The Tree Brewing Beer Institute will stay, but the brewery is moving to Vancouver after merging with Big Rock Brewing.
Image Credit: treebrewingbeerinstitute.com
May 07, 2018 - 4:50 PM
KELOWNA – Kelowna’s emerging brewery district downtown is losing a founding member.
Tree Brewing was the first microbrewery to set up in downtown Kelowna but has since been joined by Kettle River Brewing, BNA Brewing and Red Bird. A craft brewpub is also coming to the old Paramount Theatre location.
Fireweed Brewing, the parent company of Tree Brewing, announced recently they would merge with Big Rock, and move the Kelowna equipment and day-to-day operations from Richter Street to Vancouver.
A media release from Big Rock says their Vancouver facility is being renovated to include a canning line and new equipment that will increase brewing capacity to 26,000 hectolitres. Tree brands will also be brewed at Big Rock’s Calgary plant for the Alberta market, with joint operations are expected to commence in June.
The Tree Brewing Beer Institute will remain in operation at its current location on Water Street.
Earlier this year Omen Brewery went before council seeking support to obtain a manufacturer lounge licence and open a 50-seat brew pub on the corner of Richter Street and Baillie Avenue – blocks away from Tree Brewing.
Applicant Mathew Jewell has applied to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for final approval of the brew pub which he has proposed be open from 10 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
“The brewery will be food- and beverage-centric so we will not be encouraging dance parties or raucous behaviour. Rather, it will be a place where people come for quality eats and drink while enjoying conversation in a fun and welcoming atmosphere,” he wrote.
Jewell acknowledges the potential for “story-telling and loud laughing” from patrons but promises the well-trained staff and its proximity to the Kelowna RCMP detachment two blocks away will keep patrons in line.
The public is allowed to comment on the application which will be presented to council today at 6 p.m. in Kelowna City Hall.
— This story was corrected at 10:26 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2018 to include two downtown breweries that were left off the list.
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