Need a new spot to grab a beer in Lake Country?

Lake Country Brewing Company opened in town on Thursday and despite it鈥檚 beginning, it鈥檚 already deep-rooted into the community.

The co-owners of the new establishment are Jayson McCarthy and Jim Pink. The McCarthy family has been in Lake Country for six generations and used to own Black Press鈥檚 Lake Country Calendar.

Around two years in the making, McCarthy told Capital News, 鈥渋t took much longer than we anticipated,鈥� and started to get emotional when asked about how much the brewery鈥檚 opening meant to him.

鈥淚 was so grateful they were there,鈥� said McCarthy. 鈥淛ust people in the community that work for the community. It was so cool, it was fantastic, so much fun.鈥�

McCarthy mentioned that Thursday night gave him a chance to connect and 鈥渞econnect鈥� with people in the community, saying he caught up with someone he鈥檚 known but never had personal conversation with, someone who has a daughter he used to coach, a couple that moved to Lake Country from the Lower Mainland more than a year ago, a group of firefighters who finished their training and came in to end their night.

鈥淭hey were so grateful they had the space to come to, they had a great time,鈥� said McCarthy.

The idea of a brewery came to McCarthy and Pink over the years from coaching basketball together.

鈥淲e were basketball coaches together when we met 10 years ago,鈥� said McCarthy. 鈥淗e and I travelled with the teams we coached. In our travels, we always enjoyed spending our off-time in breweries. We just found that they were a bit of a different vibe than different spaces to socialize in. We thought over time, it would be fun to create a space to enjoy that, enjoy a vibe and have a couple of beers.鈥�

They both coached high school teams in town together and McCarthy also has coached a little internationally.

鈥淏oth he and I are at a point in our careers where we can do what we want to do instead of what we have to do,鈥� added McCarthy.

In June 2021, news came out of a brewery coming to Lake Country. McCarthy said it took around two years but it was his daughters who helped the process.

鈥淲hat escalated [the process] for me personally was both my daughters were working for breweries in 琉璃神社 and it just felt so neat, it was an opportunity to enjoy beer,鈥� said McCarthy. 鈥淭o me, it鈥檚 just the vibe. It鈥檚 casual, come as you are, there鈥檚 no expectations. Just sit down and have a beer, relax, and laugh.鈥�

Lake Country Brewing has a very limited menu and it鈥檚 going to stay that way says McCarthy.

鈥淲e really want to focus on making great beer.鈥�

However, people are allowed to bring their own food, order their own food to the brewpub, or soon, the neighbouring unit will be opening a separate business with pizza, pasta, and donairs but will also serve to the brewery.

It is located at #4-10058 Highway 97.

READ MORE: 琉璃神社 couple sets down roots in turning vegetarian food truck into brewery

READ MORE: Lower Mainland brewery expanding to Lake Country

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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