New ANBL Licensing Rules - Hurting Small Startup Breweries!

[mr x]

Those of you who say its a good thing as far as exposure,distribution, marketing and any other bullshit, give 30% of your pay check to charity and move on, helloooo!!!

Exactly. This isn't a pilot program, it's a shakedown.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

That may be true, but I've yet to see a small (nano) brewery that has trouble unloading more product than they can make in their own locality. The bonus of wider distribution would be of more benefit to a much larger operation, I would assume.

this.

[chalmers]

That may be true, but I've yet to see a small (nano) brewery that has trouble unloading more product than they can make in their own locality. The bonus of wider distribution would be of more benefit to a much larger operation, I would assume.

this.

Seconded.

[canuck]

Shane what do you think? Personally I'd love to fill up a growler of your ipa at the liquor store. I think that it would be a great way to test another distribution model for your product.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mark, to be honest I'm not really sure what to think at this point. The question that I get the most from people around here is "do you fill growlers?", so in a way it would be nice to have that option via ANBL. I think that I would be able to reach a lot of new customers as not every person goes out to restaurants and pubs. But I also have no information on how they plan on making this work nor any pricing.

One thing that really does rub me the wrong was is the timing of all this. They implement this ridiculous new BAS law at the same time that they want to start this pilot growler program. Coincidental? I think not. So in a way, and out of principle, I am not sure that I care to participate in it. Until I hear the specific details involved in this pilot program, I'm neither saying yes or no.

[canuck]

http://globalnews.ca/news/1474759/nb-li ... breweries/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dean2k]

As one person, I feel confident in saying that this decision by the ANBL is definitely not in the best interest for all small breweries out there. Any changes proposed should have been in discussion and collaboration with the small breweries, clearly it was not.

This times 100.

Also, isn't anyone else worried about how growlers are going to be filled/served away from their source? And is ANBL staff going to have proper training and product knowledge? I'd be very much worried about my product getting stale at some location where most consumers just want the cheapest case of Bud Lite they can their hands on? And then by the time someone does fill a growler and gets a not-so-fresh beer, they go blabbing about how terrible the beer was. I Still think this is a recipe for disaster.

[Keith]

As a consumer who rarely obtains beer from many of our provincial brewery's due to distance, I for one would pay to have growlers available at the nslc of their beer. However with that being said. What stops premier or other store fronts from doing the same?

I'd love to get a greater selection locally. I'd be willing to pay for it... Hell I pay $7 per 12 oz as it is for most of these beers at stillwell, i'd pay for a growler to obtain it more frequently. plus Sackville has zero crafy beer on tap that I knowof.

[akr71]

The logistics and potential problems for selling fresh product at nblc Stores in growlers sounds like a recipe for disaster.

... However, i fail to see how selling growlers at NBLC is a bad thing for small breweries. It increases the distribution available for those that already sell growlers, and provides a new means of distribution for those who don't sell growlers. NBLC has several locations in Saint John, if the pilot project is successful and they roll out this to every store that is a huge advantage to small breweries...

It adds exactly 1 and only 1 channel for distribution. Even if the pilot were successfull, I can't image more than 1 store in each of SJ, Moncton and Fred would even be setup for growler sales. Not every NSLC store has the bulk wine thing, just larger stores. Smaller centres may never be included in the growler program... Railcar may never be able to sell their beer in their hometown.

[jeffsmith]

Railcar may never be able to sell their beer in their hometown.

Exactly, I doubt there are many small breweries that don't want their friends and family to have easy access to their beer.

[mr x]

I think this system is similar to how mexican drug cartels moved into limes, lmfao.

'You now need to pay us to guarantee safety, transport, etc. Oh, and we want more money, so you best start growing more limes. But we want to help - you grow more limes, and you won't wind up in a landfill.'

[canuck]

The logistics and potential problems for selling fresh product at nblc Stores in growlers sounds like a recipe for disaster.

... However, i fail to see how selling growlers at NBLC is a bad thing for small breweries. It increases the distribution available for those that already sell growlers, and provides a new means of distribution for those who don't sell growlers. NBLC has several locations in Saint John, if the pilot project is successful and they roll out this to every store that is a huge advantage to small breweries...

It adds exactly 1 and only 1 channel for distribution. Even if the pilot were successfull, I can't image more than 1 store in each of SJ, Moncton and Fred would even be setup for growler sales. Not every NSLC store has the bulk wine thing, just larger stores. Smaller centres may never be included in the growler program... Railcar may never be able to sell their beer in their hometown.

That's a very good point, Andy. From my understanding, there will be three stores in the Province that will be participating in this growler pilot program (being the three cities you've already mentioned). That being the case, it would certainly affect me more positively than it would Railcar since I'm in an area where the program is getting started. But I also agree with Mark that this could be a positive thing for some small breweries, namely those that aren't setup with a BAS license. IMO, it will all come down to how ANBL will implement this and price the growlers..........although I admit that I'm skeptical that it's gonna work.

[LeafMan66_67]

Personally, I see both positives and negatives to the growler program. Some of the smaller breweries may get additional exposure to a larger audience. If these small breweries are already serving one of the three locales where a growler program is taking place, additional distribution costs "may" not be a big factor. For breweries outside of these areas, additional distribution costs may be detrimental.

For me, the 100HL really seems to affect the sense of community that develops around a brewery with a growler program. With on-site sales, the brewery becomes part of the local community. Imagine being a neighbour to a brewery but not being able to purchase their beer unless you travel to one of the growler pilot sites. That sounds frustrating to me, not only for the consumer but also for the brewer.

Just my nickel's worth.

[mcgster]

Personally, I see both positives and negatives to the growler program. Some of the smaller breweries may get additional exposure to a larger audience. If these small breweries are already serving one of the three locales where a growler program is taking place, additional distribution costs "may" not be a big factor. For breweries outside of these areas, additional distribution costs may be detrimental.

For me, the 100HL really seems to affect the sense of community that develops around a brewery with a growler program. With on-site sales, the brewery becomes part of the local community. Imagine being a neighbour to a brewery but not being able to purchase their beer unless you travel to one of the growler pilot sites. That sounds frustrating to me, not only for the consumer but also for the brewer.

Just my nickel's worth.

Good point on the sense of community, I hadn't thought of that. It sounds like railcar is good to go and they are going to be grandfathered in which is the right thing to do. I would have to think that the amount of negative press will make them pull this rule altogether. It would be a pretty stubborn stance not to.

Also, we don't have to reinvent the wheel in NB. Lots of successful examples around of how to foster growth in this industry. We should be looking to other jurisdictions not inventing new rules.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mumblecrunch]

I generally err on the side of Hanlon's razor: never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.

I think the troublesome assumption that ANBL is making is that every brewery opens with the idea of mass distribution on a (minimum) province-wide scale as a goal.

To mine a local NS example, while I sympathize with Keith's position that it would be nice to be able to grab a growler of BAB at the local LC (or at least not have to drive to the valley to get one). I'm much happier thinking that Jeff is out there doing his thing within the bounds he has set for himself as a brewer and businessman and that he's not expanding his distribution just because right now it seems like he could sell a whole lot more beer if he did. There's no telling whether that's even sustainable right now with so many craft breweries opening up. Meanwhile he's a destination for beer geeks from this province and probably the region. Ask anyone in Government Tourism: you can't buy that kind of tourism with TV ads and billboards in other provinces. And the Wick Pub in Berwick also gets to benefit by the exclusivity of having BAB on tap (and being a music geek destination as well).

In my (hopelessly naive to most, I'm sure) opinion, not every business needs to be run with the goal of world domination in mind. Serve the local market I say, and if the market turns out to be bigger and you're willing, consider taking it to another level.

[mcgster]

I generally err on the side of Hanlon's razor: never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.

I think the troublesome assumption that ANBL is making is that every brewery opens with the idea of mass distribution on a (minimum) province-wide scale as a goal.

To mine a local NS example, while I sympathize with Keith's position that it would be nice to be able to grab a growler of BAB at the local LC (or at least not have to drive to the valley to get one). I'm much happier thinking that Jeff is out there doing his thing within the bounds he has set for himself as a brewer and businessman and that he's not expanding his distribution just because right now it seems like he could sell a whole lot more beer if he did. There's no telling whether that's even sustainable right now with so many craft breweries opening up. Meanwhile he's a destination for beer geeks from this province and probably the region. Ask anyone in Government Tourism: you can't buy that kind of tourism with TV ads and billboards in other provinces. And the Wick Pub in Berwick also gets to benefit by the exclusivity of having BAB on tap (and being a music geek destination as well).

In my (hopelessly naive to most, I'm sure) opinion, not every business needs to be run with the goal of world domination in mind. Serve the local market I say, and if the market turns out to be bigger and you're willing, consider taking it to another level.

Well put!

[cagiva650]

CBC New Brunswick is like a dog with a bone! Another story about this issue. Good for you CBC. The more people that know about these silly rules the better.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns ... -1.2719536

[dexter]

I generally err on the side of Hanlon's razor: never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupiditl.

I'd never heard of hanlons only Occam's razor, but this and the Peter principle are equally awesom.

[Keith]

@aaron
Yeah would be nice if it's sustainable, or wanted by the brewery. I don't agree with the breweries being forced to do this.

[cagiva650]

"The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is taking issue with a new policy governing production from microbreweries in New Brunswick, calling it restrictive for start-up businesses."

I wonder why the CBC will not allow comments on this story?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns ... -1.2725574

[cagiva650]

CTV has a news story about this issue.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-beer-p ... -1.1943649

[mcgster]

Globe and Mail picked it up through CP

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/natio ... ice=mobile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dean2k]

Yup. Our new license plate logo should read: "welcome to NB, keep on driving"

[Joeg]

In Alberta this is what happened in Dec 2013 :
‘Business first’ in new liquor manufacturing
policies
Review delivers flexible new liquor manufacturing policies
focused on growth, innovation and efficiency
St. Albert... The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) is making
changes to its manufacturing policies following a comprehensive policy
review and consultation with stakeholders.
“We appreciate the fact that our stakeholders took the time to talk to us
about what was working and what needed improving. Once the
recommendations are fully implemented, we hope to see new
operations, more selection for consumers and some new products being
made right here in Alberta.”
Bill Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Gaming and
Liquor Commission
Effective immediately, the AGLC will:
 Eliminate the minimum production capacity requirements to make
it easier to begin a manufacturing business and increase the
diversification of products being produced in Alberta.
 Expand the types of products that can be produced in Alberta to
allow manufacturers to be as efficient as possible in responding to
consumer trends.
 Allow off-sales outlets to be operated at the location that best suits
individual business needs to provide manufacturers with flexibility
in their operations.
Bill Robinson said, “This is what our stakeholders have told us they would
like to see changed. We’re pleased to respond with policies that are
relevant to the industry and will create opportunities for further growth.”
These changes add to the already implemented administrative and policy
changes released in June 2013, which addressed feedback directly received
from stakeholder consultation.

I found this out from a recent articles link on the http://calj.org/. One of the mandates of CALJ is below...

"improve the provinces’ and territories’ systems of control and distribution of alcoholic beverages by co-operation and free flow of information among the members of the Association and by regular meetings or conferences of the members of the Association and comparable jurisdictions outside Canada."

So the idea of improvement in AB is way different than NB...

Also in Dec 2013 in BC the Liberal government added this related recommendation as a result of a Liquor policy review.

" * Government should consult with industry and review the minimum requirements to obtain a brewery, winery or distillery licence. Government should also consider how these requirements are regulated by LCLB and LDB to ensure transparency and an effective regulatory system. "

Hope this info helps the microbrewers in NB in some way...

[cagiva650]

"Brian Harriman, president and CEO of the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation spoke to me about the rationale behind the new policy. He claims that it is designed in part to prevent the bootlegging of beer out of the basements of hobbyists and to protect the public."

To prevent the bootlegging of beer? That makes no sense at all.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/07/30/ne ... eer-policy

[jeffsmith]

Yup, not much sense considering his staff are responsible for the inspections that are part of licensing.