SILVER – Best Light Lager // Lakeboat Lager
BRONZE – Best Dark Ale // Heist Maple Stout
BRONZE – Best Imperial Ale // Kindling Imperial Stout
BRONZE – Unsung Hero of Craft Beer
I’ve been visiting Penticton annually each spring to judge beers at the Okanagan Fest of Ale since 2012. Throughout that time it has been a real pleasure to watch the beer community grow and prosper in this beautiful small city on the southern shore of Okanagan Lake. Of all the breweries there, I have always enjoyed the strongest connection with the folks at Cannery Brewing.
Founded in 2000 by Ron and Patt Dyck, who previously ran the Country Squire restaurant in Naramata, it has always been a family affair—their son Ian grew up at the brewery and now helps manage the business with his parents and business partner Ross Thompson. Indeed, Cannery has always treated its staff like a family, which is reflected in how long many of the staff members have been there.
Of the many awards this brewery has won over the years, being acknowledged as an Unsung Hero might be the most apt. Cannery acts like a parent to the younger crowd of breweries that have opened in Penticton over the last decade. Always generous and supportive, the brewery has worked hard to help raise Penticton’s brewing community to ever-higher levels. Their beer lineup is top-notch, too, with a range of classic and cutting-edge styles that you can find in stores throughout the province. But don’t just try the beer—plan to visit in person. You won’t be disappointed.
