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Kelowna\u2019s BNA Brewing has purchased Crann\u00f3g Ales in Sorrento \u2013 the maker of the legendary Backhand of God stout.<\/p>\n
In an email to its customers Friday, Crann\u00f3g made the announcement that they have sold to BNA Brewing, and BNA Brewing is now making Crann\u00f3g\u2019s beer at BNA facilities in Kelowna and Vernon.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur classic Irish ales will continue to be brewed according to our long-established recipes, using our same organic ingredients and with hops from Left Fields Organic Farm,\u201d Crann\u00f3g said in the email.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll keep selling growlers at the Salmon Arm Farmers Market and at the brewery, and you can still come for tours all summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
One main change that customers will notice is that BNA plans to start putting Crann\u00f3g\u2019s Backhand of God beer in cans and it could start appearing on store shelves in the near future. Crann\u00f3g\u2019s beer was previously only available by the tap at bars and restaurants and by growler fills at the Sorrento-based brewery.<\/p>\n
\u2018Ultimate compliment\u2019<\/h3>\n
Kyle and Carolyn Nixon, owners of BNA Brewing, tell Castanet that Crann\u00f3g owners Brian MacIsaac and Rebecca Kneen approached them about purchasing Crann\u00f3g.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey really trusted our team which is the most ultimate compliment from the most ultimate brewery,\u201d Kyle said. \u201cI was kind of in disbelief at first \u2026 I just feel incredibly proud \u201d<\/p>\n
The Nixons says Brian and Rebecca will still be a part of the business, focusing on growing their organic hops \u2013 which will still be used in Crann\u00f3g beers \u2013 along with participating in farmers markets and other events.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point in their career they just needed to pass off some of the day-to-day stuff, which is what our team is going to do,\u201d Kyle said.<\/p>\n
Being a huge Backhand of God fan himself, Kyle says he understands the cult-like following the beer has.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know the pressure that comes along with the beer and the responsibility we get,\u201d Kyle said. \u201cEverything stays the same \u2026 it\u2019s hard to change perfection. It\u2019s pretty much a perfect beer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyle recounts a trip he and his father took to Sorrento back in 2011 when Kyle was first exploring the idea of opening his own brewery, to see how Brian and Rebecca made their beer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had never met them, I just cold-called them. They were so generous with their time and so kind. They\u2019re just inspiring people, they\u2019ve actually inspired everything that we\u2019ve done today,\u201d Kyle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just created a friendship from there \u2026 we feel so proud to call them friends but even prouder now to call them business associates.\u201d<\/p>\n
BNA has actually been brewing Crann\u00f3g\u2019s beer at their facilities for about a month already.<\/p>\n
Carolyn adds that they hope to be able to fulfill the large demand for Crann\u00f3g\u2019s beer using their facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Brian and Rebecca] always felt bad saying no to people who wanted it, but they just didn\u2019t have the capacity to take on more accounts,\u201d Carolyn said.<\/p>\n
25 years of history<\/h3>\n
Crann\u00f3g Ales dates back 25 years, when Brian and Rebecca began selling their beer out of their organic farm in the Shuswap. They specialize in a number of Irish-style beers, but their Backhand of God stout has developed a huge following over the years.<\/p>\n
Kyle says they plan to keep the brewery\u2019s legacy going for at least another 25 years.<\/p>\n
Crann\u00f3g is the latest business to be scooped up by the Nixon Hospitality Group. After the Nixons first opened up BNA Brewing in downtown Kelowna in 2015, they\u2019ve since opened up Skinny Duke\u2019s in the old Sturgeon Hall location and\u00a0Bernie\u2019s Supper Club<\/a>\u00a0in the old Doc Willoughby\u2019s location.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve also purchased the\u00a0Bohemian Cafe<\/a>\u00a0in downtown Kelowna and\u00a0Snowshoe Sam\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0at Big White.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bc.thegrowler.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/nicholas-v2.jpg\")
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