From its inception by William Steinberger, a German immigrant who traded his gold rush dreams for golden brews, Victoria Brewery has been a tale of ambition, enterprise, and transformation. After sprouting its roots near Swan Lake, the brewery took a bold step closer to the heart of the city, where it quenched the thirst of a rapidly growing Victoria.

Ownership of this iconic brewery changed hands a few times. From the savvy Charles Gowen to the pioneering trio of Vogel, Loerz, and Himmen, each brought their unique zest to the brew. Then entered the dynamic German duo of Ludwig Erb and Joseph Loewen, who catapulted the brewery into its golden era. Their most impressive achievement? An exclusive ale contract with Victoria's imperial forces.

The brewery eventually evolved into the grand Victoria-Phoenix Brewing Company, merging tradition with innovation and setting the bar high enough to give even the Union Brewery a run for its malt.

Alas, the brewery's tale took a bitter turn. Due to the First World War and Prohibition, a massive consolidation effort took place across Canada and the US merging most remaining small scale breweries into Carling O’Keefe, Labatt and Molson. Unfortunately, the majestic Victoria Brewing Company building met its fate when Molson purchased the property, demolishing the architectural gem and letting Victoria's rich brewing heritage fade away like foam on an abandoned pint.

We aim to rekindle that lost spirit. Our vision is to re-establish the Victoria Brewing Company, spotlighting Victoria's deeply rooted brewing traditions for a new generation of ale aficionados.

Let’s raise a glass to the future as we toast to the past!