PENTICTON – It’s a beer lovers dream: dozens of craft brewers serving up samples of their finest beverages, all at a single gathering. Fest of Ale has been serving up frothy beverages to large crowds since Friday.
Organizers say it is the largest event in its 21 year history with more than 5,000 craft brew enthusiasts checking out the two-day event. In total 55 craft breweries participated, 15 more than
last year.
Among those at the two-day event is a Kelowna home brewer, Derek Hyde, named the winner of a competition between more than 15 local home brewers.
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“He won the unique opportunity to come here and to brew in the big system and I don’t know if Derek has brewed anything bigger than five gallons before but he’s going to brew 2,000 litres,” says Co-Owner of Bad Tattoo Brewing, Martin Lewis.
Hyde will get to work with Bad Tattoo’s brewer to launch his own variety on Canada Day.
“This is going to be a cherry wheat beer. Martin really wanted to use Okanagan cherries and I’ve been working with the head brewer to come up with a recipe,” says Hyde.
Both Hyde and Lewis were at Fest of Ale on Saturday and organizers say the event isn’t just about the beer, live music and good food.
“When we tally all of the revenues and take off all of the expenses, the money that’s available at the end of the day goes to local charities,” says Fest of Ale Board Director, Warren Everton.
Organizers say in its 21 years, Fest of Ale has donated more than $500,000 to various local charities, including $10,000 to the Penticton Regional Hospital Foundation.
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