The charming seaside community of Sooke on the southern tip of Vancouver Island has a lot more to offer than just it’s spectacular views and friendly small-town atmosphere. Some of the best hikes near Victoria are found in the surrounding Sooke Hills, and natural attractions like the Sooke Potholes draw visitors every summer, many of whom continue down the Juan de Fuca Highway through Sooke on the classic roadtrip to Port Renfrew, one of the most scenic and rewarding drives on Vancouver Island. Sooke is also a great place to charter a boat, and ocean views across the strait of Juan de Fuca are exquisite.
It’s hardly surprising that local brewers and distillers take inspiration from these beautiful coastal surroundings and the charming community. Local gins are made with regional botanicals including winged sea kelp and oakmoss, and local breweries all reflect the laid-back and unpretentious atmosphere of Sooke.
Keep on reading to learn all about the best places to drink local beer and spirits in and around Sooke. As always, this list is not ranked in any particular order. If you think I’ve missed something, feel free to leave a comment below!
Bad Dog Brewery
Located on a rural property a short drive outside of Sooke, Bad Dog Brewing is easy to miss-but don’t make the mistake of driving past this local gem. A family-run business, it was started by John and Rosie Lyle in 2017, and has only been growing in popularity ever since. The label designs are done by their son Chris, and their other son Paul is the brewer’s assistant. Unlike some bigger and more commercial breweries in larger cities, Bad Dog Brewing feels a little less polished – in a great way. There’s nothing snobby here. Instead of an expensive taproom, the beer is poured in what looks like a converted kitchen. With plentiful outdoor seating at picnic benches scattered around and a food truck on site, I can’t think of anywhere better to drink a beer outside on a sunny day. The focus here is clearly on the beer, and the relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere falls into place as a result of that. Most of the lineup consists of IPAs, but the brewery is also well-known for a stout that uses squid ink, though sadly it wasn’t on tap when I visited.
Sooke Brewing Company
Visit the website for Sooke Brewing Company, and right at the top you’ll read about the owners’ multigenerational connection to the Sooke area. Or visit the taproom, where you’ll see the sawblade logo or the huge tree pillar at the entrance, drawing inspiration from Sooke’s logging history. While they may be thinking local, that’s certainly not holding them back. The range of beer styles here is impressive, all the way from barley wines to steam beer to IPAs. And unlike some breweries that experiment with a range of styles, Sooke Brewing Company consistently knocks it out of the park. Don’t expect food here, but just outside of the brewery is a Pad Thai foodtruck.
Sooke Oceanside Brewing
Sooke Oceanside Brewing is the original Sooke Brewery, and with a name like that you know they’ve got to have some killer oceanfront views. Sit out on the patio and enjoy views of the Sooke Inlet while drinking one of SOB’s flagship brews. The core lineup is all very approachable, consisting of a blonde, red, pale, and India pale ale as well as a lager. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for their limited and seasonal options, as well as the recent introduction of some light seltzer-style beers.
Sherringham Distillery
Sheringham distillery is as Sooke as it gets… other than the fact that it’s no longer in Sooke. The award-winning distillery recently moved to a new location in Langford, meaning that while it is still on the way for anyone driving from Victoria to Sooke, it’s now much closer to Victoria. Because it can still be easily visited on a trip to Sooke, I’ve kept it on this list.
Sherringham Distillery, which started in Jason and Alayne MacIsaac’s Shirley garage, is now one of the most successful distilleries on Vancouver Island. Their flagship Seaside Gin won Best Contemporary Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards, and they’ve succeeded in following it up with a series of gins inspired by and celebrating the region. Sherringham partners with a local seaweed harvester and a lavender farm for their Seaside Gin, locally grown tea for their Kazuki Gin, and local chocolate and coffee companies for their liqueurs.
