Tree Brewing Co. wants to branch out with a craft brewery and tasting room at The Delta Grand hotel, a first in B.C.
City councillors were bubbling with enthusiasm Monday as they affably agreed to add minor breweries and distilleries as a secondary use in the convention hotel commercial zone. A public hearing will be held on the plans to give downtown visitors an uplifting and educational experience.
The aim is to "provide pedestrians with a destination beer tasting experience as an alternative to wine tasting," said land-use planner Paul McVey," and provide an additional range of activities for tourists utilizing downtown facilities and the boardwalk along Okanagan Lake."
The new branch called Project DJ would be located on the ground floor of The Delta Grand in the space formerly occupied by DJ Restaurant, council was told.
"The tasting areas will not only provide tasting of product produced in the craft brewery but also provide education for beer and food pairings with food supplied by the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort," said McVey.
"The entire facility will be marketed as a Beer Institute to educate consumers to taste, learn about beer products as well as the art of craft brewing."
The Delta Grand is the only property in the city zoned for convention hotel commercial so the impact of the zoning change would be limited to that downtown area, he noted.
In accompanying background material, Tree Brewing says it will apply for a second brewery manufacturing licence from the provincial liquor control and licensing board which limits public tasting and retail sales to alcoholic products produced on-site.
The new brewery would produce new and current brands, have a public and private tasting area, offer brewmaster dinners, cask nights, guided bike tours (to-from the brewery), Twitter road rides and off-site sales, and sell merchandise.
The 1083 Richter St. craft brewery, which produces eight brands or styles of beer sold in five provinces, would then focus on tours. The investment is estimated at $300,000 to $400,000 with a minimum of 10 jobs to be created.