Penticton Breweries Celebrate Major Wins at 2026 BC Beer Awards

Penticton's Cannery Brewing and Tin Whistle Brewing earned top honors at the 2026 BC Beer Awards in New Westminster, alongside several other local breweries.

Penticton breweries made a strong showing at the 2026 BC Beer Awards, taking home multiple top honors during the ceremony held in New Westminster on Friday, Oct. 16. Tin Whistle Brewing captured the prestigious best beer in show title for its Black Window Dark Lager.

Longtime Cannery Brewing owners Patt and Ron Dyck were honored with the Legend award, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the provincial craft beer industry. Kim Lawton, Cannery’s marketing director, accepted the award on behalf of the couple, who marked 25 years in business earlier in 2026.

When the Dycks launched Cannery in 2001 as one of the few regional breweries operating at the time, they faced the challenge of introducing flavorful craft options to a market dominated by mainstream lagers. In a recorded acceptance video, Patt Dyck reflected on the early days of driving across the province to deliver beer and promote the fledgling business one customer at a time.

Tin Whistle also secured first place in the specialty and experimental category out of 14 entries for its Cherry Blossom Japanese Lager. Additional local recognition went to Abandoned Rail Brewing, which placed third in the Alternative Fermentables Beer category for its Gluten Schmuten, and Yellow Dog Brewing, which claimed third place in the International Lager category for its El Perro Cerveza Clara.

The annual competition featured 900 entries submitted across 31 categories by 95 breweries from across the region.