Fest of Ale returns to Penticton
One of the biggest (and certainly one of the most fun) craft beer and cider festivals in B.C. returns to Penticton this weekend. The 22nd annual Okanagan Fest of Ale takes place this Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8, at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, and if you don’t have tickets yet, clear your schedule for an impromptu beercation.
This year, 65 craft breweries from B.C. and beyond will be onsite pouring 175+ different beers. The 2017 edition of Fest of Ale also includes seven cideries, as well as 15 breweries that are new to the event. Plus, there’s live music, tons of food and guaranteed good times.
There’s heaps of great beer events happening around town, too.
If you can make it up to Penticton early, be sure to check out our very own Joe Wiebe, The Thirsty Writer, who will be offering his IPA Odyssey seminar and tasting (focused on IPAs, obvs) at Bad Tattoo Brewing, Thursday night (April 6)..
On Saturday night, April 8, the Murderers’ Row cask ale event comes to the Kettle Valley Station Pub, bringing together a dozen limited cask-conditioned ales from some B.C.’s best breweries.
There’s still tickets left to Fest Of Ale (single day admission $29; two-day weekend pass $47), but they’re going fast, so visit ValleyFirstTix.com ASAP. See you there!
Kettle River needs your help!
Kelowna’s Kettle River Brewing Co. desperately needs to upgrade their tiny brew system, and they need your help to do it. The brewery has somehow been operating on a tiny, homemade 160L brew system cobbled together out of used tea tree oil tins and dairy parts since it opened last year (I’ve seen it, it’s adorable), and the time has come to get to a proper grown-up 800L system.
Unfortunately, brew kettles and mash tuns aren’t cheap, so Kettle River has an Indiegogo campaign going to help them raise the cash for the new system, as well as a new outdoor patio.
There’s some pretty cool perks, like a day-long learn-to-brew class or your own custom barrel-aged beer. Check out the campaign page and spread the love!
KPU brewing program recognized
Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s brewing diploma program has been recognized by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas for “its high standard of brewing education.”
The MBAA certification comes after a lengthy review of the program’s curriculum, learning outcomes, qualification of instructors, teaching facilities and employability of graduates. KPU is the first institution in Canada to be recognized for meeting the guidelines and outcomes set by the joint American Society of Brewing Chemists and Master Brewers Higher Education Committee Advisory Board.
“This is a significant distinction for the KPU brewing diploma program that highlights its high quality and sets the bar for what employers can expect from our graduates,” said Faculty of Science and Horticulture dean Betty Worobec in a press release. “It is additional confirmation that the curriculum we offer is what the industry wants and needs, ensuring our grads are highly employable in an increasingly competitive market.”
For more on the diploma in Brewing and Brewery Operations, visit KPU.ca/brew.
