It害羞草研究所檚 been a long road but Britannia Brewing in Lake Country has opened its doors.

After a year and a half of blood, sweat, and tears, co-owner Lloyd Kinney and Operations Manager Justin Fowler couldn害羞草研究所檛 be happier to open the Central Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 25th brewery.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e really excited, it害羞草研究所檚 been an ongoing construction feat we害羞草研究所檝e overcome,害羞草研究所� said Kinney. 害羞草研究所淲e had a change in our planning that we had to make some adjustments for. It came down to the finishing touches and sometimes they can be the most finicky and time-consuming.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪ince we did the ground-up construction, our project goes a little longer than someone who just takes over a pre-existing building,害羞草研究所� adds Fowler. 害羞草研究所淚t made it more rewarding and nice to be able to see it from the start to the final product.害羞草研究所�

The 10,000-square-foot facility is the new central home for Britannia, which started in Richmond and currently has other locations in Steveston and Ladner. On top of being a brewhouse, it is also their new primary production location, with their award-winning head brewer Mike Nicholson, who has made the move up to the Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淲e always knew we wanted to add multiple locations, we just didn害羞草研究所檛 know when,害羞草研究所� said Kinney. 害羞草研究所淲e wanted to make sure we did something unique for the Okanagan, specifically in this neighbourhood, but also we wanted to capture a lot of the essence from our other tasting rooms in Richmond and Ladner.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very important, we worked really hard to build up those locations and we want to keep going so our customers expect the same quality and same beer and kitchen products,害羞草研究所� said Fowler.

For both Kinney and Fowler, opening before the holidays is the best Christmas gift they could ask for.

害羞草研究所淲e were always hoping to be open well before December rolled around but it害羞草研究所檚 never too late,害羞草研究所� said Kinney. 害羞草研究所淭he fact that we害羞草研究所檙e open and have people come in during the holidays is great, we love it.

The patio and picnic area are just waiting on approval, but Kinney said they will have the licence well before the snow melts 害羞草研究所� even if there害羞草研究所檚 no snow yet so far this year.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e excited to open the patio and picnic area come the spring, excited to have different facets of the business that are dog-friendly, kid-friendly, family-friendly, we害羞草研究所檒l have the lawn bowling up and going,害羞草研究所� Fowler continues.

Britannia害羞草研究所檚 opening is a soft launch. They are open to the public at a certain capacity with a full food-and-beer menu and beer tasting available.

Because lounge service is still waiting for approval, wine and cocktails aren害羞草研究所檛 available yet. When approved, Britannia will feature a wine list exclusively with local wine.

The brewery will also have an upstairs area perfect for hosting parties that is still waiting approval.

害羞草研究所淭he last few months have been tweaking the minor adjustments, making sure everything is working properly,害羞草研究所� added Kinney.

For Fowler, being a part of this is special to him since he was born and raised in Kelowna.

害羞草研究所淚 was very excited to have the opportunity to do something like this in my hometown and start to get involved in the community even more than I already have.害羞草研究所�

With the soft launch, Britannia will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hours are expected to increase in the spring as the warm weather returns and there害羞草研究所檚 more daylight.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a really fun road to get here and we can害羞草研究所檛 wait for people to come through the doors and get to meet the people of Lake Country,害羞草研究所� said Fowler.

Britannia Brewing is located at 8999 Jim Bailey Road.

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