Ricochet Brewing & Taphouse is a locally owned craft brewery built around a simple idea: create great beer while creating a place where community can come together.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Marc and Meaghan Zaichkowsky, Ricochet brews in Sunnybrae on the shores of Shuswap Lake, with a strong commitment to local sourcing and celebrating the region's flavours. After beginning construction on its brewery in 2022, Ricochet brewed its first commercial batch in July 2023 and was on local liquor store shelves just weeks later. Building on that early momentum, the business expanded into downtown Salmon Arm, opening the Ricochet Brewing & Taphouse in July 2024.
The downtown taphouse has quickly become much more than a showcase for Ricochet’s own products. With 36 rotating taps, Ricochet features its own locally brewed beer alongside products from independent BC breweries and cideries, as well as BC wines and other locally sourced offerings. This approach allows Ricochet to use its own space and success to introduce customers to other small producers from across the province.
Their commitment to supporting local extends beyond the beverage industry. Guests are welcome to bring in or order food from neighbouring restaurants, encouraging customers to explore and support other downtown businesses while enjoying the Ricochet experience. It is a collaborative approach to small business that recognizes that a strong local economy is built when businesses actively support one another.
Community is central to the way Ricochet operates. The taphouse was intentionally created as a welcoming, family-friendly gathering place where locals and visitors can connect, attend events, play a game, share a meal or simply spend time together. Marc and Meaghan are also personally active in their community, bringing that same spirit of involvement and service to the business they have built.
The impact Ricochet has made in a relatively short period of time has been recognized by the local business community. Ricochet Brewing & Taphouse was named Business of the Year at the 2024 Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. The following year, co-owner Meaghan Zaichkowsky was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2025 Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, further recognizing the leadership, vision and entrepreneurial drive behind Ricochet’s growth.
From brewing on the shores of Shuswap Lake to building a thriving gathering place in downtown Salmon Arm, Ricochet demonstrates what small business can contribute to a community. Their success is rooted not only in the products they create, but in their commitment to supporting local, championing independent BC producers, collaborating with neighbouring businesses and creating a space where people feel welcome.
In just a few years, Ricochet has grown from a local brewing operation into an award-winning business and recognizable part of the Salmon Arm and Shuswap business community. Their story reflects the entrepreneurial spirit that drives small business in British Columbia: taking a risk on an idea, adapting along the way, building strong community relationships and recognizing that success is even more meaningful when it helps other local businesses succeed alongside you.