Beer in the news

[LiverDance]

haha, i'm just grumpy this morning with all the negativity i'm seeing lately. It's beer, it should be fun and the more breweries and brewers the merrier, that way we will get what we like

[NASH]

Conserving hops maybe.

S

Or producing diacetyl 101.

lolololol

[Jimmy]

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId ... tPageNum=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[LeafMan66_67]

Good clip - great publicity for Stillwell and Big Spruce as well.

[GuingesRock]

haha, i'm just grumpy this morning with all the negativity i'm seeing lately. It's beer, it should be fun and the more breweries and brewers the merrier, that way we will get what we like

Good comment Brian!

Also, Well done Angeline

[toddthebeerdude]

great piece

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId ... tPageNum=1

[gruitime]

Cape Breton's Big Spruce introduces Silver Tart, based on inventor Alexander Graham Bell's raspberry syrup recipe

http://herald.ns.ca/novascotia/1277702- ... 0%99s-book" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NASH]

haha, i'm just grumpy this morning with all the negativity i'm seeing lately. It's beer, it should be fun and the more breweries and brewers the merrier, that way we will get what we like

Good comment Brian!

Also, Well done Angeline

I must be going blind, where is all this said negativity? Who doesn't want more breweries to open here?

[CPR]

great piece

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId ... tPageNum=1

A shame about the bellend over Angeline's shoulder there...

[toddthebeerdude]

cost of using the bar I guess

great piece

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId ... tPageNum=1

A shame about the bellend over Angeline's shoulder there...

[chalmers]

Nice clip Ange! Hopefully you'll get some calls and inquiries for hosting some more tastings for folks after they spot the clip.

[Josh]

This may be posted some where But I can't find it.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-science ... ivtefor001" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This fun-filled evening of science is one of the Signature Events during Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week. The event, which will be held at the Discovery Centre in downtown Halifax, will feature a total of 7 "Science of Beer" presentations from a hand-selected roster of local brew experts. Guests will also be treated to 12 different beers from 6 local craft breweries (Boxing Rock Brewing Company, Garrison Brewing Co., North Brewing Company, Propeller Brewing Company, Wrought Iron Brewing Company, and Sea Level Brewing), and delicious snacks from 3 local eateries, including The Stubborn Goat Gastropub, Morris East Restaurant, and Ace Burger Company.

Here's our list of beer science presentations:

- MAIN THEATRE WITH ANGELINE MACLENNAN & CHRIS MACDONALD: How beer is made.
- WROUGHT IRON BREWING: Off-tasting.
- BOXING ROCK BREWING: TBA
- GARRISON BREWING: TBA
- NORTH BREWING: TBA
- PROPELLER BREWING: Yeast and fermentation.
- SEA LEVEL BREWING: Hops.

Ticket booth is NOW OPEN!

There's local brew experts?

I'm just happy we beat everyone to the off-tasting. Even if our beer is shit, we have a contingency plan.

[mr x]

Quaffing down the beer tax

The spread of craft breweries creates a bipartisan coalition to cut levies.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/b ... ml?hp=c2_3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr x]

‘Radical’ change to the Beer Store will be proposed, Kathleen Wynne says

http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/ ... -says.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe it will be for real this time.

[McGruff]

Not from that woman. She just doesn't get it. We need and want our own Craft Beer stores and leave the Beer Store alone to sink or swim. I am sure the Beer Store will be fine when and if we get "real" beer stores though.

[the-mailman]

Are you ready for genetically modified yeast? It's coming to give more flavours to your brew.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/scien ... .html?_r=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr x]

Former Ontario Liberal staffers among Beer Store lobbying ranks

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e23964098/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What a surprise....

[dexter]

Former Ontario Liberal staffers among Beer Store lobbying ranks

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e23964098/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What a surprise....

the thing that baffles me is that the lcbo sets the price and determines the brands ( to a degree or did when i worked there 10 years ago) and if TBS doesnt want to carry a brand the lcbo will. I see it like this, you walk into the gap and you are likely greeted by gap clothes, gap brands and gap employees ( Molson, lab, sleeman) lets say you walk into say a bishops cellar or something similar you dont have the same anything its not owned by the major brands so they dont sell them . its comparing apples to cucmbers.

I get the monopoly idea, and it makes sense, but at the same time if you want to buy clothes from the gap and not boutique clothes youre shopping at the wrong store. if i want to buy a vintage motorcycle jacket, the gap or banana republic wont carry it, it will carry a leather jacket, but it wont be what i want, so I am forced to go to a store that will meet the needs that I have as a customer. same as this TBS vs argument i think.



also they arent taking into account the ways that most bars, restaurants and customers get their beer.. if you look at some of the larger bars in ottawa like the heart and crown franchise. they get over 300 kegs a week at two of their locataion. if you elimnate TBS those 300 kegs and let also mention the 3 or 400 cases of bottles they get how will they get them? TBS delivers and collect empties (inlcuding wine and liquor bottles for a nominal fee) if you pay the province a liquor license then TBS will collect empties literally for pennies. so when and if loblaws or soneone else gets their mitts into it, what happens to the price then. some bars require hours of set up to deliver 1000s of pounds of beer. some of the agency stores like say 2 hours away pay noything but a liquor license for, but are able to sell every size and shape of container. again their delivery and pick up fee is nominal.

Ive never worked at a bar or restaurant here but Im guessing you pay a delivery fee and a pickup fee.

[mumblecrunch]

the thing that baffles me is that the lcbo sets the price and determines the brands ( to a degree or did when i worked there 10 years ago) and if TBS doesnt want to carry a brand the lcbo will.

I don't think it's the case that the LCBO will, I think it's the case that the LCBO might. I think the argument is that the Beer store is for Beer, so it would make sense to have craft beer with the other beer rather than having to go to a totally different store to get craft beer than you do to get non-craft beer. Also I have no idea what the coverage of beer stores vs the coverage of LCBOs is in Ontario. I'm sure coverage varies across the province though, so there's probably no perfect solution that way. But especially if you're a tourist and you want beer, are you going to naturally go to the "Liquor Control Board of Ontario" store or are you going to go to "The Beer Store"? And even if you're local and you're a beer drinker who would like to try new beers, should you have to go to another store?

I see it like this, you walk into the gap and you are likely greeted by gap clothes, gap brands and gap employees ( Molson, lab, sleeman) lets say you walk into say a bishops cellar or something similar you dont have the same anything its not owned by the major brands so they dont sell them . its comparing apples to cucmbers.

I get the monopoly idea, and it makes sense, but at the same time if you want to buy clothes from the gap and not boutique clothes youre shopping at the wrong store. if i want to buy a vintage motorcycle jacket, the gap or banana republic wont carry it, it will carry a leather jacket, but it wont be what i want, so I am forced to go to a store that will meet the needs that I have as a customer. same as this TBS vs argument i think.

I don't think this analogy holds. The Gap is certainly not going to sell someone else's brands. But a big department store, like Sears, sells lots of brands and products that compete with each other. The argument against the way The Beer Store is currently operating is that they're purporting to be Sears while operating like The Gap. And it would be one thing if they were a private store who could do whatever they wanted. It's another when there's regulations and public money involved.

[dexter]

it was more referring to quality than selection, if you want to buy off the rack go to a store that sells off the rack if you want something more mass customizable go to a store that offers that.


when someone you know comes into hfx and asks where a good liquor store is what do you tell them? do you say go to joe howe nslc or bishops cellar? I know when my friends from into town I suggest somewhere that sells a more specified market. I think TBS has that luxury, but, when i lived in ontario I would often send people to stores more like BC than joe howe.


if they are looking for local mass market beer they can get that (at the nlsc) or that and more craft brewed beer at a specialty store. I think the same would work in ontario where you could have all three the lcbo, tbs and specialty stores. because they all exist now.

[Keith]

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7072372" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd try it.

[GAM]

Cows and Garrison will be next!

S

[canuck]

How beer is sold in each Province

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/beer-sale ... 87?cmp=rss" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Canadians like to imbibe the occasional frosty beer. But distant relatives or friends visiting from outside the country are understandably sometimes a bit baffled by how suds are sold here.

On April 16, Ontario announced that after decades of debate, beer would be offered for sale in some grocery stores. Ontario, however, is not the only province looking at ways to make buying beer (for those of legal drinking age) a little bit easier.

Here's a roundup of how the provinces and territories sell beer.

British Columbia

British Columbia operates a mixed system for all alcohol sales. There are government-owned outlets, private outlets, and some alcohol sales, including beer, at rural grocery stores. People living in the province can also buy beer at breweries or from bars and restaurants offering off-sale products. Recently, a new set of laws was introduced allowing for beer to be sold at farmers markets.

Recent changes to B.C.'s approach to beer sales have been driven by the burgeoning craft beer industry. The B.C. Craft Brewer Guild said last year that the market share of members' products doubled from 2010 to 2014, from nine per cent to nearly 19 per cent.

Alberta

Alberta privatized its alcohol sales in 1993 and is the only province in Canada with an entirely private approach. Off-sale beer is also available some bars and restaurants.

As a result of privatization, Alberta has become a highly competitive beer market with about 2,300 different beers from around the world for sale at any given time.

Like B.C., Alberta has seen a surge in craft beer sales and availability in recent years. The changes were spurred by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission quashing several laws that were seen as barriers to starting a small brewery or brew pub.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan operates a mixed system, with beer sold at government-run outlets and franchises in rural areas that are privately owned but operated in conjunction with the government. The province has started flirting with increased privatization of liquor and beer sales — in 2013, four fully private stores were given the green light to open in Regina and Saskatoon.

Saskatchewan also has off-sale outlets.

Manitoba

Manitoba operates a mixed system similar to B.C.'s, with the majority of alcohol sold by the province's liquor and gaming authority. Off-sale beer is available at privately owned stores attached to hotels that are often open until 2 a.m., and some rural communities are served by private outlets.

The province is also experimenting with a limited number of grocery stores that will carry beer, wine and spirits, though the implementation of the program is behind schedule.

Ontario

Ontario has, arguably, the most complicated approach to beer sales of any province. Beer can be bought at The Beer Store, an entity operated by a trio of foreign-owned breweries, and at government-owned LCBO outlets. There are also privately owned agency stores of the LCBO in under-served rural communities. These stores receive a commission from alcohol sales.

The Beer Store has come under increasing scrutiny in the last decade because it controls what Premier Kathleen Wynne called "a monopoly" on beer sales in the province.

On April 15, the government announced that beer will soon become available in 450 grocery stores.

Quebec

Quebec has traditionally taken a slightly more liberal approach to beer and liquor sales than other provinces. Beer has long been available at dépanneurs (corner stores) until 11 p.m., and it's the only province where individual cans and bottles are sold at these locations.

New Brunswick

Beer is sold at provincially owned liquor store outlets and privately owned agency stores, and people can buy off-sale beer at local breweries.

Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, beer is available at government-owned NSLC stores and at agency stores in rural areas. Some craft beers are available at a limited number of private specialty wine stores.

Prince Edward Island

Most beer in the province is sold at locations owned by the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission or privately owned agency stores. There also several craft breweries that sell their product for takeaway and a number of bars and restaurants with off-sale beer available.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Eastern Canada where locally brewed beer is available at some corner stores and gas stations. It's also available at government-owned liquor stores or directly from the few craft breweries operating in the province.

Northwest Territories

There are seven liquor stores operated by the NWT Liquor Commission, as well as a few communities scattered throughout the territory where off-sale beer is available from restaurants.

Yukon

The Yukon Liquor Corporation runs six stores, and some restaurants and bars offer off-sale beer.

Nunavut

Stores in Iqaluit stopped selling alcohol in the 1970s, but people can order beer and other alcohol from warehouses in the city and Rankin Inlet and it is later delivered to them. There are many communities that do not allow alcohol or have strict regulations on who is allowed to have it. Iqaluit, however, is considering opening a beer and wine stor

[LeafMan66_67]

Not sure, but the research for NS looks suspect - they forgot to mention beer available direct from multiple craft brewers across the province as well as farmer's markets.

[NASH]

http://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/new ... s-cbc2015/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Total number of breweries by segment

1,871 microbreweries (33% growth; 3.17M bbls).
1,412 brewpubs (20% growth in bbls; 1.17M bbls).
135 regional breweries (17% growth; 17.6M bbls).
3,418 TOTAL breweries.


Openings / closings

615 openings in 2014.
46 closings.
2,052 breweries in planning.


Craft beer exports

Craft beer exports up 36%.
383,422 bbls.


Top 5 craft beer styles

IPA …………. 22.7 dollar share………… 46.9% volume growth
Seasonal…… 16.8 dollar share………… 9.9% volume growth
Pale Ale……. 10.6 dollar share………… 10.1% volume growth
Variety……… 7.8 dollar share…………. 20.3% volume growth
Amber ale…. 5.7 dollar share………….. 11.8% volume growth


Top 5 states for 2014 brewery openings

Washington (83)
New York (67)
California (59)
Colorado (55)
Florida (42)


Current production v. Potential Capacity

22.2M bbls v 34.6M bbls.
In 2013, these numbers were 15.6M bbls. v 23.9M bbls.


Market share

Craft beer now makes up 11% of the beer market.
And 19.3% of the dollar share.

Even though the Brewers Association has a stated goal of craft beer gaining 20 percent market share in the overall beer industry (currently sitting at 11 percent as of 2014), the industry’s challenge isn’t really hitting that target. Some 2014 craft beer stats courtesy of BA chief economist Bart Watson:

18 percent increase in volume year over year.
The overall beer industry only improved by 0.5 percent. Without craft beer, the beer industry would have been down.
Pricing increased by 3 percent.
615 openings in 2014, versus only 46 closings (2013’s closings number was revised to 68).
2,051 breweries in planning.
Exports up 36 percent from prior year.
Convenience store sales up 20 percent, which is huge because convenience stores are the number one sales channel for beer.

So, 11 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent — whatever the number is, craft beer is accepted as a huge player in the beer world. Mission accomplished.

The real challenge is answering the new questions that are just now emerging from the uncharted territory the industry’s success has created. At the 2015 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America, the leadership of the BA clarified their answers for some of these questions, but it is clear there is still gray area.

One issue that will remain top of mind going forward is quality. A growing industry, especially one made of small businesses, will have its bad pints, and the BA is trying to spread training and awareness so that the whole industry batch isn’t spoiled. Some initiatives here include the formation of a quality subcommittee, the release of a Quality Systems book (coming this fall) that will be distributed to all BA members and the potential addition of a quality assurance ambassador who would travel the country and provide on-site education. More to come on that.

The biggest matzah ball hanging out there though, at least for the BA, continues to be the definitions of “small” and “independent.” Charlie Papazian, president of the BA, setting the tone for the conference and the association’s vision for 2015, focused his opening remarks during the general session on definitions. He emphasized the importance of definitions and the role that defining craft beer has had in the industry’s success.

“The Brewers Association represents small and independent breweries. Those definitions matter. All of these tiers have changing economics and market conditions and have had to reform the way they do business,” Papazian said. “Never underestimate the importance of defining yourself, your company and your uniqueness as a group of small and independent brewers, and don’t let anyone make you think it doesn’t matter.”