Vancouver Island Brewing

These guys got a 5 star bump for the vibe and the fact that they sell limited releases on site!

We wandered in during our beer(ish) tour and we're happy to learn they have tastings available! They were offering a total of 8 beers which made it perfect for two of us to come in! Sample from lightest to dark and with explanations of each, it was an excellent $5 each! They have a focus on hoppy ales but also had some fun imperials! The Imperial peach IPA was a "grab one for later" good beer and the NW pale ale was delicious!

The actual bar wasn't huge but had a great feel and was roomy enough for about 30 people. We had a nice chat with some folks at our table and after the flights bought a couple for Home. The Imperial Peach IPA was magic and the Orange Cherry Rye ale - their take on a Manhattan was not as epic, but still good!

All said and done, the beer was solid, the converse pleasant and the digs cool. Great spot!

Our last stop before boarding the ferry at Swartz Bay to Vancouver:

We had an enjoyable time at Vancouver Island Brewery while waiting for the ferry. Lucky for us, we were able to savor the last few days of warm sunshine on their patio. We went during happy hour and flights were only $5. There were a lot of choices including Lemon Drop Star Anise Sour and Merri Berri Cider. The food menu is limited. We ordered a bag of chips and a jar of salsa and both were very fresh and tasty. One jar was not enough. We ordered another one to finish off the rest of the chips. They also allowed us to bring outside food to pair with their full flavoured beers.

On the table:
Happy hour flights: Tuesday-Thursday 3-6pm 5

Adrianas Corn Chips & Justos Mango Jalapeno Salsa (| GF | Made in Victoria) 10

Good beer ! Had the Tropical Thiol IPA ..... and a few others! Good beer and the taproom manager was a great guy.

Cute small brewery with some good beer and nice people! Went on a Thursday afternoon and the place was full!! The beer was very good and I even got some free samples. Chill atmosphere, would come back!

The staff here was very nice and helpful. The beer was pretty good too. The location is a bit inconvenient but there is plenty of parking.

Stopped in for a quick beer after visiting Butchart Gardens. The Hefeweizen was great. Asked for a lunch recommendation and the young man working there offered what was a terrific choice. Moon Underwater Brewery and Distillery. Thanks for the great food recommendation and the terrific beer at VI Brewing!

This brewery is one of the oldest in town.

Friendly staff and nice selection of beers.

I have never seen an automatic growler filling machine before. So cool!

Overall - pretty solid beers available here.
The Lychee Saison and the Hazy IPA were both phenomenal. Admittedly some of the others left something to be desired which is why I'm hesitant to give 5 stars.

Bonus points for a nice and bright tap room with adequate seating and bathrooms, and centrally located making it an easy stop among a day of brewery tours. Worth a stop!

Nice brewery with solid beers. My husband and I tried two flights to sample all eight beers on tap. Most of what we tasted had good body and flavor. The Hazy IPA was probably my favorite .

The service was super friendly and they were willing to answer any questions we had. The space however could use more seats. Most of the tables downstairs lacked stools, only one table had a bench. Unless you count the four chairs upstairs.

The beer is definitely worth coming here to check out.

A great local brewery with awesome beer!
Hermann's Dark Lager is the best!
My boyfriend and I came during the Open House and had a great time!