After some much-needed washing up at the hostel, I headed out on a short bike ride to Canoe Brewpub for dinner and, of course, a sampling of all their beer.  Their full name is Canoe Brewpub, Restaurant and Marina, but that’s a bit too much of a mouthful for me.  They were pretty busy (it being a sunny, warm evening probably didn’t hurt), but there were a few open stools at the bar for losers like me out on a Saturday night by themselves.  The building was pretty slick, and the crowd was pretty well-heeled — a little more upscale than what I’m used to.  Or maybe I’m just spoiled by how casual Seattle is.  Then a charity event started featuring a local band, and I suddenly wished I’d brought along some earplugs — they played the standard, loud, bar rock.  Made for an easy decision about whether to stick around and have a full pint of something or head to the next place.

A “fleet” of samplers at Canoe Brewpub — Victoria, BC

Rob’s Picks
• Beaver Brown Ale – 5.4% – Good dry brown with some chocolate and coffee flavors.
• River Rock Bitter – 5.2% – Floral aroma. Big floral hops, malty, and a bit sweet. Very drinkable.

The Rest
• Red Canoe Lager – 5.2% – Light and sweet with a touch of floral hops, but not as crisp as I’m used to. Bit of a bitter finish.
• Siren’s Song Pale Ale – 5% – Hoppy aroma. Somewhat bitter, but balanced by maltiness and breadiness. A bit watery, though.
• Southern Cross IPA – Made with Australian hops. Very floral, though not as big as the River Rock. Darker in color but lighter in body. A bit maltier, too. Pretty smooth. Floral bitterness lasts a while.

They didn’t have any logo glasses in stock, unfortunately (the bartender even went searching through the store room for several minutes), so I’ll be re-visiting at some point.  Maybe for lunch, though, or disguised in some khakis.