Best Breweries in Kelowna

The best breweries in Kelowna are BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery, Kelowna Beer Institute (KBI) and Red Bird Brewing, all downtown or in the North End. This guide lists nine local taprooms, with the address and what each one does well, plus tips for planning the day.

A simple brewery afternoon:

1. Arrange a designated driver, taxi or ride-share before the first flight.
2. Start at BNA downtown.
3. Continue to KBI, then Red Bird. Those three alone fill an afternoon.

Which breweries are worth visiting in Kelowna?

The city has nine craft breweries worth a stop. Most are downtown and in the North End brewery district, plus one by Gyro Beach and one in the Landmark District.

BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery
Location: 1250 Ellis St, Kelowna

BNA is a local institution, best known as a lively downtown brewpub with good food and a long list of house beers. Between the industrial decor, the bocce court and the vintage arcade games, it's an easy night out even for friends who don't care much about beer. The year-round beers are solid, but the seasonals are usually where the interesting stuff is.

Kelowna Beer Institute (KBI)
Location: 1346 Water St, Kelowna

KBI is the pick for variety. It brews in-house and rotates its taps often, so there's usually something experimental pouring, and it hosts events and collaborates with other local businesses.

Red Bird Brewing
Location: 1080 Richter St, Kelowna

This North End brewery has a laid-back, community-minded feel, a comfortable tasting room and consistent beer. Frequent live music, food trucks and a good patio make it an easy place to spend an afternoon.

Railside Brewing
Location: 1186 High Rd, Kelowna

Railside focuses on classic styles done well, a useful contrast to the more experimental taprooms. The room near the brewery district is small and cozy.

Shore Line Brewing Co.
Location: 3477 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna

Shore Line is the beach option. It sits across Lakeshore Rd from Gyro Beach in the Mission, so it's an easy walk up from the sand to a big patio and a solid tap list.

Unleashed Brewing Co.
Location: 207-880 Clement Ave, Kelowna

Unleashed, a relative newcomer, is known for being dog-friendly, as the name suggests. The beers are approachable and balanced, so it's the one to pick when half your group isn't into beer.

Copper Brewing Co.
Location: 1851 Kirschner Rd #102, Kelowna

Out in the Landmark District, Copper has a modern taproom and a big tap list that often includes guest taps from other local breweries. Don't skip the food menu.

Rustic Reel Brewing Company
Location: 760 Vaughan Ave, Kelowna

Rustic Reel pours a broad lineup in a rustic brewery-district room. The patio is the best seat on a warm evening, and there's often live music or an event on.

Jackknife Brewing
Location: 727 Baillie Ave, Kelowna

Jackknife is a North End brewpub known for offbeat beer, friendly staff and house-made pizza.

Tips for a Brewery Day

A brewery day is easy to plan because a lot of the breweries are close together, so hitting several is realistic if you map your route first. Many run live music, trivia nights and other events, and their websites and social media pages list what's coming up. If nobody wants to drive, several companies run guided brewery tours so everyone can sample.

Flights add up quickly. Pace yourself and drink water between stops. Sort out your ride home before the first pint, whether that's a designated driver, a taxi or ride-share.

The Okanagan Lifestyle and Craft Beer

Craft beer is as much a part of Okanagan summer as wine, though wine gets most of the attention. Taprooms are casual, which makes them one of the easier places to meet people after moving here. For pints with food deals, see our Kelowna happy hours guide.