Swans Pub

We are staying in the hotel attached so thought we'd check it out. Fish and chips lunch special was really good, I really enjoyed the seasoning on the fries, We returned later for the Tuesday nacho special, it may look a little odd as I'm a weirdo and don't like anything but cheese on my nachos. Is a little pricey for some of the cocktails and food at regular prices, but seems on par with the area. I would recommend it.

Will is amazing. Very friendly and happy to help us with any questions we had. One of the best bartenders we've met. You should be proud to have him work at Swan's and he certainly deserves employee of the month!!!

I had the pleasure of being served by Rachel at Swans Pub, and I must say, she made the entire experience exceptional! From the moment we walked in, she greeted us with a warm smile and an inviting energy that set the tone for the evening. Rachel was incredibly attentive, ensuring that our drinks were always topped up and that we had everything we needed. She was knowledgeable, offering great recommendations that turned out to be spot-on. Her friendly demeanor and professionalism made us feel truly valued as customers. It’s rare to find service that goes above and beyond, but Rachel did just that. Whether it was her quick response to our requests or her ability to make conversation without being intrusive, she struck the perfect balance. If you’re visiting Swans Pub, I highly recommend asking for Rachel—you won’t be disappointed.

I went with my coworkers, I had gone before for some drinks but this time we ordered food. We were very surprised, the food is good, the portions are big enough to share and the prices are fair. The atmosphere is very varied, groups of friends, work groups and families with children. The staff's attention was very pleasant. Definitely a good place. I will recommend it.

Beer was a bit expensive. Pilsner was alright though as it was the only thing under $8 a pint. They discontinued most of their happy hour options and don't have much variety. Comments section said the pub used to be better. Oh well, i still enjoyed the visit. Art and interior were nice. The space is huge, great for big groups.

Enticed in by the wings offer... lovely atmosphere, we were served by Thalia, who was so super friendly and took key time to explain items on the menu, and telling us what her favourites from the menu where. She was very efficient, took pride in her work and just looked like she enjoys what she's doing. The wings were delicious, and we also got to try corn dogs for the very first time !! Will definitely recommend 👌🏾

I booked a large reservation at Swans for my rehearsal dinner/welcome party. I’ll admit I’m very Type A and love a quick email reply. Booking the space with the General Manager was very easy, but I had a hard time getting timely communication from the chef while planning the menu, but once everything was locked in, the actual event ran flawlessly. We pre-ordered food, had a self-serve wine station, and the service was phenomenal. Our server was incredible—she remembered names, stayed organized despite the crowd, and took amazing care of us. We started with 20 guests and grew to around 60 by the end of the night. Everything ran smoothly, and we felt so looked after. It was the perfect way to kick off the wedding weekend.

Genevieve was lights out great service. I didn’t eat but the drinks came out incredibly quickly and she was a delight as a server

This is a truly adorable place. We stopped in after wandering around, grabbed a drink, and we were able to hang out and chat as long as we needed. The bartender was unintrusive, but also very knowledgeable and had great recommendations. It was happy hour, so hello discount. I don't remember quite what it was, but happy hours always make me, well, happy. It was maybe a few dollars off the price (pro tip, tip your servers on the full amount!). I've seen other people say you might need reservations but we walked right in and sat at the bar, and it was actually not very populated at all. We didn't have food, but the menu looked good. Some people love Scotch Eggs (I am not one of them) and it's rare to see it on the menu. We meant to go back another day to get one, but ran out of time. If I make it back to Victoria any time soon, I'd love to have a real meal here.

Came here on a trip to Victoria. Tried the fish dip. It was good. Mildly smokey but light and delicious. Washed it down with a glass of beer and back on our exploration. Our service was quick and courteous with a casual ambiance. We loved the architecture of the building and the decor of various bikes.

Terrific service, delicious food and huge portions! We stopped by for an early dinner after walking by the day before.The food smelled good and it looked like a fun place to eat. We ordered a bacon cheeseburger and pepperoni pizza. The menu did note that it was large enough to share and they weren't kidding! It was a sheet pan pizza! The bacon cheeseburger was delicious and so were the fries! Highly recommend!

This is a funny place. They always have a Happy hour running except between 5-8 pm, which I think other pubs should consider doing. Decent food, had our first poutine in life here, and nice beer is what sums it up. They had an amazing hot sauce that we liked a lot so I asked them if we can buy a bottle from them. Lo and behold, they did sell us a bottle which was a bonus.

Our husbands stopped in to Swans as we walked around and explored. When we arrived the bartender let us move our tab to a table so we could all sit and enjoy our drinks and food. I kept noticing the waitress bringing the small cold coffee like drinks to other tables so I asked about them. Said told us all about the Victoria Shaft! We of course we had to order some, and that started our shaft addition. For the trip! The bar is beautiful, well kept, clean, and the staff were very attentive and friendly. We had a great time at Swans.

The decor is inviting--what looks like an old warehouse or factory turned into a relaxed bar and restaurant. On the negative side, the waitress didn't mention they were out of anything until after I read the menu. Then the cocktail and first two entrees I tried to order were out. She left me to further read the menu and took a very long time to return. But not as long as the time it took for the food to arrive after the order was put in. This wait time was a little surprising as there weren't many clients on site. But given the lack of attention to service, I guess I can see why.

We came here for just beer or two. I love the decor in the place, our server was very nice and knowledgeable in the menu and was able to make great recommendations. This is a wonderful place to people watch, and unwind. I gave it only three stars, because I have not tried the food yet.. I will be back and update when I do, but for now, I would pop in for a pint...

We had been referred to Swans Brew Pub by a bartender at a different so we were eager to try it. Friendly bartender, prompt service, good beer and wine selection. So far so good. We needed some fish and chips and had heard they were good here. The order came with two large pieces...perhaps too large. I think three smaller ones would have been easier to manage. Gosh was hot and flaky and the crust was awesome, at first. As frequently happens with battered fish, once it's had a chance to sit a few minutes, the moisture and oil from the fish steams the breading and it turns soggy. Do, not u expected, but still disappointing. Chips were hot, fresh and tasty. Tartar sauce was quite delicious on both fish and fries. Overall it was a pleasant experience and I would go back. Just maybe order something different along with the fries.

Hot & tired from walking & shopping, we stopped in to have a cold one. We were a group of 6 and needed info on their local brews, the staff was friendly, knowledgeable and offered samples. We ate the yummy fish dip with comes with fresh made beer bread and the potato skins with melted cheese. It's a great place to chill with friends!

The food here was great. Fish dip was flavorful and was the highlight of the lunch. Then we ordered fish n chips. Both pieces of fish were a great size considering the price. Probably the best food of our whole vacation. The beer was a little bland but still good but not great. Our server was very nice and easy to talk to. The only advice would be to put the right amount of tarter sauce with the fish. We ended up running out very quickly into the lunch and then there was a charge for more tarter sauce. Overall good place to stop by!

We stopped by Swans Pub after a day of visiting Butchart Gardens. The service was good, drink suggestions were helpful. The Old Fashioned was quite tasty. We ordered the Scotch Eggs and they were the best I've tasted. Nicely done! We will certainly come back when we visit Victoria again.

Beautiful pub!! Lots of great classic pub and new school local beers on tap! Service was prompt and friendly as well. It is a bit touristy but I'd still check it out for sure if you are a pub fare or beer drinker!

The fish made it 4 star lol great place great people... would come just to hang out and drink beer on a Friday night.

Stopped here during my visit and tried the smoked seas food dip and I tried the local blue buck beer that was recommended to me. I loved the atmosphere and would have loved to spend some more time. I did not take but one quick picture. If I ever make it back to Victoria I will stop and have a drink again.

Never again! This place is supposed to be on a good tour for a cruise ship. What do they offer for the $80 fee? A half glass of mediocre beer and some bread and cod paste. And the bad part of all this, they made pit group of 10 people wait for 30 minutes: no one greeted us or apologized for the wait. We watched other patrons get burgers and other food. We barely made it back to the ship. Royal Caribbean's should drop this place from its itinerary. Swan Dive is what I would call this one.

Shortly after arriving in Victoria and getting checked into our Airbnb, my boyfriend and I set out to explore our surroundings. Sitting kitty corner to our temporary residence, we quickly stumbled upon Swans. Although the building looks old, the pub itself opened in 1989. Still, it retains an old-time feel and I loved the ambiance of the wooden bar. Our visit here was short as we just had one drink before we moved on but we enjoyed our pit stop. I'm not a beer drinker so I asked for a cider instead. I ended up with a Tod Creek Island Light, which is a cider blended with kombucha. It was definitely light with only 3 percent alcohol but very refreshing. Not something you want to drink if you're hoping to get a buzz going but the perfect drink for a someone who wants the flavor over the alcohol content.

I walked into Swans Pub on a summer Saturday at 1PM and I thought they were closed, there wasn't one customer inside the pub, that should have been a warning right there... No one came out to greet me, nothing I had to walk around the establishment until someone said the bartender would be back in 10 minutes and for me to grab a menu and find a seat anywhere. It's august, peak tourist season...... Every dwtn restaurant and patio is PACKED 'except swans. This is my 4th and last visit to the establishment. I live next door and wanted to like this pub so bad but the food, in my eyes, is horrible... As someone who loves to support local and eat when I can I always try to give a restaurant 3-4 visits until I make my final option and todays lunch was it for me. I ordered the grilled chicken burger w/poutine (an additional $6 for minimal gravy and 6 baby nail-sized cheese curds, no I'm not lying, it was the most dismal poutine ever) The chicken burger was tasteless, the chicken thighs had skin in which I normally don't mind but the skin wasn't even crisped, it was soggy and rubbery... No seasoning on the chicken either so the bland taste came through with every bite. Mushroom undercook and dripping with moisture which then made the bun soggy and falling apart. I paid for the order and politely let my waitress know how bad the food was and that I wouldn't be back. I don't expect a meal for free if I am unsatisfied and after all 4 of my visits having dismal food, this is the end of for me trying Swans.

The beer was wonderful and the food was really good too. I got the chicken sandwich it was one of the best chicken sandwiches i ever ate! It was nice sitting outside.My husband loved his fish sandwich (it's basically like fish in chips but served on a roll) with fries too.

Loved their HH menu on food and beer. $3 for half pint was great way to try more than one type. Ample patio and huge interior. Good service also. It's an easy 10 minute walk along the shoreline from the Assembly building. Lots of restaurants to choose from around and great way to start the evening or meet with friends.

Not worth visiting since they did a dismal redecoration and stopped offering live music. It used to be such a lively, fun place, and now it's just sad. Even the new chairs are hard and cold.

We came here for lunch after spending the morning at the museum. Some of us walked over and others drove and found street meter parking nearby. The place wasn't that crowded so our group was seated quickly. Our waitress seemed to be a bit stressed but gave us great service. The manager came by our table during our meal to ask how things were. Nice touch. The atmosphere wasn't to loud so it was easy to talk. Although I do seem to recall some weird music playing at times. We ordered drinks and appetizers and a few of us ordered meals. The duck burger came with beer braised onions and brie cheese, the braised beef and Gnocchi was very filling and the pulled pork poutine made the rounds across the table as it was too big a portion for one person to eat. We also had the deep fried pickle spears and a few orders of their chicken wings. The apple parsnip soup came with fresh bread and had a strong parsnip taste to it. Overall it was a good experience.

Swans is such a cute, cozy and delicious spot! First of all, they were able to accommodate a large group of 16 without an issue. We made a reservation ahead of time and were immediately seated upon arrival. The interior is so cozy, with dim lighting and brick walls. Great spot for a date night! At first I was frustrated with our server. She was pretty rude to us, and answered our questions as though we should have already known the answer. Throughout our meal, however, she was a lot kinder and was actually starting to make jokes with us. Not sure why the flip, but glad it happened. The food is SO good! The veggie panini is super delicious and so was there root beer. I would love to come back here whenever I'm in Victoria!

Spilled a beer on myself, and they kindly asked if we'd like another one we said of course. Ended up paying for a beer I didn't drink. Manager hides behind the curtains letting bartender take all the blame. Sadly this affects her tip, when did restaurant owners stop to care for their guests. I'm from Texas so maybe it's just a Victoria thing. Not the best first impression.

This is a great place if you are just looking for a nice spot to have lunch. There is lots of choices on the menu and our waiter was very nice and helpful. The hamburgers where nothing above good but not awful. They tasted like they had been cooked and reheated so that is not a great sign of quality. The braised beef and mashed potatoes where delicious and very well made. They where brazed to perfections, tender to cut with a fork and the washed potatoes where flavorful and creamy. The butter noodles where very good but a little cold and overall very good. The noddles where not very filling but great for kids. This restaurant was good but don't rely on excellent food.

My wife and I had a 4 hour port visit at night on our Princess Cruise from Alaska. We took the 2 mile walk into town, and this brewpub was awesome, and they had happy hour while we were there. We sat down at a counter with a view towards the street, so we could people watch, while sucking down a flavorful IPA. Really good stuff. I had one more IPA and the service was awesome. Super nice. A great place for a couple beers in the quaint town of Victoria, B.C.

Stopped in for a growler and a drink because all the other breweries were closed at 6 PM. I ordered the Peach Ale, which was ok. There were no peach undertones. My hubby ordered the Swan IPA. It was decent. He tried the Phillip's IPA as well but wasn't as tasty, much more bitter than the first. Then we ordered a Pepperoni Pizza to go. It took a long time for it to come out, which explains why the pizza was overcooked. The pizza is thin crust, which means you should not leave in the oven too long. I shared my observation with our waitress (she agreed, and attempted to do something about the bill and always very apologetic). My suggestion for the chef was to NOT cook it too long. Anyways, she came back and said the best she can do is take 50% off the pizza. We waited nearly an hour for the first pizza and wasn't going to wait again for another as it t was already after 8 PM. The kids were done waiting and very hungry. Overall, I would not come back to this place. Do better about your cooking and train your staff about how good should be cooked and I may return someday. The waitress appeared to be new as she said and don't fault her. The two stars was for her effort. And zero stars for chef and management.

Swans, what can be said. It might be one if victorias oldest pubs. It hasn't changed, different crowd same amazing selection of in house brewed beers. Great selection of food. This is a must stop if you are in Victoria, for work or pleasure.

Had 2 "flights" that's 8 small glasses of beers. Waiter said they were 4 oz each, but seems like more like 6 or 7oz. Very nice way to try 8 different beers (among 3 people). The yam fries were quite good. As was the sauce (that's chipotle? ). The fish and chips were just like you would get in England (but I'm not totally convinced that's a great thing--fried breading on bland cod, but yes it was authentic British style, just like I've had in London, Warwick, Devon, and up towards the Wall). Staff was friendly, diligent, warm and helpful. When you experience staff like that and then read reviews critical of, presumably, the same people, you have to think you are learning more about the reviewer than the people being reviewed. It's a place worth a visit when in Victoria.

Swans was our first stop in our first evening in Victoria. I read a lot about this being one of the oldest breweries in the city, and it was absolutely hopping on a Friday night in August 2022. We were able to quickly get a seat on the outside enclosed area. The wait staff was fantastic, answering our questions about draft beer recommendations and the food menu. This brewery produces a lot of superb British style beers, and some great west coast IPAs. From a food perspective, we felt obligated to get a 2-piece fish and chips. It was really good, and the two big pieces of cod were nicely browned and not too overly battered. I would order it again if we returned.

We actually went to the liquor store instead. It was right next door to the pub. They sell their own beer at a good price and then have tons of other beers and wine to try. I really liked the the Swans raspberry. My partner liked trying a bunch of different Pilsners. Fun place to stop at.

We walked to Swans during our first evening in Victoria recently. It was about 5:30 pm, and finding a cold beverage, and possibly light dinner, was on our minds. This was our first time to Swans. The pub was very busy, and warm when we arrived, but thankfully, we were able to catch a table next to one of the windows open to the outside patio, and were able to get some fresh(er) air. After scrutinizing food and drink menus, we decided our visit would be a beverage break only. Daughter and I decided to try a flight of their beers, and opted for what they call the 'Taster Nest' - which included: India Pale Ale, Arctic Kolsch, S.O.S. Swans Oatmeal Stout, and Berry Ale. Mom craved a root beer float, but had no idea her craving could or would be satisfied. When daughter told our server, a root beer float it was to be, but with a rather cool addition - stout! She's not much of a beer drinker, but heh, this was a float, and she enjoyed it! I cannot say that daughter and I were as excited by our flight of tasters - they were just 'ok'. We wished each of their "personalities" had been more distinctive - the flavours seem a touch subdued, and a little 'flat'. If I had to pick what we enjoyed the most - for me, it was the India Pale Ale, and for she, the Berry Ale. It was fun to finally see and experience Swans, we had missed getting there during our past February stay in Victoria.

We were staying at the hotel so it was convenient to have a meal here. Though I'm not a beer drinker, one in our party is and really liked the beer he tried. They do have a nice happy hour but we went for lunch. They offer a variety of sandwiches, pizza, soup and entries. I had the Cuban sandwich which was pretty good though the crust was slightly burnt. The fries were pretty good. There is indoor seating our outdoor seating enclosed in glass. Prices were reasonable and service was good.

This place is awesome!!! The food was delicious and the beer selection was great! Service was with it and kept up with our drinks. The vibes of this place was great too with a lovely staff!

Stopped by here for a pre dinner drink when I was in town visiting. We didn't have any of the food but they had a wide drink selection, so there was something for everyone. I had a cider, which was great that they had some local options available. The rest of the group got the 4 beer sampler flight. It was nice that they were able to try a variety of different options. Our server was able to give some guidance. We enjoyed sitting in the glassed in outdoor area. Overall a nice place to grab a beer.

Nice big pub/restaurant. Stood and waited for a seat before being told it was self seating. Sign would have been nice. Server was prompt and friendly. My wife and I both ordered side salads as appetizers but they were brought out with the meals. The ranch was not good. The salad was not the best. I ordered the Bacon Mac & Cheese. Not good. Very dry. Only ate about 30% then had to stop. Hardly any flavor. Wife had the BBQ Salmon Steak. This was very well cooked and delicious. She said she liked her salad which had the vinaigrette dressing. She had a glass of wine which she said was tasty. Only other issue was some hipster talking loud enough for all to hear cursing every other word and talking about his friend "fuc*ing another friends wife!" He was ruining it for most seated in the area. Not the Pub's fault but they could have told him to tone it down. Update: Came back for another try. Had the cheeseburger and fries. Wife had the cheeseburger and yam fries. Both were great and the yam fries are a must. Upgraded review to 4 stars instead of 3.

Great food and service! We ordered: Margarita Pizza Corn dog appetizer Poutine Wife loved the poutine, for me the highlight was the pizza which I took home and ate into the following day. We were on travel at the time of visit, but would definitely return.

My family arrived right before happy hour and were seated right as it began. We took huge advantage of the specials and ordered 4 dozen wings (that goes fast when there's 6 hungry adults!), the fried pickles, and a round of drinks. They only had one beer on happy hour special (the stout), so I opted for the sampler. And good thing I did since I ended up not liking the beer I thought I would! And one was entirely undrinkable to everyone at the table. Some family members loved their drinks and others just made faces and tried to pass them off to another. The wings were seasoned and sauced well and had a good amount of meat on them. Fried pickles were entire spears that came out piping hot! After all the wings, we were still hungry so a few of us got entrees. The duck burger and pork poutine both got satisfactory nods, but the gnocchi in the short rib gnocchi were a bit too chewy for my brother's liking. I got the apple and parsnip soup which came with a side of homemade bread and butter. A bowl of this stuff was way too much for how strong the parsnip came through, but luckily my fiancé doesn't mind finishing what I can't eat! Service was good for a holiday week (we went a couple days after Christmas), and the atmosphere was clean and not too loud for conversation. Not the best meal for taste or price, but a solid 3-star experience. I imagine the patio is really nice when it's not so cold and windy!

Every time we venture north to Victoria we make a point of stopping here. The staff is always pleasant and helpful. The beer selection is varied and has something for every taste. Their ciders, wine and spirits are nothing to sneeze at either. For years we have been getting the yam fries that comes with a chipotle sauce. The fries are fresh, hot and not to salty. They use sea salt I assume since the touch is lite. The yam fries are a slim cut with skin. They are well done and tasty with out the sauce. The sauce is tangy and sharp. It has a rich mayonnaise base with a touch of ketchup and mustard before they add seasonings. The chipotle seasoning is a nice bite without overpowering the average palette. For a non spicy foodie even I can enjoy the bit with this sauce. The faculties are alway crisp and clean. Worth a stop if you are in the area!

We came here late on a Thursday night in August for some beers. We did not eat, so I'm basing this review on just the beers. I tried a few options, between the pale ale, amber, and a raspberry blonde. They were sold out of the IPA which based on the reviews below, seems to be the best of their offerings. I will admit that the raspberry beer was my favourite although nothing ground breaking, and both the pale ale and amber were quite boring and unremarkable. Service was friendly though, and the place was big enough to cater to our group so given the circumstance we were in, I'll give it a generous 3 star review - despite the fact I won't be rushing back should I come back to Victoria.

We love this place! We did not think we would end up eating there two days in a row but visiting Victoria during Christmas week with very few restaurants open and most completely booked we were so pleasantly surprised we were able to walk in on Christmas Day and be seated immediately. The manager was gracious and friendly, the waitstaff very cheerful. They had a special holiday menu and everything we ordered was delicious. I had the best Scottish egg I have ever had and they had a delicious vegan option shepherds pie on the menu which I ordered. The place is quite large but very cozy.

I went yesterday to Swans Brew Pub with my friends from abroad. The food was good but the service was a bit slow. I had the BBQ salmon. It comes with potato's but the potato's weren't good so I recommend ordering a side of fries. My friend order the fish and chips and it was great. The IPAs are amazing, and they have many different ones so you can choose a couple.

We came to Swans for brunch because the wait for Mole's was an hour and we had a ferry to catch. First of all, the location and patio was perfect. Super homely and inviting. The restaurant is part of a hotel and liquor store. It was not that busy but it took forever to get our drinks (and we had to ask 3 times for water). I ordered 1 egg ($2.50), half of a tomato ($2.50), a GF bun ($3.00), and a side of hash browns ($3.50). The food was ok but it's so ridiculous when places up charge for food. Especially mediocre food. My friend ordered the pancake stake that comes in a cast iron pan with bacon, blueberries, and green onions. It also comes with syrup on it but it was definitely dry. They do not provide any more syrup unless you specifically ask for it. My other friend ordered the margarita pizza which she enjoyed. The last meal was the Brewmaster's Breakfast (two eggs any style, choice of double smoked, bacon, bangers or chorizo sausage, breakfast potatoes, Swans special ale toast, beer jelly). It was a good size but the "beer jelly" was gross. It smelled like feet and she did not think it was right. Service was not good, especially for it not being that busy. The manager (a guy with an accent) was inappropriate. He was doing pull ups at the bar and when we left, he told us to have a good day. We said thank you and he responded with a smart comment. It made us uncomfortable.

Great atmosphere and service. Definitely a place to come back to. Dirty fish sandwich is the BEST.

Liked the beer. Really liked the scotch ale. The stout is pretty good as well. The other four I sampled were fine, but nothing like the first two in terms of quality and uniqueness. So give them a try. Also, get some Yam fries. these were some of the best I've ever had. The sauce they serve with them is a winner as well. They don't give you much and want a $1 for another ramekin. Which I sort of understand, but that does generate some ill will, when you don't serve a reasonable amount and then charge for more. Also got a salad, with berries. Other than the dressing coming off a truck it was pretty good. Supposed to be a vinaigrette but more like some creamy mess. Also had the smoked salmon pizza. Calling it a pizza is a bit of a sin. The crust is basically some preformed prepackaged cardboard. But the toppings were pretty good. But I think the capers on there was a bit of a miss. So stay away from the smoked salmon pizza and go for the dark beers and yam fries.

My first time at the Swans Brew Pub on Pandora! I had the slow braised beef shank with mashed potato, pan jus, pickled fennel, and mint. The beef was super tender, juicy, and packed with beefy flavour. The smoked west coast fish dip, made with smoked salmon and cod, caramelized onions, cream cheese, and served with beer bread crostini, is also nice. The flavours of the fish is nicely balanced with the smokiness without being overpowered, although the portion size is a bit small for the price. Also pictured is the Buck Breakfast Sandwich, which I didn't get to try, with Canadian "peameal" bacon, an over easy egg, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, on a toasted brioche bun. I did get a taste of the Chicken Cheddar Ale Soup that came with the sandwich, made with roasted chicken, cheddar, ale, leeks and corn - very hearty flavours yet not nearly as thick or heavy as I had expected it to be. Can't really comment on the quality of their beverages as I don't drink, but overall, this was a pleasant dining experience that I'd recommend!

WOW, FABULOUS! This place may be our favorite of the trip! We started out thinking it would be "just a place to grab a seat and a beer. 2.5 hours later Jillian was still smiling and talking beer and whiskey with us and helping us craft beer combos. I love what Sean O'Donnell's in Washington state calls "the Perfect Irish" (Guinness and Smithwicks half and half) and wanted something Guinness and... but they didn't have Guinness or Smithwicks. What they did have was an Excellent porter and a great raspberry lambic... I am not a fruity beer fan, but 3 pints later it is still on my list of favorites. The bourbon list had a couple of great surprises as well for those in our party who seek the best bourbons, and the scotch list was well rounded. We tried the scotch eggs on happy hour, it's one our favorite foods and one we have tried in many places. While the spicier sausage was a surprise, it was a good one! This is a gem of a place, get there if you can and tell Jillian her beer brewing friends said hello! The whole Swans team was welcoming, friendly and on top of their game!

Prompt wait service and explanation of craft beers available. I ordered the caesar kale salad with grilled salmon. The spouse got tomato bacon soup and bacon banger sandwich. Grilled salmon was melt in your mouth good. Loved the pepper blonde beer, easy to drink and reminded me of my dads beers.

My husband and I were in Victoria to celebrate our anniversary and do some beer tourism. This happened to be the first brewpub we stopped at during our trip and I think it was the best. My review is based solely on the beer since that's all we had here. We sat down here and bellied up to the bar. Our bartender, whose name is escaping me, was awesome. We decided to go for it and try one of each beer they had on tap. What else is vacation for? This produced quite the line of beers and we started in. The beers were all pretty good. Some either my husband and I didn't enjoy, but that was usually since the style wasn't our favorite. As we worked our way through the beers, the bartender explained the history of brew pub, special things about the different beers, and even poured us little samples of other things. He gave us a sample of their root beer, which was also delicious. And he made a little concoction of the root beer plus the stout. OMG it was amazing! Overall, it was a great experience and the hubby and I wished we had some more time in Victoria so we could have come back here!

I wanted this place to be great since it was right next to where we were staying, but I was not impressed. They had 2 IPAs on the chalk board but neither were on. That's lazy in my opinion, or poor management of the bar. I don't know why they can't anticipate that a keg can run out and have another ready, or have an alternative available. I probably won't go back, there are quite a few other places within walking distance. I didn't try their food because I figured that if they put as little effort into the food as they did their beer it probably wouldn't be very good.