One of the biggest and fastest-growing sectors in British Columbia is the brewery industry, and it can be seen in 琉璃神社 as there are now 18 different breweries.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been exciting to watch because it鈥檚 been so rapid,鈥� said Ken Beattie, executive director of the B.C. Craft Brewers Guild. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really become a hotbed. It鈥檚 really built to a destination, and we鈥檙e really encouraged by what we see.鈥�

Since 2018, 12 separate breweries have opened in 琉璃神社, 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, it鈥檚 a big win.

鈥淗istorically, 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,鈥� said Beattie.

Beattie is also impressed by how breweries and restaurants came together and helped each other out over the last two years.

鈥淎 lot of breweries are quite small and they don鈥檛 have room for a kitchen, so it makes it great to be able to support the community,鈥� 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.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the bit of the silver lining,鈥� said Beattie. 鈥淏reweries tend to be community hubs and community meeting places and we encourage them to work with their local partners down the street.鈥�

With the number of breweries growing throughout the province, some have been able to expand and some have collaborated when creating a new beer.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to see some consolidation of maybe breweries working together in order to expand because there鈥檚 opportunity,鈥� said Beattie. 鈥淐anadian craft breweries and B.C. craft breweries are working together in situations to expand their reach or diversify their distribution and we鈥檙e going to see more of that.鈥�

One of the best examples of that is in the Okanagan where Bad Tattoo Brewing opened in Penticton in 2014 and expanded to 琉璃神社 in 2021.

There are 16 breweries in 琉璃神社 and many are in close proximity to each other, while two are in West 琉璃神社.

With summer around the corner and the restrictions lifted, there鈥檚 an amazing amount of choice available for everyone in 琉璃神社.

鈥淏y all indications, people are itching to get out and enjoy and stay local,鈥� said Beattie. 鈥淚鈥檓 really expecting the breweries and patios and will be packed and busy all summer.鈥�

READ MORE: 琉璃神社 Ale Trail launches tasting passport

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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