Greater Victoria breweries bring home more Canadian Brewing Awards

Greater Victoria is a haven for adventurous and delicious craft beer. This fact was confirmed once again when breweries across the South Island came out victorious at this year’s Canadian Brewing Awards.

It’s no surprise.

Last year, Island breweries also won big at the Canadian Brewing Awards with 15 prizes; and last fall, Vancouver Island Brewing, Ile Sauvage Brewing Co., Phillips Brewing, and Small Gods Brewing were featured amongst the top winners at the BC Beer Awards.

Check out this year’s winners.

Small Gods Brewing

Sidney’s Small Gods Brewing Co. won big with a gold in the category of Session Ale for its Promised Land and a silver in European Style Lager (Pilsner) for Neverending. Promised Land is a hoppy and citrusy hazy pale ale with a lower alcohol percentage. Neverending is a German-style pilsner brewed with heritage malt that has the addition of bitterness.

Address: 9835 Third St. Sidney

Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 11am-9pm;
Thursday-Saturday, 11am-10pm

Instagram: @smallgodsbrewing

Hoyne Brewing Co.

Hoyne Brewing Company won gold in the Dry Stout category for its Finnegans Irish Stout. This roasty dark stout is meant to be a tribute to James Joyce and was brewed to be the perfect accompaniment to a cold winter’s day.

Address: 2740 Bridge St #101, Victoria

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11-6pm

Instagram: @hoynebrewing

Moon Under Water Brewing

Moon Under Water won silver in the category of Kellerbier/Zwickelbier, a German beer with cool lagering temperatures, for its Potts Pils. This north-German-style pilsner is brewed with local malt from Field Five Farm. Potts Pils has previously won eight awards at the Canadian Brewing Awards.

Address: 350 Bay St, Victoria

Hours: Everyday, 11:30am-late

Instagram: @moonbrewerydistillery

Whistle Buoy Brewing

Whistle Buoy also went home with a silver, placing second in Historic/Regional Beer for Garden City Fieldberry. This juicy sour is an ode to Victoria and it features locally grown berries including strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

Address: Market Square, Victoria

Hours: Everyday, 12pm-late

Instagram: @whistlebuoybrewing

Sooke Oceanside Brewery

Sooke Oceanside Brewery secured bronze in Bock-Traditional for its Graveyard of the Pacific. This malty and bitter German bock features notes of caramel and evokes the Juan de Fuca Strait and the 2,000 ships it has claimed.

Address: 5871-A Sooke Rd, Sooke

Hours: Everyday, 12-8pm

Instagram: @sookebrew

Ile Sauvage Brewing

Ile Sauvage Brewing Co. also won bronze in the category of Fruit Beer or Field Beer for its Raspberry Sour. This golden sour features BC raspberries, making it the perfect summer beverage.

Address: 2760 Bridge St., Victoria

Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 12-8pm
Friday-Saturday, 12-10pm
Sunday, 12-7pm
Monday-Tuesday, 2-8pm

Instagram: @ilesauvage

The South Island’s beer scene has been winning awards for years, but our spirits industry is also gaining more recognition. Last month, Esquimalt Vermouth & Aperitifs won World’s Best Dry Vermouth and World’s Best Semi-Sweet Vermouth at the 2023 World Vermouth Awards in London, UK.

Read more about how world-class vermouth is made out of a small local warehouse in Esquimalt.