Kootenay Beer Week & Festival

The first annual Kootenay Beer Week & Festival has passed in a whirlwind of quirky events, brewery tours, patio parties, and tap takeovers. One might say the week was a craft beer lover's dream! 

Closing night was the Kootenay Beer Festival; the perfect end to a bustling week. Vendors from across the Kootenays gathered in Nelson’s Railtown offering pizza, burgers, grilled cheese, seltzers, ciders, mulled wine and of course dozens of options for craft beer. Live music was the perfect backdrop, with local artists featured throughout the day. Unique to the festival's location was the occasional excitement created by a train pulling through the adjacent railyard. Attendees wore their best brewery attire, collected brewery stickers, danced the day away, and tested out new releases from their favourite local breweries. Everyone walked away with a mini-stein as a souvenir, a reminder to start planning your next visit for Kootenay Beer Week & Festival 2023!

Angry Hen Brewing | Backroads Brewing | Nelson Brewing Company | Torchlight Brewing 

2022 - Kootenay Beer Week

Five communities and over 18 breweries, cideries and distilleries will be participating in the 1st annual Kootenay Beer Week & Festival - September 10 to 17, 2022. Add it to your calendars and get ready for a week of local beer festivities. 

Participating Communities: 

• Kaslo
• Nelson 
• Rossland 
• Creston 
• Castlegar 

Participating breweries, cideries and distilleries: 

• Wild North Brewing Co.
• Backroads Brewing Co.
• Tailout Brewing Co.
• Torchlight Brewing Co.
• Nelson Brewing Co.
• Rossland Beer Co. 
• Angry Hen Brewing 
• Erie Creek Brewing Co. 
• Jackknife Brewing Co.
• Fernie Brewing Co.
• Cannery Brewing 
• Rumpus Beer Co.
• Whitetooth Brewing Co.
• Tonic Distillery 
• Burton City Cider 
• Fire Vines 
• Grand Forks Beer Co.
• Trail Beer Refinery 

Festival Details

• September 17th from 1pm-7pm at Railtown in Nelson 
• Beer samples from 18 breweries, cideries and distilleries from around the Kootenays
• Food trucks & live music from local musicians & vendors 
• Tickets are $30. Ages 19+ ID required

The Full Week of Events Details 

Saturday, Sept 10

• Angry Hen Patio Party at the Angry Hen Brewery in Kaslo from 11:30am-close 
• Road Kings Beer Garden & Car Show at the Hall Street Plaza in Nelson from 12pm-8pm 
• Huckenberries Bike Jam Beer Garden at the Rossland Bike Park from 3pm-8pm 

Sunday, Sept 11 

• IPA Day at Backroads Brewing Co. In Nelson from 12pm-8pm

Monday, Sept 12 

• Brewery Tours at Nelson Brewing Company 5pm, 6pm and 7pm - first come first serve (capped at 12 ppl)
• Open Mic Night at Tailout Brewing in Castlegar from 7pm-close 

Tuesday, Sept 13 

• Taco Tuesday at Torchlight Brewing Co. in Nelson for 4pm-8pm 
• Wild North Tap Takeover at the Frisky Whisky in Creston from 5pm-close 

Wednesday, Sept 14

• Wild North Tap Takeover at Broken Hill in Nelson from 5pm-close 
• Cribbage tournament at Tailout Brewing in Castlegar from 7pm-close 

Thursday, Sept 15 

• Sour Night at The Royal in Nelson from 4pm-close
• Brewers Dinner Featuring Backroads Brewing Co. at the Flying Steamshovel in Rossland from 6pm-close

Friday, Sept 16

• Erie Creek Tap Takeover at The Bear & Sturgeon in Nelson from 3pm-9pm
• Wild North Brews and Bites Patio Party in Creston with two seatings 6pm and 7pm. Tickets required.
• Cask Night at Tailout Brewery in Castlegar from 5pm-9pm
• Jackknife Brewing Tap Takeover at Torchlight Brewing Co. in Nelson from 4pm-close
• Rossland Beer Co. Tap Takeover at Broken Hill in Nelson from 5pm-close
• Nelson Brewing Co. Tap Takeover at Beauties Pizza in Nelson from 5pm-close
• Brewers Dinner Featuring Cannery Brewing at The Flying Steamshovel in Rossland from 6pm-close
• Live Music at Rossland Beer Co. in Rossland from 7pm-close 

Saturday, Sept 17 

• Kootenay Beer Festival at the Nelson Visitor Centre at Railtown in Nelson from 1pm-7pm
• Beer samples from 18 breweries, cideries, and distilleries from around the Kootenays
• Food trucks & live music from local musicians & vendors 
• Tickets are $30. Age 19+ ID required 

Looking for More Information?

Check out Kootenay Beer Week on Facebook and Instagram for more details and announcements. Visit our pages to learn more about the regions Craft Beer and Wine, Cidery and Distilleries. #kootenaybeerweek

Things To Do  

The Queen City Cruise is happening Sept 9-10 in Nelson. Thousands come to the area to view spectacular old cars. For something fun and different, download the Kootenay Lake Road Trip app and tour the region in the privacy of your car or on your bike. There is also a mural tour in English and French. Trip Ideas, fall highlights, places to stay, and our local Kootenay Calendar filled with events will give you plenty of things to choose from: hiking, dining, shopping, fishing, disc golfing, mountain biking, breweries, and more. Come find awesome! #findingawesome