Event

West Kelowna's First Cidery Set to Open

A 400-square-foot tasting room overlooking the lake

Truck 59 Ciderhouse opens their doors for the first time on Friday. Located on Brown Road overlooking the Okanagan Lake, this will be a sweet spot to sip some cider and enjoy a bite – but just not quiiiiite yet: the proprietors Russ Johnson and his wife Helen are waiting for the i’s to be dotted on their patio lounge license approval, but you’ll be able to stop into their 400-square-foot tasting room and try out the two inaugural ciders on the rotation.

The “Modern” is made of 30% English and French bittersweet, bitter-sharp apples and 70% dessert apples. They are also bottling “Cherry n’ Apple” that has more dessert fruit and is infused with a house-made organic cherry juice. The cidery aims to expand the offerings up to twelve with a traditional cider featured in the mix. The two ciders available are gluten-free.

A happy Russ Johnson is all set for his cidery to open.

About that name, Johnson is a collector of firefighter equipment, and he’ll have his 1959 Chevy fire truck, a pumper from Squamish, sitting out front so you won’t be able to miss the new location.

Plans are to have their ciders hit a variety of restaurants and liquor stores in the near future, and they are currently available at the Cove Lakeside Resort and soon to be served at the Red Fox Club located in the Indigenous World Winery in West Kelowna.

Some of the money generated from their sales will be donated to firefighters’ charities. Truck 59 Ciderhouse will be open 10am – 6pm, seven days a week, and the tasting room will accommodate up to 70 people.