Epic Views and Epic Brews
Cranbrook & Kimberley are the places to be this fall, thanks to two excellent opportunities to enjoy craft beer in these beautiful communities.
- the Cranbrook & Kimberley Tasting Passport running Sept 12 to Oct 31, 2024
- several Cranbrook Sip + Stay packages running September 13 to November 30, 2024
Take advantage of these fun promotions to enjoy a visit to the beautiful East Kootenays in southeastern B.C.
Cranbrook + Kimberley Tasting Passport
September 12 – October 31, 2024
How do you participate?
- Visit any of the participating businesses listed below from From September 12 to October 31, 2024 and ask for a stamp with purchase.
- Once you have collected unique stamps from six different locations, hand in the passport at a local Visitor Information Centre (800C Baker St in Cranbrook or 270 Kimberley Ave in Kimberley) to receive a custom 12-oz commemorative beer stein (while supplies last) and get entered in the draw for a chance to win the Grand Prize donated by Sunshine Marina (details below).
Pro Tip: the Visitor Info Centre counts as your 6th stamp!
The random prize draw will take place following the contest period once all of the completed passports have been collected.
Multiple entries encouraged!
Tasting Passport Grand Prize: 4 nights on the Sunbreezer Houseboat (August 18-21, 2025).
Chart a course for excitement aboard this 16-passenger houseboat, where boundless opportunities for fun and relaxation await. Whether you’re seeking a thrilling adventure with friends or a peaceful retreat with family, this spacious vessel has everything you need for an unforgettable getaway. From sun-drenched decks to cozy sleeping quarters, every inch of this houseboat is designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind, ensuring a truly memorable experience amidst the stunning natural beauty of Lake Koocanusa, British Columbia.
Check out the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail
There are four breweries location in the Kootenay towns of Cranbrook and Kimberley, as well as several other great restaurants, tap houses, liquor stores, and even a craft distillery. Check out Days 3 and 4 on the Kootenay Rockies East Ale Trail for more information about the breweries and related activities.
Cranbrook is home to Fisher Peak Brewing at the Heid Out Restaurant. Heidi’s Restaurant was already a popular Cranbrook establishment for years. When the owners chose to renovate and update the restaurant in 2013, they added a brewery. The result is a welcoming and comfortable restaurant that has a kitchen focused on seasonally produced local ingredients and serves delicious, fresh and award-winning craft beer.
Encore Brewing is a place where adults can be kids with a craft brewery, arcade, bowling centre, and tasting room along with a full kitchen. Located in a bowling alley from the 1960s that was restored with modern amenities but retains all the retro charm, it’s a one-of-a-kind space with cozy booths for couples or long tables made from old bowling lanes that are perfect for larger groups or folks looking to meet new friends.
Kimberley, BC, was recently named BC’s best small town by the CBC as voted on by audience members. It is a charming mountain town with a Bavarian theme, including a car-free downtown square, the Platzl, where you can put a coin in the world’s largest cuckoo clock and then witness the emergence of Happy Hans, a yodelling, mustachioed man clad in lederhosen, hoisting a beer stein. Pros’t!
You can sample craft beer flights at Grist & Mash Brewery, which was founded by a couple who relocated to British Columbia from Oregon in 2019. They honed their brewing approach at Freehand Brewery in Eugene, Oregon, which focused solely on barrel-aged sours and specialty ales.
Also in Kimberley is Over Time Beer Works, which was founded by an entrepreneur who grew up in the area, moved away and then returned to Kimberley in his 30s because he felt that “No self-respecting mountain town should be without a brewery.” Over Time took advantage of “time off” during the pandemic to add a comfortable patio beside the brewery, complete with a bocce pit. It even has heaters for the cooler months.
Where can you pick up a Passport?
The Cranbrook and Kimberley Tasting Passport is available for free at any of the participating businesses, as well as the local tourism Visitor Information Centres:
Cranbrook
Brixx Brewhouse
209 Van Horne St S
Ella’s
300 Cranbrook St N
Encore Brewing
1400 4 St N
Fenwick & Baker Public House
1017 Baker St
Fire & Oak
209 Van Horne St S
Firehall Kitchen & Tap
37 11 Ave S
The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing
821 Baker St
Hot Shots Café
1924 8 St N
Modern Olive
1019 Cranbrook St N
St Eugene Resort
7777 Mission Road
Visitor Information Centre
800C Baker St
Kimberley
Biscuit: A Place To Sup
180 Spokane St
Bohemian Spirits
215 Mark St
Grist & Mash Brewery
345 Wallinger Ave
The Hourglass
130 Spokane St
Over Time Beer Works
136A Wallinger Ave
Visitor Information Centre
270 Kimberley Ave
