By Adam Donnelly

“Brewloops on the Shore” biggest and best Kamloops craft beer festival yet

Oct 1, 2018 | 5:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was a good year for the beer if you ask any of the thousands who spent any time at Brewloops on the Shore this past weekend. Since it’s inaugural year, Brewloops has evolved from a craft beer festival into one of those signature events that people in Kamloops mark on their calendars. The annual celebration of craft beer took over an empty lot for a two-day bash over the weekend.

“The thought at this point is it was a great success,” Tyson Andreykew, one of the Directors of the Brewloops festival told CFJC Today. “This was our fourth year of doing the main festival and we’re really excited about how it all turned out.”

Andreykew says stretching the event over two nights helped push attendance numbers to new heights.

“[There were] roughly around 5,000 to 5,500 or so that showed up, between the ticketed events and the family-friendly afternoon,” Andreykew said.

Brewloops on the Shore 2018 featured 24 breweries and five cider producers from across the province and drew people from all over.

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“Having two [nights] this year is even better,” Three Ranges Brewing owner Michael Lewis said. “You can really see the people are enjoying it. [Saturday] was a family-friendly event, which is awesome to watch and be a part of.”

Lewis has been attending the event with his Three Ranges beers since it started and says festivals like Brewloops serve two important purposes.

“You get the opportunity to interact directly with your customers instead of them seeing a product on the shelf,” Lewis explained, adding “you get the opportunity to see other brewers you don’t often get a chance to network or communicate with.”

The festival also stepped up their entertainment game this year, with several well-known acts from across BC, as well as some local talent.

Caitlin and Mallory Johnson make up two-thirds of Johnson Sandwich. 2018 was the first time they played the event, which they both said was a real treat.

“We had a lot of people listening and the sound was great. It was a banner day, gig-wise,” Mallory said.

Caitlin agreed: “I’m just really happy to be part of the event. We’ve attended for the last four years… to be part of it during the family portion is pretty neat. There are lots of little future beer drinkers out there.”

Andreykew and the rest of the Brewloops team are taking some much deserved time off after the most recent event – but he says plans are already in the works for some events this winter, as well as next years Brewloops festival.

“The whole group put in a lot of hours over the weekend,” Andreykew said. “After a month or so when we meet up again, there’s going to be a refreshing feeling. It always happens to us. I think we’re going to come up with something bigger and better.”