Spinnakers Victoria Gastro Brewpub and Guesthouses
bySpinnakers Gastro Brewpub is located just a quick harbour ferry ride across Victoria’s inner harbour and is the home of Canada’s first purpose-built brewpub. Spinnakers produces at least ten different types of ales (not lagers) and they turn around new beers each month, often designing custom brews for community events and fundraisers.
During our visit we were lucky enough to sample some menu items, which were absolutely divine — I must have heard John say “Wow” at least a dozen times throughout the meal.
We had been to Spinnakers before but I think we just ordered pizza (which in itself is great) however we’re much happier to have explored the rest of the offerings.
Our flight of beer included a Hefeweizen, Stout, and Porter paired with lavender white chocolate truffles, dark chocolate raspberry, and another chocolate truffle topped with barley. Our final drink was a Brandenburg 3 paired with Saltspring Island cheese.
We also discovered that adjacent to the brewpub, just across the grassy courtyard, there is a selection of guest houses with lovely rooms. They include a continental breakfast, local paper and an assortment of baked goods supplied each morning. In the off season the guest rooms go for about $149 a night (and up) and in the peak summer months you can rent the entire Mary Street Cottage for $279.
Spinnakers offers local ingredients, fresh seafood, chocolate truffles made in-house, wines, vinegars (made on-site), and of course the hand-crafted beer. On top of that, they even create their own special mineral water. It’s a culinary delight in a comfortable atmosphere (darts and pool tables upstairs) with a glorious view of the harbour. Spinnakers is the epitome of eating local and is a highly recommended stop during your next trip to our Province’s capital.
Our stop at Spinnakers was during our Coast Hotels ‘New Victoria for New Media’ tour – view my Flickr set for more images.
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Yum! That food looks really REALLY good!
We stayed here for two nights on our honeymoon. Really great place, nice rooms, and good food. The salmon fish and chips was a really unique twist on the standard fish n chips.
The building we stayed in was the older one just across the parking lot from the restaurant. The rooms are well designed, have a wood fireplace, and no TV. Imagine that… forcing people to interact with each other!
I’d totally recommend this place and we will no doubt visit again sometime when we’re back in the area.
Spinnakers taps a cask of ale every week day at 4:00pm in the pub upstairs.
For an extraordinary dining experience, you can arrange ahead of time (give them a week if you can plan that far ahead) to have the sommelier create a tasting dinner at the kitchen bar. He will pair beer or wine, or even both if you want. You definitely want to come with an appetite.
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I bumped into this blog while planning a summer trip to Vancouver. My husband brews his own beer, and I think we will be staying here (availability pending).
Thanks, Rick, a keg tapping sounds like fun!