There's a new way to keep track of your favourite Penticton breweries and earn points toward their merchandise, right on your smartphone.
The BC Ale Trails initiative, a collection of craft brewery routes in 17 communities around the province, has recently launched an app, and Penticton is one of the first five featured routes.
"It's a way to find out what the breweries are in the area and what you can expect at each brewery," said Penticton Ale Trail organizer Kim Lawton. "So if people are travelling they can look on their app and see what's in the area that would be of interest for a craft beer person."
The app rolled out in Victoria in the fall to enthusiastic response, and now they have expanded to four other "ale trails," with Penticton being the only Okanagan site currently on the app — a point of pride for Lawton, with nearby Kelowna having to wait its turn.
"When you look at Penticton, we are outperforming every step of the way," Lawton said. "Penticton just really is a leader in craft beer in the province, I think that's being recognized."
The app itself is free to download, and offers maps to and information about the five current Penticton breweries.
"It's a really cool tool," Lawton said. "[People] can use their app to collect points by visiting craft breweries, and redeem their points for various items at the breweries. Each brewery offers something different, so it's just a fun, different way to experience it."
The Penticton Ale Trail was organized by Lawton a few years ago, aiming to consolidate the five craft breweries in town for the benefit of all.
Highway 97 Brewery, currently the newest on the Penticton craft beer scene, was eager to get involved, and happy to be featured on the app to up their profile.
The app is brand new in Penticton, so Nick Kapusty, co-owner of Highway 97, says he hasn't had any customers come in using it yet, but he's looking forward to it upping the profile of the brewery since they are off the beaten path of downtown.
"It'll help a lot," Kapusty said. "There's so many breweries opening up now, people are like 'Oh I didn't hear about this one,' [the app is] just trying to get people to go on the app and check out the breweries that are around."
He added that it's arguably even a better tool for locals, rather than tourists, since they can rack up points on their app to spend on merchandise at their favourite local breweries.
"I would even say it's mainly for locals," Kapusty said. "To get the amount of points to get something, you gotta come in a couple times. We want people to be part of the BC Ale Trail, and understand what that's all about."
Lawton said the Penticton Ale Trail being on the app helps remind people that it's not just the wine that's amazing in the South Okanagan.
"I think a lot of people are still very surprised that we are such an incredible craft beer destination," Lawton said.
The two new breweries opening in 2019, Hatchery Brewing taking over where The Mule bar used to be, and Neighbourhood Brewing right across Westminster Avenue from it, are also on board with the Ale Trail and will be featured on the app as soon as they are open.