Victoria & Gulf Islands Breweries
4 Mile’s inventive beer gets admirable distribution, but for the full experience, head to the historic, atmospheric Four Mile House to try them at the source.
The brewers’ dance that moved Andrew Tessier out to Langford from Swans certainly has paid off. His beer list is as good as his mustache is splendidly curvy.
Sooke’s third brewery (and B.C.’s fifth with a dog-themed name) is based on a rural property with an on-site store and picnic area for sampling.
One of the best craft brewery patios in the province, Canoe's beer offerings include its four mainstay beers as well as a rotating seasonal and single-batch creations from the Windward Series.
Part art, part science, brewing is the ideal field for science nerds with flights of fancy—like biochemistry and microbiology doctorate Michael Kuzyk, who recently got even more cellar space to fill with his delicious experiments.
After several expansions over the years, Driftwood has gotten bigger and more widely available, but they’ve never lost their local flavour and unmistakably West Coast appeal.
This small batch nano brewery nestled away on a farm in North Saanich uses 90 per cent homegrown ingredients.
V8L 5S9
The legendary Frank Appleton engineered and built B.C.'s first craft brewery and trained the first generation of B.C. craft brewers, including Sean Hoyne.
This long-awaited brewery is focusing on Belgian-style wild and sour beers, so expect lots of Lactobacillus, Brettanomyces, Pediococcus and secondary fermentations with fruit.
V8T 4T3
A Victoria stalwart and long a beacon for great beer, Lighthouse has been brimming with brewing ideas for more than 20 years.
Only open on weekends, this tiny operation is a destination for beer lovers. Owners Michael and Annette pour their heart and soul into every beer.
The Moon has officially entered a new phase: their on-site distillery has risen. But we’re not counting on this recent development eclipsing Clay Potter’s brews.
Phillips has never lost sight of its dedication to sustainability, deliciousness and good causes. The latter two combine in its annual benefit brew, which this year honours the B.C. SPCA.
It’s that time of year for Salt Spring’s annual gruit—their hop-less ancient ale that features wild herbs, allegedly brewed on a full moon.
SBC’s founders came from all walks of life— there’s a doctor, a forester, a pilot, a mechanic and a brewer—but were all united by a passion for craft beer.
SOB’s four core beers should now be available across Vancouver Island. At the tasting room, Garritt Lalonde’s brewing up experimental brews for weekly cask nights.
Canada’s original brewpub continues to be one of B.C.’s best places to drink a beer complemented by top-notch food featuring locally sourced ingredients.
Victoria’s venerable hotel-brewery features sweet rooms, an atmospheric pub and a beer lineup that’s always evolving thanks to head brewer Chris Lukie’s small-batch releases.
Victoria Caledonian has a licenced area inside the brewery where you can enjoy a pint or a dram of whisky and watch the brewers at work.
VI’s rebrand saw a bold new look for one of the province’s oldest breweries, including a renovated tasting room. Parallel 49’s Danny Seeton also joined the team as production manager and research and design brewer, working alongside longtime brewer Ralf Pittroff.
