For a view of the water, drive over to Truck 59 Ciderhouse in West Kelowna. You can sit on the grass and look out over Okanagan Lake while trying their modern blends.
Local tips
- Verify tasting room hours before visiting, as farm locations often run on seasonal schedules.
- Ask the staff about small-batch blends not sold in liquor stores.
- Try the non-alcoholic sparkling juices pressed from the same harvest.
04Booking a Driver
Shuttles and Guided Trips
Booking a guided trip removes the stress of drawing straws for a designated driver. Several local operators run dedicated shuttles that cover transportation and tasting fees. The drivers know the region well and keep your group on schedule throughout the afternoon.
Vivid Tours and Canadian Craft Tours run daily public and private trips across the region. Their standard itineraries stop at three or four locations, setting up a flight of drinks at each bar. Beach Bum Tours runs a specific trip that lets you pick your preferred stops from a master list. The operators handle all the logistics and reservations.
Reserving a seat on a shuttle makes a lot of sense during the busy summer months. A pre-booked trip guarantees your group a table and lets you skip the line at crowded taprooms. The drivers also share background information on the businesses between stops.
Local tips
- Reserve your seats a few weeks early for weekend trips in July and August.
- Check if your ticket covers tasting fees and driver gratuity before booking.
- Request a private shuttle if you want to build a custom itinerary.
05Sampling the Menu
Menus and Takeaways
Ordering a flight is the smartest way to test a tap list. Almost every tasting room in the region pours them. A standard flight includes four or five small glasses, letting you sample different styles before you commit to a full pint.
These small pours let you test your palate with a crisp lager, a hazy IPA, a tart sour, and a heavy stout all at once. The bartenders are always willing to suggest a lineup if you are unsure what to order. They often highlight seasonal batches that will only sit on tap for a few weeks.
If you find a batch you love, you can take it back to your hotel. Most bars sell 32-ounce or 64-ounce glass growlers filled straight from the tap. Many also stock fridges with tall cans and bottles. Grabbing a few cans is a great way to stock your cooler for the weekend.
Local tips
- Order different flights with a friend and trade glasses to try more styles.
- Rinse your empty glass growler with hot water as soon as you finish it.
- Keep your filled growlers cold and drink them within three days.
06Transit Options
Safe Transportation
Planning your transportation ahead of time is crucial when spending the day drinking. You never want to get behind the wheel after a tasting flight. The city has multiple transit options to get you safely back to your accommodation.
The downtown district is flat and highly walkable, meaning you can hit four or five spots on foot. If you need to travel further, Uber and Lyft operate across the region and usually arrive within minutes. Traditional taxi fleets also circle the main entertainment areas on weekends.
BC Transit runs an extensive bus network that stops near the major commercial zones. If you prefer to stay active, renting a bicycle is a popular alternative. The city maintains dedicated bike lanes connecting the downtown core to the surrounding neighbourhoods, making it easy to pedal between stops.
Local tips
- Set up your ride-sharing accounts and attach a payment method before leaving.
- Map out the local bus routes using the BC Transit mobile app.
- Bring a heavy-duty lock to secure your bicycle while inside the tasting rooms.
BNA Brewing KelownaRed Bird BrewingUpside CideryKelowna Beer InstituteTruck 59 CiderhouseCopper Brewing CompanyKettle River Brewing Co.Barn Owl BrewingScenic Road Cider Co.Britannia Brewing CoSoma Craft CideryFolktale CiderOkanagan Spirits Craft Distillery KelownaUnleashed Brewing CompanyRailside Brewing LtdLuckhurst Farm & DistilleryCutwater Brewing and LoungeUrban DistilleriesThree Lakes Brewing LtdPeachland Wine Shoppe
•Insider Access
Let a local take you there.
Tours, rentals, shops and stays run by Kelowna locals, all bookable from their profiles.
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•THE FULL LIST
Search all 20.
Search by name, narrow by type or community, and sort by the most-reviewed or highest-rated. Every card opens a full profile.
See them on the map20 places
Breweries & CideriesBNA Brewing KelownaBNA Brewing Kelowna offers craft beer, eclectic comfort food, and unique entertainment like five-pin bowling, all within a historic downtown building.★ 4.5 (2,776) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesRed Bird BrewingA vibrant brewery in Kelowna's North End, famous for its craft beer, wood-fired pizza, lively live music scene, and dog-friendly patio.★ 4.6 (802) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesUpside CideryBar in Kelowna.★ 4.4 (753) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesKelowna Beer InstituteBrewery in Kelowna.★ 4.4 (532) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesTruck 59 CiderhouseBar in West Kelowna.★ 4.7 (518) · West KelownaBreweries & CideriesCopper Brewing CompanyBrewpub in Kelowna.★ 4.6 (469) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesKettle River Brewing Co.Brewery in Kelowna.★ 4.7 (449) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesBarn Owl BrewingExperience craft beer and community in a beautifully restored 1920s dairy barn, featuring live music, local food trucks, and a pet-friendly patio.★ 4.8 (389) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesScenic Road Cider Co.Bar in Kelowna.★ 4.9 (288) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesBritannia Brewing CoEnjoy quality craft ales and delicious food in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere with a spacious, dog-friendly patio in Lake Country.★ 4.7 (275) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesSoma Craft CideryBar in Kelowna.★ 4.6 (269) · KelownaBreweries & CideriesFolktale CiderFarm in Lake Country.★ 4.7 (210) · Lake Country•STORIES
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•FAQ
Good to know
It is a hand-picked list of local taprooms participating in a province-wide initiative. Instead of a physical walking path, it functions as a map to help you find the top craft producers across the region, from the downtown core to West Kelowna.
