Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Autumn Escape
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year 2023
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Autumn Escape
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year 2023
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / Travel / Craft Beer in the Kootenay Rockies: Where majestic natural beauty pairs perfectly with delicious beer

The oldest craft brewery in the Kootenays, Nelson Brewing is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Craft Beer in the Kootenay Rockies: Where majestic natural beauty pairs perfectly with delicious beer

August 20, 2021 //  by Joe Wiebe

Share this:

When it comes to voting for the BC Ale Trail’s Best Brewery Experience award, craft beer enthusiasts are spoiled for choice around the province, including in the Kootenays.

The Kootenay Rockies is a vast and wild region of British Columbia dominated by forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, hot springs and waterfalls. It’s a place of rugged natural beauty — its many parks and resorts attract visitors from near and far throughout the year. And it’s also a destination for beer lovers.

Explorers will enjoy visiting up to 15 different breweries situated in more than a dozen different communities. Or if you prefer hunkering down at a campsite or a lakeside cabin for the duration, you’ll likely find a local brewery in the nearest town.

Nelson wins out as the city with the oldest craft brewery in the Kootenays: founded in 1989, Nelson Brewing is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! It’s joined in Nelson by two other breweries, Torchlight Brewing and Backroads Brewing, so a visit to that picturesque city will certainly be rewarding for beer lovers.

There are several other breweries nearby Nelson, including Kaslo’s Angry Hen Brewing, Erie Creek Brewing in Salmo and Tailout Brewing in Castlegar. Trail and Rossland each has a brewery, too: Rossland Beer Co. and the Trail Beer Refinery.

Follow the Crowsnest Highway to the Kootenays’ newest brewery, Wild North Brewing in Creston.

Follow the Crowsnest Highway (No. 3) east to visit the Kootenays’ newest brewery, Wild North Brewing in Creston. Not far from there is the Fisher Peak Brewing at the Heid-Out restaurant in Cranbrook and Over Time Beer Works in Kimberley. Keep heading east to check out Fernie Brewing, the easternmost brewery in BC.

The rest of the Kootenay Rockies craft breweries are located in communities up on the Trans-Canada Highway. Golden is home to Whitetooth Brewing, a multi-award-winning brewery that’s definitely one to add to your route planner. And Revelstoke has two local breweries — one new and one old: Mt. Begbie Brewing is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year while Rumpus Beer Co. is just two years old.

It’s tough to pick a favourite among all of these interesting breweries. Some offer longevity, which certainly gives them a strong connection to their towns, but at the same time, many of the newer breweries are acting as trailblazers, bringing craft beer to communities that were sadly lacking before those businesses opened. Of course, all of these breweries are strong supporters of their local economies: hiring local folks, buying local products and working with local tradespeople and suppliers. So it’s a win-win situation all round.

To vote for the brewery you think should win the award, visit the WestCoastTraveller.com and look for Craft Beer Enthusiasts under Contests.

Golden is home to the multi-award-winning Whitetooth Brewing.

Share this:

Category: TravelTag: BC Craft beer, British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Food, Travel, WCT Intro

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from feds

The Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver is getting a $5.18-million boost from the federal government.…

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from fedsRead More

Boo the bear preps for big spring debut as B.C.’s Kicking Horse Resort opens

It’s a bear-y good day for fans of Boo the bear. With British Columbia’s Kicking…

Boo the bear preps for big spring debut as B.C.’s Kicking Horse Resort opensRead More

Waterfalls, not wildflowers are Mt. Rainier National Park’s main springtime attraction

By Taylor Newquist, The Spokesman-Review A thin layer of clouds hung over Mount Rainier on…

Waterfalls, not wildflowers are Mt. Rainier National Park’s main springtime attractionRead More

Fly high and touch the sky at Golden Skybridge

For adrenaline junkies, outdoor adventurers or families looking for a thrilling, interactive way to spend…

Fly high and touch the sky at Golden SkybridgeRead More

Ottawa rejigs trusted-traveller program in bid to avoid last summer’s airport chaos

The federal government has rolled out a revamp of its trusted-traveller program to clear any…

Ottawa rejigs trusted-traveller program in bid to avoid last summer’s airport chaosRead More

Fire-breathing metal dinosaur roars for travellers in BC Ferries lineup

Passengers waiting at a BC Ferries terminal in Nanaimo in Vancouver Island were probably not…

Fire-breathing metal dinosaur roars for travellers in BC Ferries lineupRead More

‘You barked, we listened:’ BC Ferries’ pet pilot project expanded

Dogs – and cats – are getting their day on BC Ferries … at least…

‘You barked, we listened:’ BC Ferries’ pet pilot project expandedRead More

200+ former employees return to Lytton’s Kumsheen Resort to kick off 50th anniversary

In what was expected to be one of the biggest gatherings in the Lytton area…

200+ former employees return to Lytton’s Kumsheen Resort to kick off 50th anniversaryRead More

Summer zipline tours to restart at Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski Area

Visitors to Juneau, Alaska can once again take to the skies at Eaglecrest Ski Area,…

Summer zipline tours to restart at Juneau’s Eaglecrest Ski AreaRead More

Previous Post: « Online gift, gear and getaway auction boosts BC fish and wildlife conservation
Next Post: Get out on the water and have some fun! Port Alberni has everything from fishing to kiteboarding »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from feds

May 29, 2023

Boo the bear preps for big spring debut as B.C.’s Kicking Horse Resort opens

May 29, 2023

Waterfalls, not wildflowers are Mt. Rainier National Park’s main springtime attraction

May 26, 2023

Fly high and touch the sky at Golden Skybridge

May 25, 2023

Recent Posts

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from feds

May 29, 2023

Boo the bear preps for big spring debut as B.C.’s Kicking Horse Resort opens

May 29, 2023

Waterfalls, not wildflowers are Mt. Rainier National Park’s main springtime attraction

May 26, 2023

Fly high and touch the sky at Golden Skybridge

May 25, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved