Bars & Pubs
Jackknife brewing
About Jackknife brewing
Whether a brewery's front room feels like a proper tasting bar or a bare-bones taproom depends entirely on the space it took over, and that is worth knowing before making a special trip. Jackknife brewing works from 727 Baillie Ave in Kelowna's North End, the pocket just above downtown where older houses give way to light industrial sheds slowly filling with small makers, studios and cafes, close enough to the offices and waterfront parks at the centre of the city to walk.
Small breweries generally do two things under one roof. Beer is made on the premises, and a room out front lets people drink it a few steps from the tanks. What differs from one to the next is worth asking about before you make the trip: whether the taps hold a steady lineup or rotate with small batches, whether cans and growlers can be filled to take away, and whether food comes from a kitchen, from a truck parked at the door, or not at all. Policies on children, dogs and large groups vary just as much, and a small taproom can feel like a very different room in January than it does in July.
The North End is an easy ride or walk from downtown, since the valley floor is flat and the distances at this end of the city are short. Parking on the industrial streets is usually simple, although evenings fill up when several bays are busy at once. Summers here are hot and dry, and a taproom with limited shade can feel that heat quickly by mid afternoon. A quick phone call before driving over from Rutland or the Mission will save you the trip if the doors happen to be closed.
Visiting Jackknife brewing
Getting there
In the North End neighbourhood of Kelowna.
Get directions (opens in a new tab)Keep exploring
More places near North End
Other bars and pubs and nearby businesses in the Kelowna directory.
From the blog
Kelowna guides and stories
Longer reads from the editor, with the places worth a detour linked inside them.
Halloween Ideas and Events in Kelowna
Kelowna Corn Maze's three difficulty levels, Don-O-Ray and McMillan Farms, Black Mountain Haunted House, and a fireworks ban with a real fine attached.
Read the guide
Labour Day in Kelowna: the last big market weekend and a canyon with room to breathe
Market Saturday at Landmark, the Kerry Park Sunday edition's final day of the season, Myra Canyon in its sweet spot, and beaches that belong to locals again.
Read the guide
Where to shop in Kelowna: three centres and a market
Kelowna's retail splits into three non-overlapping centres, and knowing which one you need saves an afternoon of driving. Bernard's boutiques, Pandosy's independents, the highway belt's boxes, and the farmers market above them all.
Read the guide
Keep the directory honest
Own Jackknife brewing?
Claim the listing to confirm your details, add your hours and photographs, and keep what people find accurate.