It含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檛 be happier to open the Central Okanagan含羞草研究社檚 25th brewery.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e really excited, it含羞草研究社檚 been an ongoing construction feat we含羞草研究社檝e overcome,含羞草研究社� said Kinney. 含羞草研究社淲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.含羞草研究社�

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

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.

含羞草研究社淲e always knew we wanted to add multiple locations, we just didn含羞草研究社檛 know when,含羞草研究社� said Kinney. 含羞草研究社淲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.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� said Fowler.

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

含羞草研究社淲e were always hoping to be open well before December rolled around but it含羞草研究社檚 never too late,含羞草研究社� said Kinney. 含羞草研究社淭he fact that we含羞草研究社檙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 含羞草研究社� even if there含羞草研究社檚 no snow yet so far this year.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙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含羞草研究社檒l have the lawn bowling up and going,含羞草研究社� Fowler continues.

Britannia含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檛 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.

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

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

含羞草研究社淚 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.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 more daylight.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been a really fun road to get here and we can含羞草研究社檛 wait for people to come through the doors and get to meet the people of Lake Country,含羞草研究社� said Fowler.

Britannia Brewing is located at 8999 Jim Bailey Road.

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