Greater Victoria Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
Victoria breweries have been leading the way for the craft beer industry since the mid 1980's when Spinnakers served their first brews. Since then, the number of Victoria breweries, distilleries and cideries has exploded - each with their own creative spin on what was a relatively generic drink, not that long ago.
- 4 Mile Brewing Company
- Axe & Barrel Brewing Company
- Canoe Brewpub
- Category 12 Brewing
- Driftwood Brewery
- Hoyne Brewing Company
- Ile Sauvage Brewing Company
- Lighthouse Brewing Company
- Merridale Cidery & Distillery
- Moon Under Water Brewery & Pub
- Phillips Brewing & Malting Company
- Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
- Sheringham Distillery
- Sooke Brewing Company
- Sooke Oceanside Brewery
- Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses
- Swans Brewery, Pub & Hotel
- Tod Creek Craft Ciders
- Vancouver Island Brewing
- Victoria Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery
- Victoria Distillers
If you grew up in the 60s, 70s or 80s the idea of independent breweries, distilleries, wineries or cideries was pretty far-fetched. We were led to believe that only big companies made anything remotely drinkable – after all we all had friends who were either fermenting grapes or experimenting with barley and yeast at home. And unfortunately most of it was nasty! I will say this though - times have changed and home-made concoctions have vastly improved over the past few decades.
Bottom line though, it wasn't too many years ago that our selection for beer seemed limited to either Labatt’s Blue or Molson Canadian. Sure, the odd person maybe drank Red Label or a “premium” beer like Sleemans but we didn't even realize how few choices we had. We were naive beer drinkers!
Thanks to Emma at my local liquor store for helping me choose this seasonal delight!
Emma also recommended this beauty from the Peninsula!Fast forward a few years and we now have independent brewers selling their products in the coolers and on the shelves beside the “big guys”. And they are bravely going wherever their taste buds take them (and taking a good chunk of profits with them!).
According to Statistica, in 2018 Anheuser-Busch controlled 35.1 percent of the Canadian beer market, Molson Coors Brewing Company controlled 28.1 and “Other” controlled the remaining 36.8 percent.
That “other” category is comprised of all the small breweries and microbreweries who are shifting the balance. Once big brand loyal consumers are now jumping ship and lining up to enjoy distinctive, flavourful beers - with some very unique names - made locally in their own communities.
Here on Vancouver Island, we have an excellent variety of delightful locally produced alcoholic beverages with many of those businesses offering tasting room and tours, and some available at local farmers markets. Listed below are the Greater Victoria breweries, distilleries and cideries.
4 Mile Brewing Company
- 199 Island Hwy, Victoria
- 250-479-3346
- Small local brewpub/microbrewery; uses the Peter Austin brick kettle brewing system
Axe and Barrel Brewing Co. (sadly out of business as of February 2020)
- 2323 Millstream Rd, Victoria
- 250-474-1989
- Made with local ingredients as often as possible
- Brewery lounge on the West Shore
Canoe Brewpub
- 450 Swift St, Victoria
- 250-361-1940
- Mainstays and seasonal beers
- Waterview patio
Category 12 Brewing
- 2200 Keating Cross Rd C, Saanichton
- 250-652-966
- Northwest & Belgian inspired ales
- Tours & tasting room available
Driftwood Brewery
- 476-336 Hillside Ave, Victoria
- 250-381-2739
- Local since 2008
- Brewery tours unavailable
Hoyne Brewing Company
- 102-2740 Bridge St, Victoria
- 250-590-5758
- Local craft beer since 2011
Ile Sauvage Brewing Co.
- 2960 Bridge Street, Victoria
- Belgian-style wild ales and sour beers
Lighthouse Brewing Company
- 836 Devonshire Rd, Victoria
- 250-383-6500
- Locally brewed craft beer since 1998
Merridale Cidery & Distillery
- 1230 Merridale Rd, Cobble Hill
- 250-743-4293
- Tasting bar
- Ciders plus small-batch craft spirits, fermented and distilled on site
Moon Under Water Brewery & Pub
- 350 Bay St, Victoria
- 250-380-0706
- Family owned brewery featuring German style brands with a North American flare
- Barrel-aged sour beer now available
Phillips Brewing & Malting Company
- 2010 Government St, Victoria
- 250-380-1912
- Family friendly tasting room overlooking packaging hall
- Expanding into a soda company, a distillery and a malting facility
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
- 2487 Mt St Michael Rd, Saanichton
- 250-544-4824
- Farm-based cidery
- Tours & tastings available
Sheringham Distillery
- 252 - 6731 W Coast Rd, Sooke
- 778-528-1313
- Small batch hand-crafted spirits made with 100% BC agricultural products
- Tours and tastings available
Sooke Brewing Company
- 2057 Otter Point Road, Sooke
- 250-642-0106
- Brewery tours and tasting room
Sooke Oceanside Brewery
- 5529 B Sooke Rd, Sooke
- 778-352-2739
- Brewery and tasting lounge
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses
- 308 Catherine Street, Victoria
- 250-386-2739
- Classic ales and specialty beers brewed since 1984
- Raspberries and beer? Find out why local craft beer enthusiast Emma Thomson puts this on the top of her must try list at Spinnakers
Swans Brewery, Pub & Hotel
- 506 Pandora Ave, Victoria
- 250-361-3310
- Since 1989
- British-style ales and German and Canadian beers
Tod Creek Craft Ciders
- 273 Prospect Lake Rd, Victoria
- 250- 882-1061
- Farm based micro-cidery
- On-site store and tasting room
- Call to book a tour
Vancouver Island Brewing
- 2330 Government St, Victoria
- 250-361-0007
- Uses locally-sourced ingredients when possible
- Brewing since 1984 with just two Brewmasters in that time
- Tasting room and tours available
Victoria Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery
- 761 Enterprise Crescent, Victoria
- 778-401-0410
- Scotch style single malt whisky
- Unfiltered beer that combines sessionable Scottish brews with West coast craft beer
- Guided tours, bar and lounge
Victoria Distillers
- 9891 Seaport Pl, Sidney
- 250-544-8217
- Handmade spirits in copper pot stills
- Tours, tastings and lounge
- Waterfront distillery
We want to hear from you!
Which one of the Victoria breweries, distilleries and cideries do you think is a must visit?
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