Victoria breweries! Can’t visit the City of Gardens and not check out some of the many fine local craft beers around. Here I visited gardens of a different sort… BEER GARDENS!
WHISTLE BUOY BREWING COMPANY
Located in Market Square this brewery was a great excuse to go downtown and begin my beer hopping journey. Get it? Hopping? Yes you can say ‘I see what you did there…’ Annnnyway, ordered a flight of course which consisted of a Scandinavian Golden Ale, a West Coast Pale Ale, a Hazy IPA, and a Sour Gose! I’m just gonna say right now that the Hazy IPA style has been my fave lately so it’s probably going to win everywhere that I go that has a Hazy available for tasting! Got myself a comfy schnazzy hat too to shield from the summer sun while adventuring.
THE DRAKE EATERY & CRAFT BEER PARLOUR
Also at Market Square, I had the Pueo Pale Ale which is from the Maui Brewing Company in Hawaii. This may very well be my first Hawaiian beer and I gave it a 4 out of 5 on Untappd which means I thought it was good! Captain Rex and his shock trooper companion came to partake in the taste testing. We sat outside at a table under a tree and were being watched!
HERALD STREET BREW WORKS
Location self explanatory, ordered a flight here as well. Oddly they did not have many of their own beers on tap. I think they were in between fresh brews, oh well! I did get to sample two of them though, the Resinator West Coast Pale Ale and the Goodness Me Oatmeal Stout. Not bad, not bad! Stouts in the summer though, I’m glad it was only a taster! Delicious to the last drop.
The other two sampled were both from Steel & Oak Brewing Company from New Westminster, BC. Still local enough! The Get Loose IPA and S & O’s Dark Lager. Pretty good. I like when breweries support other breweries by carrying each other’s brews. Good times!
PHILLIPS BREWING & MALTING COMPANY
How can a craft beer lover visit Victoria and not go to Phillips?? They can’t!! Probably one of YYJ’s most well-known breweries, their brews are even readily available in Calgary liquor stores. And their Glitterbomb Hazy IPA is definitely my fave! I have had it numerous times previously and said I wouldn’t add it to my sampler flight in order to free up a spot for another beer to try. NOPE! Couldn’t be done. Flight consisted of Glitterbomb, One and Done Peach IPA, Amnesiac Double IPA, and DINOSOUR. All were very tasty. Grabbed an Electric Unicorn beach towel for good measure.
LIGHTHOUSE BREWERY
One of my most favourite breweries, probably because they are the creators of Race Rocks Ale which has been for a while one of my TOP 3 FAVOURITE BEERS OF ALL TIME. I’m sure you can guess my other two (Granville Island Brewing’s Lions Winter Ale and Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale), but this little writing is about Lighthouse!
Pretty sure last time I was here there was no fancy artwork or signage on the outside of the building, making it much more difficult to find at the time. Came mainly for the merch this time and they did not disappoint! Summer and winter wear along with a clever Night Watch Coffee Lager mug! That coffee lager is a great tasting beer too. It’s strong tasting but lighter than you think it’s going to be. And now my Watch begins!
THE MOON BREWPUB
Went to Moon. Been meaning to hit up this place for a long time and finally got there! It was nice to sit on the patio despite being on a very busy street. Had a flight of tasters, nice touch on the moon-shaped holder! Beers were Light Side of The Moon Lager, Moon Juice Sour, Boys in the Yard Milkshake IPA, and the Creepy Uncle Dunkel Dark Lager. All good! I even gave the sour a 4 out of 5!
TWA DOGS BREWERY
Next up: Twa Dogs Brewery in Saanich. Sorry Distillery, wasn’t interested but the beer was good! Had a flight here of the following brews: Dos Perros Lager, Drouthy Neibor IPA, Life & Liberty Pale Ale, and the Strawberry Daiquiri Sour. I liked this sour here as well even though I’m not a huge fan of the style. All of these were tasty and refreshing!
CATEGORY 12
I’ll send a shoutout to Category 12 in Saanichton, stopped in for a 6 pack (or was it a 4 pack?) of their Hazy IPA. Been to this brewery a few times but didn’t stick around this time. Had to try the Hazy though and it was worth the stop!
Aaaand that’s all for this round! Drive safe and stay safe. Thank you Vic BC for the cheers and beers!
