Itsa国际传媒檚 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 couldnsa国际传媒檛 be happier to open the Central Okanagansa国际传媒檚 25th brewery.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e really excited, itsa国际传媒檚 been an ongoing construction feat wesa国际传媒檝e overcome,sa国际传媒� said Kinney. sa国际传媒淲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.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淪ince we did the ground-up construction, our project goes a little longer than someone who just takes over a pre-existing building,sa国际传媒� adds Fowler. sa国际传媒淚t made it more rewarding and nice to be able to see it from the start to the final product.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲e always knew we wanted to add multiple locations, we just didnsa国际传媒檛 know when,sa国际传媒� said Kinney. sa国际传媒淲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.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 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,sa国际传媒� said Fowler.

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

sa国际传媒淲e were always hoping to be open well before December rolled around but itsa国际传媒檚 never too late,sa国际传媒� said Kinney. sa国际传媒淭he fact that wesa国际传媒檙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 sa国际传媒� even if theresa国际传媒檚 no snow yet so far this year.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙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, wesa国际传媒檒l have the lawn bowling up and going,sa国际传媒� Fowler continues.

Britanniasa国际传媒檚 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 arensa国际传媒檛 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.

sa国际传媒淭he last few months have been tweaking the minor adjustments, making sure everything is working properly,sa国际传媒� added Kinney.

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

sa国际传媒淚 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.sa国际传媒�

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 theresa国际传媒檚 more daylight.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been a really fun road to get here and we cansa国际传媒檛 wait for people to come through the doors and get to meet the people of Lake Country,sa国际传媒� said Fowler.

Britannia Brewing is located at 8999 Jim Bailey Road.

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