Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse

We grabbed a flyer advertisement at port. We saw the Unilocal reviews. And said, why not? And I am so glad we did! First off, the indoor-​outdoor open space is flat-​out classic. I love the rustic look and the long community table inside. And the outdoor deck quietly classy. You’ll feel a breeze coming from the water and gaze at the mountains beyond. Granted, you’re not going to be footsteps from the water but you’ll get a birds-​eye landscape view and enjoy it.
The servers are so easygoing. I feel like I’m in wine country now. They tell you to have a seat anywhere and take a load off. And somehow they set the stage to RELAX everyone through their ‘easy breezy .its all good’ customer service. Next thing you know, I’m sampling cider and feeling groovy. Haven’t checked the time at all. New people arrive full of energy and after the servers settle them at a table you watch them oooooze with relaxation within minutes. What did they put in this cider?! Hahha.
Get the long flight and share it with 2 – 4 people. For me, the ciders were fine. I didn’t fall in love with any. But it was a fun adventure to sample and learn more about the apple world. Order a plate of cheese and crackers to nosh on. The cheese was outstanding, marbled in maple and brown sugar. And the toasted bread crackers were hearty and delicious. So good. I wanted to buy some and take home with me. And by the way, there is shop pantry inside where you can purchase things to take home.
We relaxed in the breeze downing beverages and noshing on charcuterie. What else do you want?

What a treat! The views are spectacular and the cider is delicious!
We tried the cider at restaurant in Tofino and we had to come in!
Be aware, however, there is a limit to how much cider you can order and drink in the tasting room per law… we took a taxi and were ready to open a few bottles…

What a beautiful place! The view and the building. We shared the 9 sample taster which was really interesting, I drink beer more myself so I learned a lot about cider. I liked a couple and we bought a few bottles to take home. The staff working there were so friendly and laid back, I wish we hadn’t eaten before coming here because that charcuterie plate sounded amazing. Stunning view of the water and a nice quiet relaxing atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back with my cider loving friends next time I’m on the island! Walked around the beautiful grounds and took a few pictures, must be an amazing wedding venue.

Not like any place I have ever been. Great ciders and beautiful surroundings. I highly recommend a visit.

Wonderful place! Friendly owner! Beautiful view! Wonderful cider! This is a great place to try out. A great selection and great taste! I even found bottles of Sea Cider cider in a Seattle store, so they must be popular with other people, too! You can’t go wrong with this place!

We picked up a brochure on the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria and decided that cider tasting would beat ferry food. We were happily correct with this amazing spot. We have tried ciders near home and elsewhere on Vancouver Island and were always a bit disappointed, but not here! Sea Cider has an amazing selection from very dry to very sweet and if you can’t find at least one to love, just open a Coors and go back to sleep. We shared the 9 taste sampler with the 3 dip appy tray. The 9 unique ciders comprised all but 2 of their selection including the seasonal Wassail. We sat in the tasting room overlooking the water and orchards and purred. By the way, if you purchase 3 bottles to go you get a sweet discount and a nifty bag.

Beatiful location and an amazing array of ciders. Do the Long Flight and get something to eat. A wonderful intro to the Saanich Peninsula.

What everyone else said is spot on. We stumbled onto this place and it was so perfect and idyllic. We spent a lazy afternoon sipping cider on their back porch and noshing on the ploughman’s platter. Gorgeous, delicious and so very friendly. A must!

If you like cider and/​or you’re looking for a nice spot to enjoy the scenery, I would definitely stopping here. We road bikes from Victoria, which is very doable (it takes an hour or two, depending on your speed) if you follow the Lochside Trail and then follow the signs for Sea Cider. The two of us split the full flight, which is 9 ciders, and a gluten free snack plate. Having the full flight was a nice way to try lots of things, the gluten free option on the snacks was a welcome surprise, and the view from the porch is wonderful.

At the risk of sounding silly, I have to admit that I had no idea what to expect here. I am not a fan of beer so I can only mildly tolerate beer ciders. But as a Martinellis-​lover, poppin’ bottles of apple cider is definitely my thing. But cider with alcohol? Woah.
Sea Cider was just amazing! My mom and I opted for the flight of 9 ciders, and a plate of dips with gluten free crackers (thanks for looking out for the gluten freebies y’all!) I loved all of the ciders I tried but the rum and blackberry were my favorites. Their salmon dip is also super delish. Definitely don’t pass on this gem during your visit to Brentwood Bay. And make sure to sit outside in the summer and witness in the breathtaking views of the Bay.

Great tasting options and nibbles to go with a full cider tasting! If you’re visiting Saanich and enjoy cider, why not stop by? Several delicious ciders, 4 stars because not 100% of them were to our taste, but there was plenty to chose from, a lovely view from the cider house, and friendly-​cozy interiors. They even were okay with us having our own snacks (d/​t food allergies), see some other great reviews to learn more about their awesome cider-​pairing snacks.

We two visited around noon on a sunny Tue in early Sep.
We and another couple had the place to ourselves. The server said it can be very crowded on weekends.
AMBIANCE: 4.5. Nice area to sit inside and outside. We sat on the sunny deck, facing east toward Haro Strait, overlooking apple trees. Invisible but slightly audible, the freeway lay below.
SERVICE: 4.0.
FOOD: We shared a long flight (nine glasses) and charcuterie. Though not apple cider fans, we enjoyed the tasting. The charcuterie was tasty, with locally-​sourced sausage, three cheeses, chocolate, apple jelly, salmon/​dill/​cream cheese, and breads.

The Sea Cidery is located about 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria. If you have your car or have to crab-​walk there, the Sea Cidery is an absolute must on your next trip to Victoria. Cider seems to be making a pretty big splash these days, and my few «i can’t/don’t want to eat gluten» friends have had me try some ciders. They’re actually quite tasty, albeit usually a little too sweet to have a lot of them.
The Sea Cidery, though, does it right. They have a variety of sweet, boozy, dark ciders. We had the taster tray (have to have at least 2 people for it FYI) that allows you to sample all their ciders, their non-​alcoholic cider, and their cider cocktail. They had 2 dessert ciders on hand that day that were in the 17−19% ABV range. The Rumrunner is one of their flagships. It’s a cider aged in rum barrels, giving it a dark, and obviously rum enhanced flavor. Definitely not your traditional cider. I suggest getting a snack as well. We ordered the 3-​dip tray and it was quite tasty.
They have indoor and outdoor seating as well as a small event space. You can see the sea from their old building. You feel like you’ve stepped into some sort of medieval times. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

If you are visiting Victoria, you must visit Sea Cider and order the sampler. I was not a big cider fan prior to visiting Sea Cider (I’m embarrassed to admit that I was comparing my cider experience to Angry Orchard), but these craft ciders really changed my mind. The Kings & Spies was my favorite, and my husband was a huge fan of the Rumrunner. We will be ordering some bottles of cider in the future. And if you’re munchy, the salmon spread with bread is a perfect pairing!
It was a wonderful experience overall; a major highlight of our trip!

This is the wonderland of ciders.
Go and frolics.
For a very very long time, I thought cider was more like, beer for kids. Not literally kids, i’m not an idiot, but it served its purpose to only those who couldn’t take down a real beer. So, in my youthful exuberance, I denounced cider for good and started drinking porters… because folks, i’m a badass (not really). How very silly I was.
Thankfully, Edible Canada on the mainland smacked some sense into me when SeaCider’s RumRummer caught my eye — a barrel aged cider? Colour me intrigued. I ordered a glass and…
It was the most wonderful cider that a lady could EVER wish for. It was the mona lisa of ciders; the one cider to rule them all. It was dddaaammmnnn tasty.
And with one tasty sip, the cider drought was over and I took on the job of systematically trying every cider this place makes.
The Highlight:
RumRunner — like I said, it’s a barrel aged cider, in (you guessed it) a rum barrel. It’s what I call the whiskey woman’s cider. It’s got a bit of smoke and spice to it. Not for everyone but if you like it, you LOVE it.
Bramble Bubbly — one of my new found summer drinks. It’s quite tart, which was a pleasant surprise as I was expecting something syrupy sweet. Tasty and for the more faint of heart.
Wild English — Hola dry! I don’t particularly like this one but if you’re a fan of a mega dry cider, give it a whirl. Definitely an interesting sip.
Love it or hate it, this place is stepping outside of the box with their brews and you have to tip the hat to that.
Bonus points — not only do they make delightful cider, but their tasting room is gorgeous. I had the chance to visit a year ago for a wedding and it’s a wonderful setting — would make an excellent day trip destination.

Loved the tranquil setting and nice décor. Only wish we could have loved the cider as well. We got The Long Flight and only liked one or two of the ciders. The two of us drank the rest of the samples as if we were drinking medicine. We got a little buzz off it but didn’t really enjoy the experience.

If I lived in Victoria I would visit the Sea Cider everyday, and I would be a borderline alcoholic because I would have to have the BIG flight every time. The server was friendly and knowledgeable, and the snacks went well with our flight. I recommend getting one of everything they have, you wont be disappointed. I LOVE this place. This place is a must on your way to the ferry in Saanich.

We have done a few cidery tours and on the whole have been disappointed. This all changed with our tasting at Sea Cider.
A great selection of ciders to try, with knowledgeable staff who knew the story behind the selection on offer. This was then combined with a plowman’s lunch with a vegetarian option. It’s just down the road from the ferry terminal, so rather than waiting in a parking lot, have a very enjoyable hour there instead!

I’m SO glad I found this cider house from the Unilocal reviews. After spending a few hours at the Butchart Garden, I want to sit and enjoy the nice weather and have some lunch. Well, turns out lunch was the only downside to this place. The only food they offer is a plate of different cheese and some meat with accompanying bread/​crackers ($ 14.5). But that didn’t deter me to order the full tasting flight of 9 ciders ($ 16). The pours were generous — 2oz for the normal cider, 1oz for the fortified ones. Most bottles are $ 18 for 750ml, while the fortified ones are $ 25 for 375ml. In addition to cider, they also have cider-​related products for sale (ex: cider vinegar).
The tasting room is big and wonderful, with a big glass roll-​up door that could be opened up on a nice warm day. There are also a few tables outside on the deck, overlooking the lawn and sea. Definitely a nice environment for sipping some cider.
Their cider are mostly of the dry/​semi-​dry kind. Not quite my taste for cider, but I did enjoy the rumrunner and Pommeau to buy a bottle of each. Their bottles are cute too, the kind of the built-​in bottle stopper that’s reusable.
I’m glad I skipped the Church winery nearby and decide to stop by here instead. It was definitely the highlight of my day.

Let me start by saying OMG this place is AMAZING! My experience with cider is quite nonexistent other than when sipping on lukewarm Strongbow while camping.
This place definitely puts cider on the liquor store map… if that makes any sense! I didn’t even really know what cider was before this place… Yeah, I remember those ‘dontcha put it in your mouth’ commercials, but I figured Strongbow was kosher. This place kicks it up a few notches in quality and flavour using organic cider. All of the cider contains apples from the farm/​orchard though isn’t always solely made of these. Some people bring in apples to the farm and they make cider out of those.
Make a purchase and go on a free ciderhouse tour to learn about the farm and the process of making cider.
Now, onto the good stuff! When I went there were 9 types of cider. You can sample them all in the 1.5−2 oz. pours cider sampler. Among my favourites are ‘kings & spies’ for a lighter, more affordable bottle, and ‘pommeau’ for a once-​in-​a-​while, full of complexity bevy (at $ 25 for a smaller, fancier bottle)… but don’t let me persuade you! You must try them all to make your own decision! Tastes in cider are as complex as wine and beer, so give it a go!
If you come here for the cider you will definitely need something tasty to sop it up with! Or «pair» with, which is the language used in such establishments. Get the tasty food platter for 2! It’s not called that, and it could easily be for 1 because it’s so delicious, but let’s not get greedy! There is an amazing combination of savoury and sweet, toasted nuts, homemade jams/​jellies with cider, flavourful cheeses and meats… So delicious.
Recap: try ALL the cider and the platter for 2. Then get the farm tour to learn about everything!
Definitely not to be missed if you’re a foodie in the Victoria area! If you have no car it’s bikeable, but it’ll be a long but gradual climb uphill.