On the drive toward Kimberley, a roadside billboard led us to Encore Brewing Company in Cranbrook BC, a craft brewery, restaurant, and bowling alley set inside a restored 1960s bowling alley.

We had planned to spend some time exploring Cranbrook on this trip, but weren’t sure what to do until we saw it, so we added Encore to the list.

The space is split between the brewery and restaurant on one side and the original bowling lanes on the other. Everything leans into the building’s retro roots, with vintage details, arcade games, and small touches of nostalgia throughout.

We stopped in for a pint, bowled a few frames, and stayed longer than planned. Between the house craft beer, pizza, bowling, pool tables, arcade games, and board games, it turned into an easy place to spend the afternoon.

It’s a simple stop in Cranbrook BC that combines craft beer with bowling and a strong retro theme, and it fits easily into a Kootenay road trip.