What are the best Kelowna Breweries? Well, we’ve done the research, we’ve sampled the beer and we’ve explored their taprooms to give you our version of the 16 best Kelowna Breweries you should try!
Kelowna Breweries
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Kelowna” is usually wine. A quick second is beaches and beautiful landscapes. And though this beautiful city is abundant in both, we’re stoked to see the craft beer scene continuing to grow.
The past few years have brought a surge of quality craft breweries and delicious beers to the Kelowna region and, to be honest, it was damn hard for us to choose the top picks. We’ve chosen over a dozen breweries to highlight this year but we’re pumped to continue our “research” for next year’s list.
Kelowna Craft Beer Scene
Kelowna is a hot spot for summer sun-seekers who are looking for beaches, wineries, and great food. There’s no denying the excellence you’ll find in all of those categories in Kelowna, but we’re here to share another category that Kelowna is quickly topping: craft beer. With over a dozen craft breweries, craft beer enthusiasts will have their fair share of exotic sours, easy drinking craft beer, and unique new brews that will knock your socks off.
Summer is an obvious time to visit Kelowna, but as the city quiets down in the off-season, we actually love spending some more quality (and less busy) time at these Kelowna breweries drinking beer and taking notes!
The craft breweries are located fairly spread out throughout the city, so though you may not be able to brewery-hop between all of our choices, you’ll definitely be rewarded if you venture to all of them.
Plus, if you’re exploring more of the Okanagan region, Kelowna is only a short drive away from Penticton, where you can taste all the best breweries in Penticton, so make a holiday of it and enjoy a plethora of delicious craft beer.
How do we pick the best Breweries in Kelowna?
With every ‘top breweries’ post that we write, we make sure to do diligent online research to determine who makes it on our list. From reading online reviews and reviewing beer selections, to checking other authority websites and of course, sampling their fun beers. We do our best to take all the information we collect and give you our opinion of the top craft breweries in Kelowna.
However, we know we aren’t perfect and if we’ve missed a Kelowna brewery that you think should be on this list, contact us and let us know who the brewery is and we’ll do our best to include them!
Did we miss something?
If you think a brewery deserves a spot on our list, Vote for them! If you’re a brewery looking to update your information or get in touch, contact us!
The Best Breweries in Kelowna
Not that you need another reason to visit Kelowna, but here are are a few more in case you were on the fence!
BNA Brewing Co.
Bites, brews, and bowling. Need we say more? BNA Brewing is a multi-level brewery in downtown Kelowna and a local favourite among all breweries in Kelowna.
BNA Brewing offers a large food menu, 10 house-made beers, and plenty of room for fun. The space is cool, the beer is fresh, and the patio is dog-friendly. This craft brewery literally checks all of our boxes.
Complete with an onsite Tasting Room where you can grab a tasting flight along with a bite to eat from Boxcar (kind of like an indoor food truck), this is a craft beer lovers playground that you will not want to miss!
Customer Review: The absolute best place to get a home made craft beer, tons of options, and world class food to boot! I love how the owners restored the great brick building! Everything from the staff to the decor is welcoming, cool, and just amazing!!!
- Phone: (236) 420-0025
- Address: 1254 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Z4
- Best Beers: Brilliant Idiot Hazy IPA and Lil’ Pip Wild Blonde Ale
- Website: www.bnabrewing.com
Rustic Reel Brewing Company
Rustic Reel beers channel the essence of the Okanagan in their brews – beaches, patios, campfires, and everything that creates the quintessential Okanagan vibe. This brewery is a “one-woman-show” – created and run by Susi Foerg (and her furry sidekick).
Hoping to recreate the carefree spirit of cabin living and fishing, Rustic Reel is a breath of fresh air and more importantly, fresh beer. Rent a fire pit and cook up some s’mores while sipping on some unique craft beers like their Chocolate Mint Imperial Stout!
They even offer gluten-reduced beers, best for those with mild gluten intolerances, as a way to be more inclusive of different dietary restrictions.
Customer review: The Only place I was able to fill my flight with dark beers. They were well developed, balanced and hit the traditional types right on the nose, and palate. Good job, you nailed it. Will be back to try some more.
- Phone: (250) 862-3737
- Address: 760 Vaughan Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4
- Best Beers: Dunkelweizen and Gingerbread Cookie Ale
- Website: rusticreel.com
Kettle River Brewing
Kettle River Brewing & Provisions Kitchen is a microbrewery located in Kelowna’s up-and-coming North-end brewery district. They create an ever-evolving rotation of unique small-batch craft beers and offer delicious seasonal eats with daily menu features in their partner kitchen.
Get cozy in Kettle River Brewing’s eclectic tasting room, or bring your tasty beers outside on their large, dog-friendly patio.
Customer Review: I love Kettle River Brewing! The food is tasty and filling and the brews… wow! I love their stouts. One of my favourites is Under the Weather (chocolate milk stout). Yummy! The service is always friendly too.
- Phone: (250) 862-5115
- Address: 731 Baillie Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E9
- Best Beers: Loose Canoe IPA
- Website: kettleriverbrewing.ca
Kelowna Beer Institute
Located in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District, Kelowna Beer Institute offers some of the freshest beer in Kelowna. Their tank-to-tap method creates small batch, completely unfiltered beers served straight from their tanks. This process ensures top-notch quality so you can enjoy craft beer at its freshest state.
Their beer-inspired menu offers pizzas, sandwiches, and more. They even use the grain they get from the brewing process in their pizza dough and sandwich buns!
Venture into downtown Kelowna for one of KBI’s many events and promotions and enjoy the freshest beer available on their beautiful rooftop patio!
Customer Review: Best place for the beer lover to have a beer. They brew everything on premises, so if you like the mashy smell of beer in production while you enjoy your liquid barley and hops, this is the place. Not to mention the great tasting and super variety of choices.
- Phone: (778) 484-0306
- Address: 1346 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9P4
- Best Beers: Citratooth IPA
- Website: kelownabeerinstitute.com
Vice & Virtue Brewing Co.
Creativity and community are at the heart of this Kelowna brewery. Vice & Virtue Brewing Co. releases recipes that incorporate local wines for beers that are unique and refreshing. Have you ever tried a Sauvignon Blanc Ale? No other brewery does it like Vice & Virtue.
Pair their creative beers with a menu of delicious smoked meat and you have the ultimate pairing for success.
Customer Review: Always quality food and beer. This is one of my favourite breweries in Kelowna. Homewrecker IPA is my go to.
- Phone: (236) 420-2739
- Address: 1033 Richter St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K4
- Best Beers: Veritas Sauvignon Blanc Ale and Love Potion Raspberry Berliner Vice
- Website: viceandvirtuebrewing.ca
Copper Brewing Company
Fairly new to the Kelowna beer scene, Copper Brewing opened its doors in August 2019. Since then, this craft brewery has gained a loyal following (and a lot of out-of-town love) from beer lovers.
There’s a lot to love about Copper Brewing, so let’s get into the details about this amazing new brewery in Kelowna.
Affectionately nicknamed “Darla’s Living Room”, the taproom at Copper Brewing is a place to relax, unwind, and enjoy great beer. Plus, you’ll likely get some affection of your own from their “mascot” Porter, a darling Bernese Mountain Dog.
Customer Review: Great atmosphere, decent beers, staff are friendly and welcoming. Love the booths with the TVs that have Nintendo NES! I was occupied for a full hour playing video games with my friends while enjoying beers.
- Phone: (250) 762-8850
- Address: 1851 Kirschner Rd #102, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7
- Best Beers: Blackcurrant Sour and Copper Lager
- Website: copperbrewingco.com
Red Bird Brewing
Named after a boat in the historic Kelowna Regatta, Red Bird Brewing is a brewery based on the rich history of this beautiful city and maintains its strong connection to the community.
Their tap list is updated frequently with small-batch, test brews that are created by their committee of beer gurus. Each can feature interesting stories and tales of Kelowna history.
Red Bird Brewing is currently expanding, and once construction is completed on their new space next door you can expect more beer and more fun!
Customer Review: Sweet place! Fun staff, great beer, and the biggest backyard patio I’ve ever seen. Live music and a food truck also? Count me in.
- Phone: n/a
- Address: 1086 Richter St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K5
- Best Beers: Lake Lager
- Website: www.redbirdbrewing.com/
Barn Owl Brewing
Barn Owl Brewing is a unique craft brewery with a tasting room and lounge set in a 1921 heritage barn in the waterfront community of Lower Mission Kelowna.
Their comfortable and inviting historic building is a unique rustic retreat complete with antique furniture, board games, and plenty of seating. They have rotating food trucks and live bands two nights per week, making it an all-around great time!
If sustainability is your jam, you’ll be happy to hear that their BREWHA brewing system contributes to environmental sustainability by using less water, chemicals, and energy. They even feed their spent grain to cows at a local cattle farm! If you’re an environmental AND beer enthusiast, this may be the best brewery to visit.
Customer Review: Sweet place! Fun staff, great beer, and the biggest backyard patio I’ve ever seen. Live music and a food truck also? Count me in.
- Phone: (778) 760-9349
- Address: 4629 Lakeshore Rd #102, Kelowna, BC V1W 1X3
- Best Beers: Wise Owl Nitro Stout and Don’t Give a Hoot Pale Ale
- Website: barnowlbrewing.ca
Jackknife Brewing
Looking for the weirdest beer in BC? “Weird Beer. Classic Pizza.” is what Jackknife Brewing is all about. Jackknife, as self-described, is the “swirling cauldron” of three local creatives with a passion for beer.
This craft brewery brews its unique beers only in-house so, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) you’ll have to go to Kelowna to get a taste.
Jackknife Brewing is in a great location among many other great craft breweries in walking distance from each other in North end Kelowna. Hop around and make a beer tasting afternoon out of it!
Customer Review: Awesome beer with a rotating tap that guarantees you’ll have something new to try, great atmosphere (best tunes in town) and the best pizza I’ve had (and 2nd place isn’t even close).
- Phone: n/a
- Address: 727 Baillie Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E9
- Best Beers: Hair Straight Back Spruce Top Pale Ale and Hammer of Doom Canadian Imperial Stout
- Website: www.jackknife.beer
Shoreline Brewing Co.
Shoreline Brewing Co. has a beautiful location, right on the shores of Okanagan Lake where you can “savour the sips and enjoy the view” of the surrounding beach, lake, and mountains.
Shoreline Brewing Co. features an abundance of local flavours and high-quality, locally sourced ingredients from the Okanagan Valley and Lower Mainland. They pride themselves on their great beer and for being a welcoming place that reminds you to live simply and enjoy the view.
Customer Review: Some really good brews and food, plus a really nice location. Certainly worth a stop regardless of the season.
- Phone: (778) 940-6802
- Address: 3477 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna, BC V1W 3S9
- Best Beers: Smashin Pumpkin Ale and Rosa Guava Gose Beer
- Website: shorelinebrewing.com
Kelowna Brewing Company
Kelowna Brewing Company is located right outside UBC Okanagan’s campus, making it a favourite off-campus craft brewpub. It’s never a dull moment at this local brewery with live bands and trivia nights paired with an extensive menu of bites and brews.
Bring your pup along while you drink delicious beer, because this craft brewery also makes house-made dog treats out of their spent grain! Although there aren’t many other breweries in the area, we think this one is worth the trip.
Customer Review: Great service, friendly staff, very tasty beers (very much enjoyed the stout, cherry sour and the hazy) and overall very nice place to visit for a bite and a beer!
- Phone: (778) 753-1968
- Address: 975 Academy Way #121, Kelowna, BC V1V 3A4
- Best Beers: Old Man Kölsch and Honey Pepper Al
- Website: www.kelownabrewingcompany.com
Freddy’s Brew Pub
Bowl and Brew at Freddy’s Brew Pub! Freddy’s features 30 lanes of bowling and 10+ brews made on-site along with their ever changing guest taps that highlight other breweries and cideries.
If you love beer and bowling, this is the place for you. Head over for happy hour and their weekly live music and comedy nights!
Customer Review: This is my go to place! Great food and atmosphere…then and now! Beautiful job with the renovation. Check it out!
- Phone: (250) 765-8956
- Address: 948 McCurdy Rd #124, Kelowna, BC V1X 2P7
- Best Beers: Sandbagger Brown Ale
- Website: www.freddysbrewpub.com/
Unleashed Brewing
Unleashed Brewing was bred from a love of dogs, beer, and adventure. New to the North-end Brewery District, Unleashed is quickly becoming a favourite among beer and dog lovers alike. Currently, your furry friends can join you on the patio, and are soon to be allowed inside the taproom once approvals are in place!
An excellent location, close to many other great breweries in the central city. Take your furry friend for a walk and a date night to this dog-loving brewery.
Customer Review: I stopped here with my friend while checking out breweries in Kelowna and had a blast. Cool place to drink, fun gimmick and great tasting beer! I highly suggest Unleashed Brewing.
- Phone: (250) 717-8817
- Address: 880 Clement Ave #207, Kelowna, BC V1Y 0H8
- Best Beers: Takaya Hibiscus Pale Ale
- Website: unleashedbrewing.ca/
Welton Brewing
Introducing Kelowna’s only brewery with a British-inspired menu and aesthetic, brought from their hometown in Chester, UK.
At Welton Arms Craft Beer and Restaurant they love their nitrogen beer for its creamier mouthfeel. They offer a wide range of beers including everything from lagers, ales, IPAs, fruit beers to sours.
They pride themselves on their made-from-scratch cod n’ chips that are a homage to their hometown.
Customer Review: Proper English pub. The decor will make you feel like you are back in England. Faulty Towers pieces are awesome! They do fish n chips the right way nice thin batter. Amazing beers and good service. Stoked on the trivia night. Thanks Welton Arms.
- Phone: (778) 940-6679
- Address: 890 Clement Ave Unit 304, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4
- Best Beers: Chester Best Bitter
- Website: weltonarms.com/
The Office Brewery
“Your best meeting of the week” is the mantra at The Office Brewery. This craft brewery is not your typical office. It’s designed to be your place to unwind and enjoy high-quality beer and the company of good friends.
Cheeky beer names and delicious bites and shareables, located right between Welton and Unleashed. Make an afternoon out of it and brewery hop between the three!
Customer Review: The Office Brewery has a great vibe and staff/managers that are invested in the customer experience. The beer is exceptional, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is top notch. Great menu and extensive drafts. I will be returning.
- Phone: (778) 940-6257
- Address: 890 Clement Ave #301, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4
- Best Beers: 9 to 5 Hazy Pale Ale
- Website: officebrewery.ca/
Enjoy the best breweries in Kelowna!
Make sure to go and check out Kelowna’s best breweries, grab a locally brewed pint (or 2) and support your local brewers!
More British Columbia Breweries
If you’re not just staying in Kelowna but are traveling around British Columbia, make sure you check out some of our other top craft brewery lists below!
