Victoria Real Estate Blog

If you love beer, you will want to visit the breweries found throughout the Victoria area. Craft brews have become very popular and the true beer enthusiast loves to try something new and local. Here's a look at two of the best breweries in Victoria for beer lovers to enjoy.

Driftwood Brewery

This brewery became a part of the BC craft beer world in 2008. They have since become one of the top choices as they push the envelope with very unique styles and different ingredients. In just a few short years, Driftwood Brewery has become one of the finest breweries in the entire country.

Two former brewers from Lighthouse Brewing Company started Driftwood Brewery: Jason Meyer and Kevin Hearsum. They both became sick of brewing the same thing over and over again. Since they started the brewery, they have created an impressive line-up of beers including:

• Driftwood Pale Ale
• Crooked Coast Altbier
• Blackstone Porter
• Fat Tug IPA - Winner of the Canadian Beer of the Year award in 2011
• And More!

Along with their regular beers, they products seasonal brews, such as the Singularity Russian Imperial Stout and the Sartori Harvest IPA. Driftwood Brewery also produces a line of sour beers and barley wines.

Vancouver Island Brewery

As a mainstay on the BC beer scene, the Vancouver Island Brewery was one of the first breweries in the area. It was started in 1984 by some beer enthusiasts in the area. They used to only create draught-only beers for pub customers, but that has since changed.

The company moved in 1995 to a larger location in Central Saanich. They sell about 80% of their beer on the island, still.

Brews from the Vancouver Island Brewery include:

• Piper's Pale Ale
• High Trail Honey Ale
• Sea Dog Amber Ale
• Hermann's Dark Lager
• Vancouver Islander Lager
• And More!

They also create a list of seasonal choices including the Dough Head, Gingerbread Ale, Storm Water Winter Lager and Hermannator Ice Bock, which was voted as the best beer in B.C.

Along with their regular brews and seasonal selection, this brewery is known for small-batch, limited release beers. They usually hold an event for these releases and once they are gone, they are gone.

Both breweries provides tours and plenty of great brews to try. If you love beer and you want to try something local, check out a few of the beers from Driftwood Brewery or the Vancouver Island Brewery.