Best Penticton Breweries & Craft Cider

Looking to visit the best Penticton Breweries?

Dubbed British Columbia’s craft beer capital, the friendly South Okanagan city offers brewery lovers a diversity of options when looking to sip fresh suds.

Visit the Penticton breweries during a fun beer festival, or book a tour to learn about its unique brewing history.

Our guide to the top Penticton Breweries offers detailed descriptions for each of the destination’s 8 craft breweries and a French cider house for those looking to enjoy gluten free sips.

Many of Penticton’s breweries also feature restaurants, offering menus that pair perfectly with craft beer. Chefs love to get creative with their menus, infusing a unique west coast cuisine with freshly brewed beer.

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History of Penticton Breweries

Dobbernationloves had a chance to sit down with Joe Wiebe, author of Craft Beer Revolution: The Insider’s Guide to BC Breweries and co-founder of the BC Ale Trail, to learn about the evolution of the craft beer scene in Penticton.

The first brewery to open in Penticton was Tin Whistle Brewing in 1995. Wiebe shared, “It is still open today although it has moved and changed ownership since then. Its current owners revitalized the brewery and brand with a strong focus on environmental sustainability over the past couple of years.”

So what makes the Penticton breweries special in the British Columbia craft beer scene?

“Penticton has a dynamic and special craft beer scene that punches above its weight. For a small city it has quite a few breweries, and it has also hosted the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale for more than 25 years. I think one of the reasons it has developed into such a strong scene has to do with some of the people who were early pioneers there and are still leaders in the community,” said Wiebe.

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The family that owns Cannery Brewery, Patt & Ron Dyck and their son Ian, had run a very popular restaurant in Naramata for years before they decided to open the brewery (along with the chef from the restaurant) and from the early days they worked hard to develop awareness and interest in craft been in the city and Okanagan in general.

“When you compare it to Kelowna, which is a much larger city (and arguable the Okanagan’s “capital”), it’s really interesting how Penticton’s craft beer scene was so much more developed compared to Kelowna’s for a long, long time — until just recently, really. Now, Kelowna has more breweries, but that’s only because of a big boom there in the past few years,” explained Wiebe.

A couple of the Penticton breweries have grown up over the years by launching in small locations and then moving into bigger, newer facilities.

“Cannery Brewing started in the Cannery Trade Centre, an old converted fruit cannery, but then moved into their own custom built brewery closer to downtown Penticton in 2015. Tin Whistle, which had been in a small location on the edge of the city since it opened, moved into Cannery’s original space, and Highway 97 Brewery moved into Tin Whistle’s old space when it opened around the same time. Since then, Highway 97 has moved into a bigger, better spot right across the street from Cannery Brewing. And three breweries opened in downtown Penticton close to the beach since then, too, making for a nice little community,” explained Wiebe.

Festival Fun at Penticton Breweries

If you’re a British Columbia craft beer fan why not plan your visit around a fun festival featuring the best Penticton breweries? It’s at a South Okanagan beer festival that you’ll have a chance to taste limited releases and seasonals.

How To Get To Penticton Breweries

Penticton is centrally located in the Southern Interior of British Columbia and is the hub of the South Okanagan.

Conveniently located along Highway 97, Penticton is easily accessed by the Trans-Canada Highway (HWY 1) to the North and the scenic Crowsnest Highway (HWY 3) to the South.

The closest major airport is Kelowna International Airport (YLW), just over a 1 hour drive from Penticton.

Check in at Penticton Lakeside Resort for a fun beer tour.

Hotels Near Penticton Breweries

There are plenty of accommodation options in Penticton to fit every budget. Here are three of our favourite hotels and resorts to book for a fun craft beer weekend getaway.

Naramata Inn: is a short drive from downtown Penticton. Naramata Inn has 12 mission-style rooms, each with direct access to the upper veranda and views of the gardens, lake, and hills. The inn’s food program is led by Okanagan-born Chef Ned Bell, formerly from the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.
Penticton Lakeside Resort: is a well-appointed mid-range hotel and conference centre, which sits perched over Okanagan Lake. The pet-friendly hotel offers a sandy beach as well as several food concepts including The Hooded Merganser, the properties signature fine dining restaurant with a jaw-dropping view.
Days Inn by Wyndham Penticton: if you’re looking for a budget hotel option in Penticton the Days Inn is a perfect option. Located right downtown, it’s a popular accomodation option in the summer with its outdoor pool. Handy that it’s a short walk from the best Penticton Breweries.

Penticton Breweries & Craft Cider Guide

There are currently 8 craft breweries and a French cider house in Penticton offering tours, tastings, restaurant menus and pretty patios perfect for polishing off a pint!

Bad Tattoo Brewing

169 Estabrook Ave, 250-493-8686

Bad Tattoo Brewing was founded by the Agur and Lewis families and opened its doors in 2014. The Penticton brewery was inspired by the ownership groups love of craft beer and extensive background in the hospitality industry.

When the owners were brainstorming a name for the brewery it was mentioned that “it should be as memorable as a bad tattoo.” The philosophy stuck and is the driving force behind the craft brewery’s innovation, whether it’s designing the food program or its yearly beer line-up.

Penticton’s Bad Tattoo Brewery is a purpose-built facility that was constructed using as many local contractors, trades people, and equipment makers as possible. “Our brew tanks were sourced from Summerland’s Ripley Stainless and the restaurant was designed using a mixture of steel, cement, and wood features that speak to the industrial component of our facility. Our high ceilings echo the surrounding mountains and open-air valley that we call home. The heart of our restaurant is our pizza oven that can be seen from our open-air kitchen, which is a delight to many guests as they watch their pizzas being hand-tossed before fired,” said a spokesperson for Bad Tattoo.

The restaurant’s spacious patio quickly became a local favourite, offering views of the city and mountains. “We opened a second patio area called the Badlands in 2021 that offers a more casual feel suited to people coming off the beach, off the trails, or off a flight, and it’s become a popular meeting place that’s both kid and pet friendly. While the main patio was recently outfitted so we can use it all year round, the Badlands is only open May-September,” said a Bad Tattoo representative.

Skip inside the popular Penticton craft brewery and you’ll find 18 taps at the bar and a choir of cooks kept busy making some of the city’s best gourmet pizzas.

Bad Tattoo Brewery produces 5 core beers year round: Los Muertos Cerveza Negra, Sol Vida Cerveza Clara, Juice Bomb NEIPA, Hellion IPA and Bad Light Lager.

The brewmaster produces several core seasonals, typically releasing two per month. Some of the most popular are Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter, Patio Pink Lemonade and a Cocktail mixed pack comprised of Pina Colada IPA, Strawberry Daiquiri, Moscow Mule and Whiskey Sour.

The food menu focuses on celebrating quirky flavour creations. A section of the menu is literally labelled Weird Pizzas! The Crocodile Pizza is much-loved second only to the Black and Blue, which uses local Okanagan apples and Upper Bench Winery blue cheese.

Neighbourhood Brewing

187 Westminster Ave W, 778-380-0841

Neighbourhood Brewing is an independently owned and operated craft brewery in downtown Penticton.

Skip inside Neighbourhood Brewing and you’ll find sky high ceilings, bench seating, a massive beer bar and spacious outdoor patio.

The Penticton Brewery’s core range features Way of Life Hazy IPA, Pursuit Pils, Happy Place Pale Ale and Lifelong Lite Lager. Popular seasonals worth sampling when they’re freshly tapped include Passion Fruit Wheat Ale, Fancyish Sour Ale with Gewurztraminer and Dark Magic Horchata Milk Stout.

The popular Penticton brewery is perhaps best known for its Mexican menu. We suggest popping by for lunch or dinner, ordering a tasting flight of beers that tickle your fancy and noshing on a tower of tacos.

Cannery Brewing

198 Ellis St, 250-493-2723

Cannery Brewing opened its doors in Penticton in 2000.

Patt Dyck, General Manager of Cannery Brewing shared, “We brewed our first batch of beer on April 1, 2001. It was our signature Naramata Nut Brown Ale, which we still brew to this day. My husband Ron and I founded the brewery. We previously owned and operated a restaurant in Naramata called The Country Squire for 23 years. With a young son, we were looking for new opportunities and we saw the growth of the BC wine industry and the start of the craft beer movement. We were inspired to open the brewery and start sharing our love of craft beer.”

The popular Penticton Brewery originally opened in the historic Cannery Trade Centre, in an old Aylmer fruit and vegetable canning facility. The brewery’s name pays homage to the buildings roots in the South Okanagan. In 2015, after outgrowing the space, Cannery Brewing relocated to a 12,000 sq ft production facility that was formerly ANJ Automotive.

“Since we had been brewing beer for many years at this point, Ross and Ian and our brewers really knew how to design the new space. We worked with an architect and local builder to get our new space exactly as we wanted. We wanted a large taproom so people in Penticton could have a fun place to hang out. It’s a great space for couples, families, date night and groups. You can see the tanks in the brewhouse through the taproom windows,” said Dyck.

Cannery Brewing is passionate about getting involved in the community. From inside the taproom you can see plenty of large murals, a art partnership with the Penticton Art Gallery called SQUARE. To date, 10 artists have created murals for the brewery, offering a unique creative flare to the craft beer sipping experience in Penticton.

Visit Cannery Brewing and you’ll find a year-round taproom and seasonal front patio, backyard and Ale-catraz warehouse space.

Hope up at the beer bar and you’ll find 12 beers on tap, plus rotating offers featuring local BC Cider, red wine and white wine.

Cannery Brewing produces 6 core beers year-round including Lakeboat Lager, Anarchist Amber Ale, Muse Extra Pale Ale, Trellis IPA, Naramata Nut Brown Ale and Thornless Blackberry Porter. You’ll also find plenty of seasonal brews and limited releases, proving there’s always a new beer to sip and sample when visiting the Penticton Breweries.

Looking to enjoy a hearty lunch or dinner at one of the Penticton Breweries? Cannery Brewing’s kitchen is run by Chef Thomas Bridson. The craft beer focussed taproom offers a menu designed to compliment fresh beer. Highlights include Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Nachos, Pretzel Bombs, Vegetarian Pakoras and popcorn du jour.

If you’re in Penticton looking to indulge in live music plan a trip to Cannery Brewing on Sundays between 5-7pm. The brewery manages a busy entertainment calendar including art events, comedy nights, movie nights and charity fundraisers.

Highway 97 Brewery

200 Ellis St, 778-996-6875

Highway 97 Brewery first opened its doors in Penticton, British Columbia in the winter of 2017.

The family-run Penticton craft brewery was founded by Nick Kapusty and his dad John.

Nick shared, “The name of our brewery came from the longest continuously numbered route in British Columbia. For us, it represents the vitality of the region and the importance of a transportation network that opens to countless recreational and lifestyle opportunities.”

Seventeen years ago the building was a car parts store. Today it’s been transformed into a boutique craft brewery that is both pet and kid friendly.

Skip inside Highway 97 Brewery and you’ll find an open concept space that can seat over 90 inside and 40 on the outdoor patio. The tasting room is actually located inside the brewhouse so visiting craft beer lovers can sip suds while watching production.

We suggest ordering a flight of beers for a tasting. The bartender pours from 22 taps and there’s an expanded kitchen for those keen to enjoy a bite with a cold beer.

Some of our favourite Highway 97 Brewing beers include Lakeshore Amber Ale, High Alpine IPA and Total Darkness Salted Chocolate Porter.

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Tin Whistle Brewing

1475 Fairview Rd Unit 118, 250-770-1122

Looking to sip suds at one of the OG Penticton Breweries? Tin Whistle Brewing is dubbed the original microbrewery of the South Okanagan.

Alexis Esseltine, co-owner of Tin Whistle Brewing Co. shared, “We’ve been brewing beer in Penticton since 1995. We still brew three of the original recipes, Coyote Blonde Ale, Black Widow English Dark Ale, and Killer Bee Honey Porter. Timothy Scoon and I purchased the brewery in October 2020.”

The most historic of the Penticton Breweries is also forward thinking. It’s the first carbon neutral brewery in British Columbia. Its mission is great beer, less impact.

The craft brewery in Penticton gets its name from the Tin Whistle, a train that ran on the Kettle Valley Railway through the Okanagan.

Tin Whistle Brewing currently lives in the Cannery Trade Central (former location of Cannery Brewing). All of the furnishings in the brewery are made of items found around the Cannery building including barn door tabletops, stools made of retired beer kegs, and an antique safe seat.

Visit Tin Whistle Brewing and you’ll find a craft beer bar pouring 12 taps. The brewery also offers a private dining room and outdoor patio. We suggest sampling a few brews from the core range such as Peach Cream Ale and Mythical Creatures Westcoast IPA. We’re most impressed with the brewmasters love for working creatively with new grains like rye and spelt, unique yeasts and locally foraged ingredients.

If you’re feeling peckish order a pint and snack on locally roasted Persian nuts and Cannery Trade Centre-made apple chips. For larger appetites guests are encouraged to order takeout from the buildings incredible food makers such as Wrap It Up Tortilla and JJ Joy Asian Fusion.

Music lovers looking to craft beer hop through the Penticton Breweries will adore Tin Whistle’s penchant for vinyl. Expect to hear nostalgic tunes by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Arcade Fire and Elton John.

Barley Mill Brew Pub in Penticton, British Columbia.

Barley Mill Brew Pub & Bistro

2460 Skaha Lake Rd, 250-493-8000

The Barley Mill in Penticton opened as a neighborhood pub in 1982. At that time the city only allowed pubs to have 65 seats if not attached to a hotel.

The historic Penticton brewery features classic Tudor architecture, bright white walls and sturdy wooden beams. The space was built to replicate an Old English Pub.

In 1997, a brewing room was constructed on the second floor of the Barley Mill, alongside a family dining section. The former owner was NHL Hockey Player Larry Lund as well as local, Harley Hatfield. The Barley Mill has only changed one time to current owner, Andy Virk in 2010.

On a hot summer day the Barley Mill Brewpub patio is the place to be to enjoy a cold pint. The al fresco space features seating for 100 craft beer fans and is dog friendly too!

“The Caballero Cerveza, Mustang Pale Ale, Nite Mare Brown Ale and the Rude Pony NEIPA are our core four beers. The brewer keeps things exciting with our rotating taps, often featuring Fruit Sours and Wheat Ales in the Summer and the Pen City Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is welcomed back every Fall,” said a spokesperson for Barley Mill Brew Pub.

Wag your finger down the menu and you’ll find classic English pub favourites like Beer Battered Fish & Chips as well as a selection of healthy salads.

We suggest planning your visit to Barley Mill Brew Pub in Penticton around their entertainment calendar. They offer fun entertainment 5 nights a week. Karaoke is every Wednesday, Friday & Saturday night. Open Mic night is Tuesday. Trivia Night is Thursday. You’ll also find Stoplight Singles Parties the last Saturday of every month for those looking to find true love over a hoppy IPA!

Slackwater Brewing

218 Martin St, 236-422-0812

Slackwater Brewing began pouring fresh craft beer in Penticton in June, 2019.

Liam Peyton, co-Founder of Slackwater Brewing shared, “We opened after back-to-back ‘People’s Choice’ victories at both the Okanagan Fest of Ale and Great Okanagan Beer Festival. My wife, myself, and her parents are considered the founders, with my wife and I introducing great craft beer into our family camping and fishing trips.”

Slackwater means “a place of calm between two bodies of water,” and perfectly embodies Penticton’s chill and beautiful ambiance, nestled between two scenic lakes.

“The building itself was a nightclub for over 20 years, so there is a lot of heritage in entertainment and good times at this address. We retained the original bar, refitted the upstairs bar, and had to install some giant, beautiful glulam beams to support the new mezzanine build. We transformed the old smoke pit into a great rooftop patio space and bar,” said Peyton.

Visit Slackwater Brewing and you’ll find two pretty patios located on the street and buildings rooftop.

Skip over to the bar and you’ll find 12 taps. We suggest sampling some of the brewery’s core beers such as Tight Lines Helles Lager, Intruder American IPA and Idleback Amber, which won the 2021 Canadian Brewing Awards Gold Medal.

If you’re looking to pair a cold one with dinner wag your finger down the bistro-style pub menu. A must-try is the Nashville Hot Chicken-style Angry Chicken Sando.

Slackwater is one of the best Penticton Breweries to meet friendly locals. Plan your visit around their entertainment calendar, which includes Saturday live music nights, Trivia Tuesdays, Music Bingo Wednesdays, along with random concerts and Drag Shows.

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Abandoned Rail is one of our favourite Penticton Breweries as it's located on a rural farm a short drive from the city. — Abandoned Rail is one of our favourite Penticton Breweries as it’s located on a rural farm a short drive from the city.

Abandoned Rail Brewing Co

1220 Davenport Ave, 778-476-7704

Penticton’s Abandoned Rail Brewing was founded by Scott and Nicole Breier in March, 2022.

Scott shared the origin story of Penticton’s newest craft brewery, “We decided to take the plunge into the brewing scene when our friend, and brewmaster, Peter agreed to work with us. We found the property around the same time that Peter came on board and felt it was all meant to be. We wanted to be a farm brewery, to grow our own ingredients and keep the process as local as possible. The agricultural land allowed us to be in close proximity to a city and its location on the KVR Trail sealed the deal.”

The breweries name pays homage to the KVR Trail, a public trail that was once an old abandoned railway.

“Jen Hawk was our interior designer. We kept the footprint of the old store, which was once called The Trail Store Fruit and More’, but extended it in length and added the manufacturing area to the back. The original building was a cute little fruit store that served ice cream and Ambrosia apple slushies, which it was known for and we still sell. It had an old charm to it but was built in the mid-2000’s.

Skip inside Abandoned Rail Brewing in Penticton and you’ll find an old cooler door and hefty butcher block table from the old Trail Store, which are now in the tasting room.

On a good weather day we suggest grabbing a seat at the breweries outdoor patio. It’s partially covered and seats over 40 people. There’s also a grassy area to enjoy picnics and beer garden-style seating next to a barley field.

Hop up at the bar and you’ll find 12 taps. Abandoned Rail Brewing’s four core beers include Golden Ale Goldenauer, IPA Tunnel Vision, Marzen and Pilsner One Track Mind.

Scott added, “We have a small snack menu featuring local vendors like taco hand pies and quinoa salad. There is also an awesome food truck called The Wienery that serves sausages on weekends.”

La Petite Abeille Cider

1085 Fleet Rd, 250-770-0150

If you’re on a craft beer tour of Penticton but looking for a gluten free sip head on over to La Petite Abeille Cider.

Penticton’s cutest cider house first opened in July, 2020. The family business is owned and operated by Kimberley Wish, her brother Derek and mother.

The building that houses the cider tasting room is original to the orchard. They kept the original floor and left the wood-beam high ceiling as it was, and created an open and inviting indoor tasting area, adjacent to a large, outdoor patio for picnic use.

The name La Petite Abeille, means “The Little Bee” in French. “We used a French name to honour the history of cider-making in France, and chose the bee as our namesake not only because it is used as a symbol for agriculture in France, but because bees are crucial to the health of our orchard. Our orchard is named the Blue Bee Orchard, as an ode to blue orchard mason bees, which are very effective pollinators for fruit trees,” said Wish.

“We grew up in Summerland with parents who each owned businesses in both Penticton and Summerland, and we were inspired to start this business as a family venture to showcase the Okanagan’s orcharding history by transforming iconic Okanagan stone fruit into delicious cider. We purchased one of the few remaining heritage orchards along the Naramata Bench in 2018 and immediately began to build the business,” explained Wish.

Wish was keen not to just appeal to cider drinkers but to wine and beer lovers too. “We wanted to create something that was dry, but also sparkling, tasty and refreshing, and we wanted our ciders to be something that would be thought about both for food pairings and as something that was elegant enough to bring as an alternative to wine to a dinner party,” said Wish.

La Petite Abeille Cider in Penticton currently produces 8 different ciders (2 perries and 6 ciders). They usually introduce at least one new cider per season in addition to the core line-up. They have also recently produced small batches of Cherry Vermouth and a Peach & Apricot Amaretto.

After sipping your way through all the Penticton Breweries enjoy a stroll along the beach.

Penticton Tours & Tickets

Take a break from your craft beer adventure by booking a private tour or ticket to these fun experiences in Penticton.

Fun Things To Do In Penticton

After you’ve visited all of the Penticton Breweries be sure to enjoy some of the other fun experiences in town. While Penticton is a craft beer hub in British Columbia, it’s also home to plenty of award-winning wineries and awesome year-round outdoor activities.

Penticton Wineries: there are over 170 wineries producing more than 75 grape varietals near Penticton with 3 distinctly different wine regions including Naramata, Okanagan Falls and Summerland.
Penticton Sign: enjoy the best views of downtown Penticton and the sprawling shimmer of Lake Okanagan by driving to the parking lot at the Penticton Sign. The short hike to Munsons Mountain Park is wheelchair accessible and offers several park benches to sit back and enjoy the panoramic view.
Penticton Brunch: if you’re sipping craft beer every afternoon and evening start your day by indulging in a healthy brunch. Wayne & Freda is a trendy downtown eatery offering healthy breakfast bowls, smoothies and pretty pastries. The Bench Market offers a scenic patio to enjoy a frothy cappuccino on weekends alongside a peach and blueberry scone and Eggs Bennie.
SS Sicamous Museum & Heritage Park: this historic Stern Wheeler is preserved on the beach in Penticton. The ship is open as a museum and wedding venue.
Penticton Farmers’ Market: shop for farm fresh veggies & fruits, eggs, honey, baking, preserves and handmade crafts – all grown or produced in the South Okanagan and Similkameen Valley.
The Book Shop: is one of Canada’s largest used book stores with over 5,000 square feet of floor space.
Apex Mountain Resort: is a ski resort located just west of Penticton. A must visit for ski and snowboard enthusiasts in the winter months.
Kettle Valley Steam Railway: is a heritage railway near Summerland that operates excursion trains over the only remaining section of the Kettle Valley Railway.
Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park: is a provincial park offering world-class climbing opportunities. Recreational climbing has been occurring in the area since the 1980s.
Penticton Ikeda Japanese Garden: enjoy a walk through this idyllic Japanese Garden to enjoy pretty views, peace and quiet, and to spot fish in the ponds.

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