Victoria's Craft Beer Map Hits the Streets

Hitting the streets this week is Victoria’s newest guide to local beer, the Craft Beer Map. Created in partnership by the Downtown Victoria Business Association, local author Joe Wiebe, and Tourism Victoria, the Craft Beer Map directs beer lovers to taphouses, breweries and tours.
“I am very excited to see the Craft Beer Map in print,” says Joe Wiebe, author of Craft Beer Revolution: The Insider’s Guide to B.C. Breweries and a co-founder of Victoria Beer Week who spearheaded the project with the assistance of thenumber creative. “When I took the idea to the DVBA and Tourism Victoria, they jumped on board right away, recognizing the benefits immediately.”
The Craft Beer Map is a comprehensive map of taphouses in downtown Victoria plus local and regional breweries, cideries and even a meadery. The regional coverage extends to Salt Spring Island in the north and Duncan to the west.
“With more than 15 member craft breweries and brewpubs, Tourism Victoria is pleased to support this growing sector,” says Paul Nursey, President & CEO of Tourism Victoria. “Our organization recently added a Craft Beer, Cider & Spirits section on our website, which receives 1.2 million unique visitors per year. These breweries and brewpubs offer that local experience customers crave when visiting our destination.”
For taphouse and craft beer business owners, this map points beer lovers to where they can connect with Victoria’s home grown beers. With 12 breweries locally and another six in the region, taphouses in Victoria can showcase the very best of Southern Vancouver Island beers.
“With so many cultural tourists visiting The Drake Eatery, the Craft Beer Map has instantly become a valuable tool to promote the multiple locations (most within easy walking distance of The Drake) that showcase Victoria’s craft beer scene.”
Downtown Victoria celebrates local craft beer with eight tap houses that share our west coast culture through locally crafted beers.
“Downtown Victoria is home to eight tap houses which offer visitors and residents access to our locally crafted beer,” says Suzanne Bradbury, Chair of the Downtown Victoria Business Association. “This map shows people where they can get a taste of Victoria’s craft beer scene.”
The history of brewing here goes back to 1859, when Victoria’s first brewery, Victoria Brewing opened initially at Swan Lake and later moved their operation to Government and Discovery.  Victoria is also home to Canada’ first contemporary brewpub, Spinnakers, which has led the craft beer revolution since 1984. Now, as B.C.’s “craft beer capital” with popular annual events such as the Great Canadian Beer Festival, which takes places each September, and Victoria Beer Week, which will return for its third year next March 5-13, 2016.
The Craft Beer Map is available at the DVBA’s office in Centennial Square, Tourism Victoria’s Visitor Centre and other locations throughout the region.