As much as the city’s drinks scene may be changing, it is still home to several near-iconic beer destinations, such as Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub.

The third brewpub to open in Canada and the oldest survivor of those early years of craft-brewing, Spinnakers has been quenching the thirst of Victorians for almost 30 years. Along the way it has both evolved and expanded – giving a new meaning to the term B&B, patrons can now take a beer to their bed in one of the on-site guest rooms – but at its heart remains the brewery.

While the pub has recently begun serving guest beers from other Victoria brewers, as well as the occasional mainland wayfarer, the house-brewed ales are still the way to go here, and nothing speaks to Spinnakers’s storied history quite like Mitchell’s ESB, a mildly nutty and highly quaffable Extra Special Bitter that has remained a mainstay since Day One. 308 Catherine St.; spinnakers.com