My local list of Victoria craft breweries.
I’ve lived here my whole life, and when I’m not working on one of my old VWs or dealing with real estate, I’m often checking what’s on tap around town. These are some Victoria breweries I’ve enjoyed over the years, with a few personal favourites mixed in.
The brewery list has changed a lot over the years, so I’ve kept this page focused on places I know around Greater Victoria. If you have a recent photo from one of these breweries, you can send it through the site.
Category 12 Brewing
Category 12 leans into experimental styles and regularly changes what’s on tap. Juicy Data is one I’ve ordered more than once, and I like stopping in on weekends to see what they’re pouring.
📍 View Category 12 Brewing on Google Maps
Driftwood Brewing Company
Driftwood has been brewing in Victoria since 2008.
Fat Tug IPA is the beer most people seem to know them for. Strong, hoppy, and smooth. It’s one of those beers that really helped put Victoria on the craft beer map. Bring your furballs after an exciting day at one of Victoria's dog parks, since Driftwood proudly invites dogs on their outside patio.
📍 View Driftwood Brewing Company on Google Maps
Herald Street Brew Works
Right downtown, Herald Street has a modern taproom and rotates through small-batch and experimental beers. If I’m meeting friends after work, this is often the first stop.
📍 View Herald Street Brew Works on Google Maps
Hoyne Brewing Company
I’ve always liked stopping at Hoyne. Dark Matter is the beer I tend to reach for on a cool evening, and I also order their Pilsner fairly often.
📍 View Hoyne Brewing Company on Google Maps
Île Sauvage Brewing Co.
Île Sauvage focuses on sour and barrel-aged beer. I wasn’t much of a sour-beer person at first, but this is where I started finding a few I liked. The taproom is modern and the beer list changes regularly.
📍 View Île Sauvage Brewing Co. on Google Maps
Lighthouse Brewing Company
Located just a bit out of the downtown core, Lighthouse has been a staple for a while with over 25 years of brewing experience.
Their Peninsula Pale has used malt from Field Five Farm on the Saanich Peninsula, which is a local connection I thought was worth mentioning.
📍 View Lighthouse Brewing on Google Maps
Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery
This place has a relaxed, artsy feel and works well for a casual night out.
Creepy Uncle Dunkel is one of the names I remember from their regular lineup.
Moon Under Water often has something different on tap. Their patio allows dogs, so it can work after a visit to one of Victoria's dog parks.
📍 View Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery on Google Maps
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
Phillips has been around since 2001. I remember grabbing a growler from their much smaller original operation before the brewery expanded. Electric Unicorn is one I know well, and the tasting room is usually busy.
📍 View Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. on Google Maps
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub
Spinnakers was the first brewpub I ever visited. I still associate it with the harbour view from the window seats, and it has been part of Victoria’s brewpub scene for a long time.
📍 View Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub on Google Maps
Swift Brewing & The Good Time Tasting Room
Swift is a newer addition to Victoria’s brewery list.
The tasting room is downtown and the tap list includes regular and rotating releases.
Its mix of regular and rotating taps means the list changes over time.
📍 View Swift Brewing & The Good Time Tasting Room on Google Maps
Twa Dogs Brewery
Twa Dogs is attached to the Victoria Caledonian Distillery and is known for Scottish-influenced beer styles.
📍 View Twa Dogs Brewery on Google Maps
Vancouver Island Brewing
This brewery has deep roots in the local scene and is Vancouver Island’s first craft brewery, starting in 1984. It’s been around for decades, and while the original brewery is no longer there (it's now brewed by Phillips Brewing) I still pop in for a pint of the Island Lager at a local craft beer house. They’ve stayed relevant with new styles while keeping that classic feel.
Whistle Buoy Brewing Company
Whistle Buoy is inside Market Square and can be easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
I like grabbing a pint and chilling on their patio in the summer. They rotate through small batches, so there’s always something new to try.
📍 View Whistle Buoy Brewing Company on Google Maps
Craft Beer Events and Community
Victoria doesn’t just have a strong brewery presence, it also hosts several events and festivals that showcase local beer culture:
- Great Canadian Beer Festival: ** Currently on Pause ** Held in September, this is one of the longest-running beer festivals in Canada and draws breweries and beer lovers from across the country. Info at gcbf.com
Craft Beer Tours
If you'd like to try several breweries in one afternoon without having to drive, consider joining a local brewery tour. Some popular options include:
I’ve watched Victoria’s brewery scene grow from a handful of small operations into a much larger part of the local food-and-drink industry. Business hours and offerings change, so check current information directly with each business before making plans.