The 2022 Canada Beer Cup included a taste of Penticton on Sunday, Oct. 23.
Dozens of people gathered inside Cannery Brewing to watch the inaugural awards ceremony starting at 3 p.m., with the hopes of one of Penticton’s eight breweries getting recognition on the national stage.
They got more than they hoped for, as a pair of Peach City locations combined to win three medals during the event.
Cannery Brewing won a bronze medal for its Lakeboat Lager and Neighbourhood Brewing took home a gold medal for its Pursuit Pilsner and a bronze medal for their Happy Place Pale Ale.
A panel of international judges distributed awards across 70 different modernized beer-style groups in 10 categories. The live broadcast, meanwhile, featured both the results and an interactive trivia challenge. “The Penticton Beer Blockers,” as they were called, finished in sixth place.
Callister Brewing in Vancouver captured the ultimate prize Sunday, winning the award for the nation’s best beer (Wee Laird Wee Heavy Scottish Ale).
“We are very proud of all the B.C. breweries who entered the inaugural Canada Beer Cup,” said Ken Beattie, the executive director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild. “The regional diversity of the award winners showcases the strength of the brewing community across the province.”
Results across the province were strong, as a total of 29 B.C. breweries took home 46 awards.
Judges from Canada, United States, U.K., Sweden and Italy were responsible for sorting through more than 1,300 submitted entries across the country.
“There’s no doubt our craft beer is among the best in the world,” said Chloe Smith, the general manager of Townsite Brewing in Powell River.
Cannery and Neighbourhood were the only Okanagan breweries to win medals at the Canada Beer Cup.
The full list of award winners can be found here.
PHOTOS: Penticton Beer Week kicks off with 10-km run along KVR Trail