By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
With non-stop ale, an “amazing race” and Beer Olympics, there was much to love at Oliver’s Cask & Keg festival last Saturday.
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, people came back in droves to check out the best breweries, distilleries and cideries around. There were 13 to be exact, and nearly 40 merchants on site as well.
Ian Lobb, executive director of Oliver Tourism Association, could not have been happier.
“People are really happy and having a good time,” Lobb said, minutes after the winning team crossed the Beer Olympics finish line. The grand prize? A decorated and fully stocked beer fridge, of course. The winning team was “You Wine Some, You Booze Some.”
The other big event was the “Amazing Race,” a clue-ridden scavenger hunt around Oliver. The first team to finish was “The 4 Helgas.”
Lobb said they moved the Cask & Keg to the daytime this year to make it more family friendly. He noted it was so fun creating the Olympics with the Firehall Brewery and Oliver Parks and Recreation. The course saw competitors carrying trays of beer around barrels and hauling heavy sacks without falling on their faces, which happened more than once.
Lobb said it was incredible to be back after the claustrophobic pandemic.
“To be honest, this (festival) is what some of the people needed. People were looking forward to getting back out and enjoying things.”
He said the challenges over the past two years hit everyone hard in different ways, and staffing was one of them. That’s why Lobb commended the staff that came together to make Cask & Keg such a big hit this year.
Moving forward, the planning team will look at making the event even better with a few changes, Lobb said.
He acknowledged that people prefer the laid-back, small-town atmosphere with its dedicated volunteers.
Lobb said if the event grows, they have to do it properly without losing that small, local vibe.
“I think we will grow a bit more, but we definitely don’t want to be so big that we lose our small-town energy.”
With beer in hand, Oliver resident Kevin Kammers said it was awesome to come back after COVID and have conversations with people again.
“I come from up North so typically I’m a beer drinker. Since I’ve come down here I drink beer, I like beer, but I’m kind of going into the wine now too.”
Kammers said he likes Cask & Keg for its variety and casual atmosphere.
“And it’s not too far, I just got to go up the hill. I can stagger home no problem,” he laughed.
Kammers said he was impressed with the volunteers at the event.
“The people in the red (shirts) are very informative, helpful and eager to help you and explain what’s going on . . . whereas lots of places you go in, pay your thing and you’re kind of left to figure out what to do.”
Sandra Quins from Calgary said it was nice to see local breweries and distilleries that you would otherwise miss if you just came to visit.
Her husband Steve Quins said it was nice to get back to normal again.
“Everybody was hiding (before), we can stop hiding. If you’re worried about catching COVID and dying, that doesn’t mean you stop living.”
Richie Walchuk from Trading Post Brewing in Oliver (wine village) said
business has been really good, noting the one-of-a-kind wine village is an amazing tourist attraction.
He stated they faced some hurdles last year in navigating around the pandemic, which took a lot of wind out of people’s sails. But this year Trading Post Brewing started out with a “bang.”
Walchuk said he sees events like Cask & Keg growing.
“For a small town to have events like Cask & Keg and Festival of the Grape, and the amount of people it brings out every year is incredible.”
Gary Lindsay from Driftwood Brewery from Victoria said they chose Cask & Keg this year to meet new people and see new faces.
He said the company had to adjust and pivot like everyone else during COVID. For example, they had to switch from bars and restaurants to stores only, and focus on familiar beers instead of introducing new tastes.
Families sit on hay bales during a relaxing afternoon at the Cask & Keg festival in Oliver on Oct. 1.
Don Urquhart photo
Lindsay said it’s neat to see each community having its own brewery.
“A few years ago if you told me that Osoyoos and Oliver, and all these places would have multiple breweries I would have said not much of a chance.”
From his perspective, beer sales in total are not growing but shrinking overall.
“If you look at beer sales (from bigger breweries) across Canada they’re shrinking a couple per cent every year, but the kraft beer industry is growing,” he said.
Lindsay believes flavour, taste and value are key components of this industry – people want a taste they will remember.
“People are just elevating their flavour game, I think.”
Susi Fourg from Rustic Reel Brewing Company from Kelowna said she likes Cask & Keg for its great community feel.
She really enjoyed the setup where four breweries were under the same tent instead of separate venues. This allowed everyone to connect with each other, she said.
