What started as a walk near Chute Lake nearly three years ago, has brewed up a business for affable friends Melaine Raby and Cathy van Kesteren.
“It was supposed to be a nice little walk and it ended up being a hike, we were like ‘we need a beer after this,’” said van Kesteren.
They had that beer at a nearby pub and talked about the places they’ve worked in the hospitality industry, their current jobs and what they wanted from their lives.
“We looked around and said ‘we can do this,’” added Raby. “We were so excited like we already had opened the doors.”
Their love of beer, the outdoors, and camping - a theme that weaves its way throughout their establishment - further convinced the pair that this is what they had to do.
After securing funding, finding a location, consulting with construction services, landing a liquor licence, and dealing with setbacks, the friends opened the doors to Three Lakes Brewing in 2023 during the August long weekend.
The name comes from three lakes, Okanagan, Kalamalka and Wood, as well as three women, van Kesteren, Raby and her daughter Tara who is the brewmaster.
Raby noted that, as far as she knows, there are not many women running their own craft brewery operations.
“So many people said ‘women brewing, shout that out.’ Yeah that’s cool, but we just like that we’re brewing beer.”
There were challenges and setbacks, however, including a lease for a Lake Country location that fell through twice and navigating the provincial liquor licencing process.
“It wasn’t ‘okay we’re done here’, it was ‘okay what do we do now?’” Raby remembers asking.
That persistence, and a mindset of not giving up, are attitudes the pair encourage other women entrepreneurs to embrace.
“We never questioned it once,” van Kesteren said. “It was in your gut, in your soul, it was right. It wasn’t a thought in our minds at all.”
Raby noted that it’s also important to find mentors.
“Ask other business owners and get their advice even if they are not in your field.”
Giving back and sourcing local are other behaviours the friends believe in.
They give to the Lake Country Food Bank, a children’s lunch program, and supported a local family last Christmas.
As much as possible, Three Lakes Brewing sources its ingredients, supplies and food offerings locally and hosts farmers markets, artisans and musicians on a regular basis.
At times the last nearly three years have been blur for the 20-year friends. Some days are so busy they barely have time to connect.
“We have to have date night,” Raby laughed.
The day-to-day operations are a huge part of what they love about their business.
“Look at what we’ve done,” van Kesteren said. “This is our business. You hang in there and do something you’re proud of.”
The other thing that brings a smile is the regulars, and new faces, who walk through the door everyday.
“They’ve become friends,” Raby said. “That’s what’s so great about doing all of this.”
Three Lakes Brewing is located at 2030 Matrix Crescent in the Airport Business Park.