The craft beer revolution in Canada is often said to have started in Victoria, with the opening of the nation’s first brewpub, Spinnakers, on the shores of Victoria’s Inner Harbor in 1984, just months after brewpubs were legalized. In 1996, Vancouver Island Brewing opened the first production brewery in downtown Victoria in over a decade.
Today there are about 13 breweries in and around the city, with many more the further out you explore. Locals love craft beer, and the passion with which it’s made, and the loyalty locals have towards their favourite breweries is obvious. Of course, the only way to pick a favourite for yourself is to try them all, so I’ve listed all of Victoria’s breweries here.
This list is not ranked in any particular order. Instead, it starts with breweries in the heart of Downtown Victoria and slowly expands outward.
This guide to Victoria’s breweries is organized to take you through the city from closest to downtown Victoria to furthest away, showcasing the unique character of each brewery. This list is not a ranking but a guide to the entirety of Victoria’s vibrant beer scene. If you know of a brewery that deserves a mention, feel free to reach out and let me know.
For more information about Nanaimo’s breweries and their offerings, you can visit their respective websites or check out local guides like the BC Ale Trail.
Whistle Buoy Brewing Company
Whistle Buoy Brewing, opened in 2019, is a vibrant addition to Victoria’s craft beer scene. Located in the heart of the city’s historic Market Square smack-dab in the middle of downtown, and only a couple blocks away from many of Victoria’s most iconic landmarks, it definitely benefits from its central location. brewer Matt West-Patrick offers a diverse tap list that covers all kinds of experimental small-batch brews, providing something for every beer enthusiast. Favourites here cover a wide range, all the way from the Lojo Light Lager to the spirulina powder-blue Undersea Gose made with salt from locally harvested bull kelp.
In addition to their tasty beer offerings, Whistle Buoy has a basic snacks menu and encourages visitors to bring their own food from nearby restaurants. The brewery is also dog-friendly, inviting patrons to enjoy their brews in the company of their four-legged friends on the sunny outdoor patio.
Swift Brewing
Swift Brewing, a fresh addition to Victoria’s brewery scene, officially opened its doors in May 2023 in downtown Victoria. Created by the team behind CRAFT Beer Market and sharing a building with the larger venue, Swift Brewing carves out an unique identity with its relaxed and cozy interior design inspire by your grandparents’ basement. The establishment is designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia, combined with the comfort and flair of the present. The location itself, 450 Swift Street, has been a community staple for over a century, originally being built as a power plant and hosting numerous successful businesses and brewers throughout the years.
At Swift Brewing, visitors can expect a wide range of beers that appeal to all levels of beer enthusiasts. The founders’ passion for great beer and good times is at the heart of Swift Brewing, promising a welcoming and enjoyable experience for the community. In addition to a variety of tasty brews, the brewery also offers lively cocktails and “basement snacks” like Jiffy Pop and Chex Mix, enhancing the retro vibe of the venue.
Herald Street Brew Works
Herald Street Brew Works, opened in 2020 in Victoria, BC, is a collaborative effort between Mike and Lee Spence of The Drake Eatery and Jorden Foss and Jamie Garbutt of Steel & Oak Brewing. Located at 506 Herald Street, this brewery has made a name for itself in the local craft beer scene. Their approach to brewing emphasizes quality, integrity, and education, choosing to constantly evolve and explore new recipes rather than sticking to a set core. This ethos is reflected in their ever-changing tap list, offering an array of unique and special brews with an emphasis on hoppy flavours.
The brewery’s interior, inspired by Victoria’s Design District, showcases the heritage warehouse it occupies. The two-level tasting room is designed to focus attention on the brewhouse and the 10 double-stacked bright tanks from which they serve tank-fresh beer. True to their philosophy, Herald Street Brew Works provides a fresh experience with every visit, ensuring that beer enthusiasts always have something new and exciting to try.
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co, founded in 2001, started with founder Matt Phillips maxing out credit cards to bring his dream to life. Since then it’s grown from modest beginnings to become one of British Columbia’s most prominent and well-known craft breweries. Known for its consistent quality and innovative brewing techniques, Phillips Brewing offers a wide range of beers, from classic styles to more experimental and seasonal offerings including beer advent calendars. Their dedication to community extends to hosting an annual downtown music festival and a “Benefit Brew” project, creating a custom beer in collaboration with different charities and donating all the proceeds.
Phillips Brewing also showcases a commitment to sustainability and local sourcing. In 2015, they opened their own maltworks, becoming the only brewery in canada to malt their own barley. This allows them to malt barley grown fifteen minutes away, and provides ultimate control over the core ingredients in their beers and distilled products.
Moon Underwater Brewery
When Moon Under water Brewery opened in 2012, they were the 50th brewery in BC, beating the recent boom of craft beer by only a couple of years. Today the establishment headed by Clay Potter along with his mother Anne Farmer-Ash and step-father Steve Ash is well known for their German lagers, but they’ve also been branching out into non-alcoholic beer as well as distilling. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly, with the kind of unpolished feel that’s more akin to your local neighborhood pub than anything else, making it very easy to have at least a couple more beers than you walked in planning to. Make sure to try some of their whisky as well as their beers, and even order a shaft if you’re keen to try Victoria’s most iconic cocktail.
Hoyne Brewing Co.
Hoyne Brewing Co., established in 2011 by Sean Hoyne, is a family-run brewery that has become a staple in Victoria’s craft beer community. The brewery sits in the Rock Bay brewery district, close to other breweries and brewpubs. Sean Hoyne, with over two decades of brewing experience at local brewpubs, has built a reputation for producing high-quality beers that are excellent examples of their styles.
The brewery takes pride in using traditional malts sourced from regions known for specific beer styles, such as the UK, Germany, and the Czech Republic, to give an authentic taste to their beers. Hoyne Brewing is committed to sustainability, working with local farmers and suppliers, and utilizing eco-friendly practices. This approach has helped establish Hoyne as a community leader and a favorite among local beer drinkers.
Île Sauvage Brewing Company
Île Sauvage Brewing is well known for its focus on sour beers, utilizing a variety of unexpected ingredients and flavours. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that their non-sour beers are delicious as well, meaning that no matter what your preference, they have something for you. Founded by Stephane Turcotte, who honed his skills in Busan, South Korea, Île Sauvage offers a stylish, two-level tasting room right in the heart of the Rock Bay brewery district. The brewery has won several awards, including being named Rookie Brewery of the Year at the BC Beer Awards shortly after its opening.
Spinnakers Brew Pub
Spinnakers Brewpub, established in 1984, holds the distinction of being Canada’s first brewpub. Spinnakers is not just a pioneer in the craft beer revolution but also an early advocate of the local food movement, known for working closely with local farmers and food producers. The brewpub offers a range of traditional ales and innovative styles, including barrel-aged beers and daily casks. In addition, Spinnakers produces its own cider and has recently ventured into distilling spirits.
Spinnakers also provides accommodation options with its own guesthouses, allowing visitors to use it as a base for exploring Victoria’s craft beer community. The brewpub’s history is marked by a pivotal role in changing federal excise tax laws, which originally forbade brewing and serving beer in the same building. This change in law allowed Spinnakers to open as Canada’s first brewpub, though the city insisted that they not be too close to any established neighborhoods lest the neighbours complain. As a result it has a spectacular waterfront location with excellent views of the harbour.
Driftwood Brewery
Co-founders Jason Meyer and Kevin Hearsum, along with Gary Lindsay, who joined to develop sales, have focused on producing full-flavored, world-class styles of ale at Driftwood. The brewery opened in 2008 and quickly distinguished itself with its unique offerings, rolling out its first kegs in October 2008 from its original location at 836 Viewfield Road.
Driftwood Brewery most well-known beer is the evr-popular the popular Fat Tug IPA, making up 60% of their beer sales and recognized as BC’s best IPA and named Beer of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards in 2011. Besides IPAs, Driftwood also has a significant barrel-aging and sour beer program, known as the Bird of Prey series, inspired by a Cooper’s hawk that took residence in the brewery. This series features beers with labels showcasing different birds of prey, reflecting the unique and adventurous spirit of their brews.
Lighthouse Brewing
Lighthouse Brewing, established in 1998, is a family-owned and operated craft brewery located in Esquimalt, Victoria, BC. Celebrating over 25 years of brewing, Lighthouse has been dedicated to creating high-quality, handcrafted beers that capture the nautical spirit of Vancouver Island. From their first beer, Race Rocks, rolled out to local bars, to a diverse range of styles in their Small Batch Series, Lighthouse Brewing prides itself on using the finest ingredients to produce beers that delight and thrill the palate. Their commitment to the community extends beyond brewing, as they support local farmers by providing nutrient-rich solid waste from their brewing process for animal feed.
The brewery’s team, described as one of the best in the industry, is passionate and involved in every step of the brewing process. They operate as a close-knit family, with less than 25 employees, where ideas for new brews come from every corner of the organization.
4 Mile Brewing Co
4 Mile Brewpub is situated in a historic building which dates all the way back to 1858. Originally a roadhouse for stagecoaches and later automobiles, it transformed over the years, to dance hall, brothel, and in the 80’s finally being turned into a local pub, with the brewery being a relatively recent addition. The brewpub offers an extensive food menu upstairs in the pub and a modern sports bar-themed tasting room downstairs, next to the brewery. Head Brewer Matt Riches along with Brewer Mel Boutilier offer a wide range of brews sure to satisfy anyone.
Twa Dogs Brewery
Twa Dogs Brewery, established in 2016, is a part of Macaloney’s Distillery. Embracing its Scottish roots, Twa Dogs Brewery is named after an 18th-century poem by Scottish poet Robbie Burns, and each beer’s name draws inspiration from Burns’ works.
The brewery boasts a spacious facility featuring a beautiful tasting room where visitors can enjoy a range of beers or a taster’s flight of whiskies. Twa Dogs is dog-friendly, offering Happy Hour pricing to patrons who bring in their furry friends. The brewery also has an outdoor patio beside the tasting room, providing a perfect setting to enjoy their beers. Nicole MacLean, the Head Brewer, brings her Scottish heritage and brewing expertise to the fore, having previously worked at the renowned BrewDog brewery in Scotland.
Category 12 Brewing
Coming off of a job at a scientific software company and with a doctorate in microbiology and biochemistry from UVic, Michael Kuzyk changed careers and opened Category 12 in late 2014, along with his wife Karen.
Category 12 embraces Kuzyk’s scientific background, combining it with a love for Belgian beers as well as IPAs to create both classic and West Coast styles. The brewery has expanded its tasting room and added a kitchen serving a range of delicious dishes to pair with their excellent beers. Before recipes are brewed at Category 12’s full 1500 L capacity, they’re first tinkered with on a 50 L pilot brew system, and a wide variety of yeasts are grown on site. There’s a lot on offer here especially for the IPA lover, but keep an eye out for some of the rarer more esoteric limited releases which often include barleywines, barrel-aged stouts, and belgians.
Founded in late 2022 by Michael Morgan, Michelle Morgan and Dirk Slot-all of whom also work day jobs when they’re not running the brewery-Mile Zero Brewing has quickly become a community favourite, situated in the building that once served as the local school. This Vancouver Island brewery has partnered with local businesses like Urban Forage to enhance their food offerings as well as local craft chocolate company Uncouth Chocolate. It’s a small community microbrewery so it doesn’t distribute, meaning the only way to taste their beer is in person or to take a growler home with you.
