This November marks the sixth anniversary since Neighbourhood Brewing opened its doors in downtown Penticton.

It’s been a long road with many obstacles—they opened in the heart of the pandemic, after all—but thankfully also just as many triumphs.

So we sat down with General Manager, Gil Cogill, to get the inside scoop on what to expect at this beloved spot over the coming months. Spoiler alert: a lot of great things are ahead…

We truly believe that Neighbourhood is shaping up to be Penticton’s hotspot this autumn. Read on to find out why!

The Vision: A Community Space for the Entire ‘Neighbourhood’

First, let us introduce you to Neighbourhood Brewing.

The vision began with two families: Mike and Melinda Coghill, and John and Jessie Main. Both families shared a passion for craft beer, great food, and, most importantly, a space where they could bring people together.

Neighbourhood became the dream for just that.

In 2020, the families moved from Port Moody to Penticton with the shared goal of opening a new venue—a place that was warm, welcoming, and everyone could feel like a neighbour. Despite launching during the pandemic and navigating ongoing mandate changes while still keeping their staff busy and employed, they came out with an incredible reputation. One that was deeply earned.

“This hitting the six years mark for us, especially for myself since I have been here from the beginning, is a massive achievement,” says Gil. “Five years in hospitality is like, ‘Okay, you’ve made it somewhere.’ Five years plus— and just keep going with that—it’s a massive achievement.”

Neighbourhood really was born from the desire to create a place where family and friends could gather, where great beer could be enjoyed alongside inventive food, and where people from all walks of life could feel at home. They wanted to become a brewery with personality, both in what went into the glass and in the experience they offer.

Judging by the warm reception and ongoing success, they achieved that goal… and with the accolades to back it up.

“Two weeks ago we just won the second-best lager in Canada,” says Gil. “So Amigos Crisp is the second-best lager in Canada for this year. So that’s a major win.”

Neighbourhood has an incredible team to back up their success, always raising the bar and improving their lineup.

Head Brewer, Darren Binnema, brings a whole lot of scientific background and passion to the brewhouse. This allows Neighbourhood to create unique, flavourful brews that aren’t afraid to step outside the box—and clearly succeed when they do!

The kitchen takes that same approach onto the plate. Each new seasonal dish has creativity, taxing on a ‘neighbourhoodly’ spin to traditional Mexican cuisine.

“When the ownership team was opening this building, there was a gap in the Mexican-inspired cuisine here in Penticton,” explains Gil. “We’ve been Mexican-inspired since we opened, and the kitchen is just elevating everything.”

Their Mexi-inspired menu goes perfectly with their world-class craft beers, offering a level of comfort food on top of inventive offerings. Currently, that’s their Fall Feature Menu with dishes like the Mexi Jambalaya (Gil’s current favourite), crispy flautas (our favourite), and a lineup of stellar baked potatoes.

The Experience: More Than Another Stop on Your Brewery Tour

We love a good brewery crawl as much as the next local, but there’s something about Neighbourhood that makes them more than just a pitstop in a long lineup of options.

It’s a gathering place.

For date night. Weekday hangs. Some TGIF meetups. Or just to sit down, solo style at the tabletop bar, and enjoy a pint while chatting with the staff.

Neighbourhood is the spot for Penticton locals to connect with not only their friends and family, but the community at large. Whether you are a longtime regular or just visiting for the first time, you can always pull up a seat at the table.

Fall is also the perfect season to stop by and experience this thanks to all the incredible offerings on the horizon.

Tuesdays bring all things Craft Beer Bingo, and paired with the all-day Bueno Happy Hour, you can enjoy great food, great drinks, and a little friendly competition. For the brainiacs of the friend group, every other Wednesday includes the Neighbourhood Pub Quiz night in the rec room upstairs, and for those (like us) who are all about good vibes and better tunes, Acoustic Thursdays bring live music and new acts each week.

“We like to do events for locals in the shoulder seasons,” Gil says.

Since so much of the Okanagan is geared towards tourist season, it’s nice that Neighbourhood offers a way for locals to get out of the house in the quieter times. And of course, in true fashion, this time of year comes with seasonal brews: Amigos Black Dark Lager and Be Cool Dark Sour.

However, we’ve got our eyes on their top autumn re-release…

The Beer: Dark Magic Horchata Milk Stout

Neighbourhood brought back their beloved seasonal beer earlier this season: Dark Magic Horchata Milk Stout. For regulars, you’ll be very familiar with this name—it’s been on the menu since day dot when they opened in November 2020.

Inspired by the traditional Mexican spiced milk drink, horchata, it’s the perfect accompaniment to crisp autumn days and lingering spooky season plans.

It’s a little darker, a little richer, and perfect for sweater weather.

Brewed with a touch of lactose to add a smooth, creamy sweet finish, Dark Magic gets its flavour from real Ceylon cinnamon and the finest Madagascar vanilla beans.

“Horchata is a Mexican nod to our inspired kitchen, so that’s where that comes from,” explains Gil. “We have it two different ways: we have it on CO2, and nitro.” If you’re a fan of Guiness, then your best bet is to try the nitro way because it will melt over the glass.

“It pairs awesome with every taco that we have, so if you’re adverse to spicy food, this is great beer to get with it because it will calm all the tastebuds down a little. It’s not a glass of milk, but it’s going to do the job.”

Did you think that beer could be luxurious? Because this one sure seams it with notes of milk chocolate and espresso. Each sip is full of character without feeling too heavy or overly spiced—just hitting that sweet spot.

Between all the seasonal releases, new menu change, and ongoing events, Neighbourhood is shaping up to be Penticton’s hotspot this autumn.

The Result: A True Sense of Belonging for Everyone

Community is everything for Neighbourhood. In fact, they’ve gotten to a first-name basis with many of the locals; the second a regular comes in, oftentimes staff are already pouring that initial pint by the time they pull up a chair.

“That is the community that we want in Penticton,” says Gil. “We’re never going to be as big as Kelowna, and we’re a little bit bigger than some of the other communities, so we’re able to really connect with the general public. And that’s what makes a hospitality environment so great. We have a special bond with everybody that comes in.”

Over the last ten or so years, Penticton and the South Okanagan hospitality sector has really come to life thanks to wineries and breweries like this one. It’s an exciting time for many locals and business owners.

“Neighbourhood to us is a big family,” explains Gil. “A welcoming building for anyone and all that wants to come and have great beer, good food, and just a good vibe.”

This autumn, we encourage you to experience this level of incredible service, fantastic cuisine, and distinctive brews for yourself when you visit. We could all use a dose of community during the colder months.

Xx,
Your Okanagan Curators