Beer in the news

[GuingesRock]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... s-add-fizz

Nova Scotians like their booze and they like it local.

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation profits totalled $69 million and sales totalled $169 million in the second quarter.

Profits are up 3.2 per cent over the same quarter last year, NSLC said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Local product sales continue to rise:

Local wine is up 9.4 per cent ($3.5 million);
Craft beer up 28.9 per cent ($1.5 million);
Cider up 62.8 per cent ($400,000);
Spirits are up 0.9 per cent ($300,000).

Just imagine if they had a good beer selection!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Just imagine if they kept their craft beers chilled as well, instead of keeping them at room temperature and destroying them/forcing craft brewers to filter.

[PEIBeerGuy]

Good news here today. The PEILCC is going to change the regulations on how strong brewers can brew their beers. Up until now, the limit has been 6.5%. The article says we're supposed to be on par with other provinces in the future. Good news for our two existing breweries, the brewery-in-progress in town, and the rumored one in the Montague area.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/canada/prince- ... -1.2809043

[the-mailman]

An odd cereal shortage. You'll be surprised where it went.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/colorado ... d=26343262" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr x]

N.S. craft breweries get growth assistance

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... assistance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Nova Scotia craft brewing industry is getting a five-year strategic growth plan.

“This is pretty much something any industry trade organization or association must get involved with,” Kevin Keefe, president of the Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia, said Monday.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Innovative Communities Fund is providing a contribution of $35,133 to support the project.

The province is also investing $24,667 through the Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Department.

“The association itself will contribute between $15,000 and $20,000,” Keefe said.

The growth plan is in response to a study Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. and Jozsa Management & Economics completed in 2011.

“The study determined that by 2029 the craft beer industry could contribute more than $37 million annually to the Nova Scotia GDP if an industry-wide strategic plan for growth is developed and implemented,” an ACOA news release said Monday.

“The increasing popularity of craft beer in the Maritimes reflects not only a demand for specialty products, but a viable up-and-coming industry in Nova Scotia.”

The release said the strategic growth plan’s primary purpose will be to identify and engage in activities to expand the industry.

“The craft brewers recognize there is a need to have some ownership over our rapidly growing industry,” Keefe said.

According to the liquor corporation, Nova Scotia craft beer accounted for $4.034 million in sales at corporation outlets in 2013-14.

“Sales of craft brewers are up 28 per cent in the last quarter alone,” Keefe said.

Eight new craft breweries and brewpubs have opened in the province in the past couple of years.

The release said microbreweries in Nova Scotia employ more than 200 people.

[mr x]

Keith’s to sport East Coast look
Brewery stresses local profile with tees from Halifax clothing firm

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... coast-look" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The owners of Oland Brewery of Halifax and the young entrepreneur behind East Coast Lifestyle Clothing Inc. have brewed up a partnership to promote Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale.

“We want to get the message out that all Keith’s IPA sold in Nova Scotia is brewed and packaged here,” Keith’s spokesman Wade Keller said Monday.

A T-shirt from East Coast Lifestyle, featuring the Keith’s IPA tartan, will appear inside specially marked 28-packs of Keith’s IPA beginning around mid-November for about eight weeks or while supplies last.

The promotion is a response, in part, to the increasing popularity of craft beers throughout the province and the position they enjoy within the buy-local movement, Keller said.

“Keith’s is a Nova Scotia brand, made here in Halifax on Agricola Street by about 160 workers who are dedicated to the product and who spend their salaries in our communities.”

Labatt Breweries of Canada, a division of Anheuser-Busch InBev, owns the brewery. Keith’s IPA is also brewed at five other Labatt breweries across Canada.

“Keith’s has been part of Nova Scotia since Alexander Keith started his brewery in 1820, and remains the top-selling beer in Nova Scotia,” Keller said.

One in five brews sold in the province through the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. is a Keith’s IPA, he said.

East Coast Lifestyle founder Alex MacLean, 22, said the six authentic T-shirt designs featured in the promotion will be available only through the promotion and will not be offered through the company’s retail channels.

“We’re a Nova Scotia brand, too, and it’s great to have this collaboration with the province’s best beer.”

Chad Patterson, regional sales vice-president for Labatt Breweries, said T-shirts are regular promotional items for various beer brands.

“The T-shirt in a beer case is not a new concept, but this is no ordinary T-shirt.”

Labatt Breweries announced recently that Oland Brewery was getting a $13-million biological treatment plant. Construction began last week to improve the quality of waste water and reduce energy costs.

The plant produces 15 different brands, including Keith’s IPA, Budweiser, Bud Light, Labatt Blue and Oland Export.

If Keith’s IPA is the bestselling beer in Nova Scotia, East Coast Lifestyle is arguably one of the province’s better-selling T-shirts. MacLean said sales in recent months have been especially strong in Ontario and Alberta.

Tim Pellerin, the liquor corporation’s marketing and merchandising vice-president, said 105 stores will participate in the promotion.

“It’s going to be a hit with beer customers this holiday season.”

Pellerin said successful T-shirt and hat promotions can require additional vigilance at retail locations because consumers have occasionally damaged cases seeking favourites.

The Halifax Rainmen also announced Monday a multi-year partnership with East Coast Lifestyle for the design and production of co-branded Rainmen merchandise beginning with the 2014-15 season.

[canuck]

^

and it’s great to have this collaboration with the province’s best beer.”

[toddthebeerdude]

^

and it’s great to have this collaboration with the province’s best beer.”

too funny

[Jimmy]

Tapping into a craft trend: Moosehead Cold Beer Store now offering growlers

Moosehead Breweries have tapped into the craft-beer trend of reusable growlers.

Senior sales supervisor for the province, Ken McCormick, helped launch the growler station at the Moosehead Cold Beer Store in Dartmouth on Thursday where now people can buy a 1.9-litre jug for $10 and choose one of four taps of draft for another $10 or $12.

Once you have the growler, McCormick said you rinse and return to the store to fill up, from then on only paying the beer cost.

“The entire beer market is shifting. People want different experiences, people want different flavours,” McCormick said.

He said Moosehead currently sells a lot of large kegs for “home consumers” but although they’re convenient for a wedding or large party, they’re not ideal for the average draft fan.

Moosehead’s newest Hop Bot brew, a 7.1 per cent “west coast-style IPA,” was featured for the first time in draft form Thursday although McCormick said it has been in liquor stores for a few weeks.

“Every brewmaster is kind of a mad scientist and they like to get their own kitchen recipes going,” McCormick said.

The Cold Beer Store is the only location in the province for Moosehead fans to fill up their growlers, McCormick said, since it is the “flagship” location that has been open since 1986.

Chris Hunter, Cold Beer Store manager, said a growler is a different experience than bottled beer since draft is “fresher” and the reusable jug is better for the environment.

McCormick said the growlers themselves were “not a big investment” and Hunter said they should “break even” shortly since they’ve been letting people know about the new option over the last few weeks.

“Beer lends itself very well to food … to a social occasion,” McCormick said. “It is designed to be shared, it is designed to be consumed basically in one sitting.

“You don’t always have to go wine,” he said with a laugh.

As is the case with most local breweries, the Moosehead Cold Beer store will fill up growlers purchased from other beer stores.

http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/119921 ... -growlers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith]

Good for Moose head. Hopbot is a descent IPA. I won't knock it.

[dexter]

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


More well deserved negative comments and complaints about the beer store.i find it funny the steam whistle is complaining that they don't get presence, because they were always on the wall in Orleans and most of ottawa from what I recall

[McGruff]

I e-mailed the MP in charge and told him flatly that I now make my own beer and it is all "tax free". I said I have no intention of ever buying beer at the Beer Store and rarely going to the LCBO. I hit him where it hurts the most, in the pocket book. I also said if they open up Ontario Craft Beer Stores, I'll certainly shop there. Worth a try.

[BobbyOK]

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on- ... ice=mobile.


More well deserved negative comments and complaints about the beer store.i find it funny the steam whistle is complaining that they don't get presence, because they were always on the wall in Orleans and most of ottawa from what I recall

This, on a much smaller scale, is what's possible with the private store license situation in Halifax. The breweries/wineries aren't allowed to do it themselves, and there's possibly rules in place to keep Sobey's or Superstore from doing it directly. but I suspect it would be very easy for them to set up different companies but run them all from the same entity as Micco is doing.

[the-mailman]

For all those Trekkies out there, Garrison releases Klingon beer in time for Hal-con this weekend.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... or-hal-con" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Toni]

For all those Trekkies out there, Garrison releases Klingon beer in time for Hal-con this weekend.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... or-hal-con" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the label I've seen it appears to simply be the same Federation of Beer that has been contract brewed at Tin Man Brewing in Indiana for some time now. From FoB's facebook it does appear to be the same beer. Anyone know if it's the same recipe?

[chalmers]

For all those Trekkies out there, Garrison releases Klingon beer in time for Hal-con this weekend.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1 ... or-hal-con" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the label I've seen it appears to simply be the same Federation of Beer that has been contract brewed at Tin Man Brewing in Indiana for some time now. Anyone know if it's the same recipe?

I believe so, as Garrison brewed it according to the recipe they were given.

[RossBee]

This, on a much smaller scale, is what's possible with the private store license situation in Halifax. The breweries/wineries aren't allowed to do it themselves, and there's possibly rules in place to keep Sobey's or Superstore from doing it directly. but I suspect it would be very easy for them to set up different companies but run them all from the same entity as Micco is doing.

This is kind of funny, NB Liquor has taken a pro-active approach to wine sales in grocery stores. Currently, there is a pilot project involving 6 stores, 2 of each of the major ones, i.e. Superstore, Sobeys and Co-op. Restricted to wines only. According to one NB Liquor VP, beer sales are just too valuable and will, in all likelyhood, never go to private outlets, aside from micros and nanos and those that have been grand-fathered.

Why is this funny? NB is notorious for taking regulations from other jurisdiction, make them more restrictive and adopt them. Someone must have retired and the newbie came in, looked at the regs and said "WTF, let's do this" (just a bit of experience has taught us that).

[akr71]

I have never understood the 'valuable' argument. No matter who sells the booze, the government is damned sure gonna collect its taxes. All you are really protecting is a bunch of government run store employees

[Celiacbrew]

I have never understood the 'valuable' argument. No matter who sells the booze, the government is damned sure gonna collect its taxes. All you are really protecting is a bunch of government run store employees

The CEO of the liquor corporations is judged on the performance of the corporation not on what is best for the province. It is in their self interest to never let go of something that performs well. Also a part of the returns that the private retailer would get has to come from somewhere. So whatever profits the private stores make comes at the expense of the provincial returns. Which isn't to say we couldn't set it up so that the province is better off through cost savings or through higher demand from better service and better selection or by supporting a developing industry that has the potential to be export oriented. It just wouldn't necessarily be that way.

[akr71]

I have never understood the 'valuable' argument. No matter who sells the booze, the government is damned sure gonna collect its taxes. All you are really protecting is a bunch of government run store employees

The CEO of the liquor corporations is judged on the performance of the corporation not on what is best for the province. It is in their self interest to never let go of something that performs well. Also a part of the returns that the private retailer would get has to come from somewhere. So whatever profits the private stores make comes at the expense of the provincial returns. Which isn't to say we couldn't set it up so that the province is better off through cost savings or through higher demand from better service and better selection or by supporting a developing industry that has the potential to be export oriented. It just wouldn't necessarily be that way.

As a Crown Corp, yes --> self-preservation, but for the government coffers as a whole, they will still collect their 'sin tax' revenue, no matter who sells the stuff.

[chicanuck]

I have never understood the 'valuable' argument. No matter who sells the booze, the government is damned sure gonna collect its taxes. All you are really protecting is a bunch of government run store employees

The CEO of the liquor corporations is judged on the performance of the corporation not on what is best for the province. It is in their self interest to never let go of something that performs well. Also a part of the returns that the private retailer would get has to come from somewhere. So whatever profits the private stores make comes at the expense of the provincial returns. Which isn't to say we couldn't set it up so that the province is better off through cost savings or through higher demand from better service and better selection or by supporting a developing industry that has the potential to be export oriented. It just wouldn't necessarily be that way.

WARNING: Anti-government Mini Rant

I have a fundamental problem with a government agency running a business for profit, that is the job of the private sector in a capitalist society. IMO....it should be government's role to enforce policy and regulations developed in part by stake holders which will enhance economic growth to benefit the people.....and then tax accordingly.

Stepping off soap box.......

[Celiacbrew]

Stepping off soap box.......

I can't imagine anyone would disagree with you. Except for the anti-alcohol types. They see the crown corp as a means of reducing alcohol deaths. Silly, but vocal minority.

[chicanuck]

Agreed, but the anti-alcohol crowd are a dying breed (physically, I mean) just like the anti-abortion religious nuts, anti-gay marriage shitheads and other meddling anti this and anti that.......Eastern Canada is way behind the social times but those views are changing. It just pisses me off when I see the crown corporation bragging about increasing profits on a monopoly they control with an iron fist, that revenue should be going to private companies, who in turn will employ more people, which will be better for our society as a whole. Angers the blood......I think I will have a beer.

[dean2k]

Angers the blood......I think I will have a beer.

Good. Good. Let the hate flow through you....

[chicanuck]

Angers the blood......I think I will have a beer.

Good. Good. Let the hate flow through you....

The beer helped

Good Good.jpg

[RossBee]

Here my little rant about the whole thing, from an industry point of view. This is in NB.

NB liquor is our friend, they set the price for us to survive as a small producer of wines and spirit, beer is similar. NB Liquor is a business, they are in the business of generating tax revenue, that is their sole purpose. The tax revenue raised is for the purpose of business development, health care and general infra structure.

A bottle of wine can be purchased in Portugal, Italy, France, Germany at a cost of about $1.50, a half decent one that is. Back when we immigrated to Canada, a case of beer (20 bottles at 0.5 litre cost you about 8 DM, i.e. about 0.8 DM per litre). The entire issue is about raising taxes, as was mentioned, the "sin tax". We have a population that is surpased by most European Cities, i.e. our sin tax is considerably higher due to a lower capita. Also, our transportation costs are much greater, both in raw and finished goods, since Canada is such a bloody big country. Processing costs are comparable or greater than in other countries, due in part to population density, shipping and climate.

So, why is there a difference in alcohol tax from province to province? Population has a lot to do with it. Disposable income has a lot to do with. Business taxation rate has a lot to do with it (see Alberta - compared to NFLD). Any thoughts of liquor privatization in the Maritime or Atlantic Provinces is false hope, governments are reliant on the taxes generated, whether we like it or not, those taxes fill the government covers. Yet, some may argue, the mark up would be better off in private hands to stimulate the economy; capitalism is a funny thing says Kevin O'Leary - mine, mine, mine, you're sick - too bad, your road has holes - too bad, etc.

As a VP at NB Liquor told me, we will never get out of the liquor business, the stakes are too high, the potential loss to the taxpayer is too great. This may seem a cliche, but I believe he was sincere to the extreme when he made the comment. Could prices be lower, absolutely, however, unless poplulation increased and the department of public safety has a few retirees, and the civil service is streamlined, I would not hold my breath or stop drinking craft beer/wine/spirit.

By the way, there is a movement afoot to potentially combine the three Liquor entities in the Maritimes, at this time they are looking at economy of scale when buying from off shore, but the writing is on the wall.

Gotta stop this ranting bit.