New ANBL Licensing Rules - Hurting Small Startup Breweries!

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Hard to believe that NS liquor laws are more progressive than another province!

This might give them the idea though.... Hopefully this whole ridiculous thing gets reversed.

[Graham.C]

This story is bonkers. I can't believe they are actually moving backwards when Ontario just realized that craft beer is a 100,000+ job market and is scrambling to pull down barriers (although scramble is relative to any politics and might be better phrased as a tortoise like crawl).

[mcgster]

From the video they had on CBC it looked like his setup was in the 100 to 140L range so assuming he could bottle it to the provincial standards that represents about 100 batches.... sheesh whats he complaining about brewing 100 batches is a breeze.. Its only 50 double brew days before he makes a penny

[GuingesRock]

Online petition is here (takes 2 seconds): http://www.change.org/petitions/new-bru ... n-was-made" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr x]

They really need to be publicly embarrassed.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Online petition wouldn't work on my phone.

[chalmers]

Online petition wouldn't work on my phone.

The link is valid (just double checked), I guess they don't have a mobile version of the site.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Online petition wouldn't work on my phone.

The link is valid (just double checked), I guess they don't have a mobile version of the site.

the site worked, but after i filled in all my info and clicked sign it popped up a little message saying couldnt sign (an in-site message, as opposed to system/browser message)

regardless i just signed from my laptop. now to wait for the first change.org email to arrive so i can unsubscribe from their spam

[GuingesRock]

now to wait for the first change.org email to arrive so i can unsubscribe from their spam

No wait Liam! Don’t! …start a petition against spam instead, it could be the biggest petition they've ever had.

To late for me to do that. I unsubscribed, and told them in the little message box, being spammed was like being stalked by a pervert.

This is an important one for us to sign though, regardless of needing to unsubscribe as well.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Hmmm it it probably in violation of current canadian federal law actually. But yeah, still worth signing.

[RossBee]

Hard to believe that NS liquor laws are more progressive than another province!

This might give them the idea though.... Hopefully this whole ridiculous thing gets reversed.

Believe it or not, but NS has always been more progressive in the alcohol business, within their own borders. When we started our distillery in 1991, we were fighting the same uphill battle, and again with the winery in 1997. I wanted to add beer to the offering at Winegarden in the form of a growler event, small scale, speciality. Not going to happen in the short term. Already invested lots of personal money, not interested in bottling even though we have the equipment, this is craft brewing, not commercial brewing!!!

NB Liquor tried to pull the same stunt on us in '97. A meeting was called with the cottage wineries at the time, there was only us. Basically, at the meeting, NBLC, Dept. of Economic Development, Agriculture and, of course, Public Safety, were told that we will suspend all operations, have a media event, give away all of our product and shut down operations and move to a province that is interested in fostering an up and coming industry. For some strange reason, the people on the other side of the table were baffled at our attitude. Working for the sake of working may sound like a lot of fun, but it does not pay the bills.

It's ok to say that 100 hl is a small amount to produce, however, many craft brewers, wineries, distilleries are not full time. Business has to be build, little by little, unless of course you're independly wealthy. This whole fiasco begs the question as to the root cause of this decision.

Is NB Liquor attempting to gauge the potential of micro breweries, this action has the oposite effect.
Is NB Liquor attempting to determine revenue of each micro brewer prior to trusting them to sell on their own?
Has NB Liquor been pressured by the commercial breweries to increase their market share, after all it has been falling for the last few years?
Has NB Liquor been pressured by the large micro breweries to increase their market share, this would be by far the most detrimental to the craft industry - this would be protectionism at is worst and the most damaging.

It has been our experience that NB Liquor does nothing on their own, they have to be pressured to react. This change in policy is in reaction to an input from somewhere. The cost of administration of a few nanos or even micros is peanuts. I truly believe that this is either a public safety induced issue or a protectionism issue by the larger micros. To get to the answer will require further digging.

Has there been any reaction from the operating micro breweries?

[mr x]

Ever since ANBL hired an ex Diageo stooge to run things, I've fully expected the worst for smaller producers. Not really a surprise...

[chalmers]

Has there been any reaction from the operating micro breweries?

One NB micro has weighed in here (canuck from Hammond River), and others that I heard from were disgusted and not surprised, but encouraging him to proceed further.

Mitch has a meeting with the ANBL Tuesday. More than just allowing him to operate as he'd planned originally before these changes were announced, I really hope they reverse this decision and allow small businesses to operate as they like, there's already enough rules in place for these folks!

[chalmers]

More from Harriman, as sent to the petition organizer:

July 18/14: Response received from President/CEO of ANBL

"Hi Kathryn,

Thank you for sending along your thoughts on our new policy for off-premise sales. I think you make some very valid and accurate points in the email below.

I don't want to discuss the specifics of the Rail Car Brewing situation until I meet with them next week. We had not met or heard of Rail Car Brewing until he applied for brewers license on Monday of this week. We will work with him to see how we can find resolution. However, I would like to provide you some assurance and clarity on what we are trying to achieve.

1) The growth of the craft beer segment is very good for the province and for ANBL. We are actively working to see it grow. We also currently provide assistance to local brewers through reduced mark up structures and prominent distribution and visibility in our stores.

2) ‎We are an active participant in the Province's Local Buying strategy in partnership with the Department of Aquaculture, Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as with the Department of Economic Development. Our goal in supporting this strategy is not only to see breweries, wineries and distilleries prosper in NB, but to have supporting industries such as your Hop farm be able to benefit from this growth.

3) The intention of the threshold of 100hl before being allowed to be able to sell growlers is not to stifle entry into beer or to force product through our system. It is to insure people entering the category are able to financially support and produce quality products, which have consumer demand and which are safe for the public.

4) We are willing to work with any and all brewers to help them reach the 100hl threshold through our stores, agency stores and licensed establishments. We feel confident we will be able to successfully help brewers achieve this volume. We ‎also know that brewers who achieve this volume will be more likely to flourish into prominent craft brewers in NB, which is a win for all.

If you wish, I would be happy to meet with you in person to discuss the policy or any other ANBL topic of interest.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. We are on a journey to grow and evolve NB Liquor and it is always good to have feedback on how we are doing on our journey."

Sincerely,
Brian Harriman
President and CEO
ANBL

[mr x]

#3 is clearly insane and smacks of our old brew on premise boogeyman argument.

#4 what the fuck does that bullshit even mean? Willing to work with? Is Harriman going to buy him some gear from dme and help him brew on his days off? What a bunch of garbage.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

What x said. BS

[LiverDance]

3) The intention of the threshold of 100hl before being allowed to be able to sell growlers is not to stifle entry into beer or to force product through our system. It is to insure people entering the category are able to financially support and produce quality products, which have consumer demand and which are safe for the public.


Sincerely,
Brian Harriman
President and CEO
ANBL

FFS, this guy is the boss?

http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/defini ... vs-insure/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Celiacbrew]

3) The intention of the threshold of 100hl before being allowed to be able to sell growlers is not to stifle entry into beer or to force product through our system. It is to insure people entering the category are able to financially support and produce quality products, which have consumer demand and which are safe for the public.


Sincerely,
Brian Harriman
President and CEO
ANBL

FFS, this guy is the boss?

http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/defini ... vs-insure/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You mean he isn't offering to compensate new brewers in the event of an unforeseen loss?

[benwedge]

It sounds like the things he's trying to achieve, particularly as expressed in point 3, could be met by a simple re-arranging of the rule they just introduced: require brewers to prove they've sold 100hL of product before the ANBL will consider listing them. i.e. anyone can bottle/sell out of growlers/whatever at their brewery or directly to licensees as long as they have a brewing licence, but the ANBL waits 'til you've sorted out the kinks to go through the effort of adding you to their network.

I'm not saying such a policy is ideal or friendly, but it would allow the ANBL to maintain their belief that their products are superior.

As an aside:

which are safe for the public

He's aware his job is to sell poison, right?

[mcgster]

Just curious but i remember canuck saying he had to send his beer to fredericton for tasting / approval. Does anyone know if this is required to sell growlers onsite?

I can't imagine it is since many breweries rotate their growler selection frequently.

I am wondering if this 100HL rule is an attempt to force the beer through this testing protocol prior to issuing an on premise distribution license..

[canuck]

#3 is clearly insane and smacks of our old brew on premise boogeyman argument.

#4 what the fuck does that bullshit even mean? Willing to work with? Is Harriman going to buy him some gear from dme and help him brew on his days off? What a bunch of garbage.

Yup, both #3 and #4 by Harriman are utter bullshit. Before I was able to have my beers listed with ANBL, I had to have samples sent up to their head office in Fredericton to be tasted in front of their panel of people. God knows how qualified these people are for beer tasting, but in the end, these were the people that approved or disapproved the listing of my beers. So having to go through this, I have zero understanding of point of Harriman's point #3. If a safe and quality product is the issue, why have a tasting panel approve or disapprove the product in the first place?? You certainly don't need to produce 10,000 litres of beer to find that out.

As for #4, I have no idea whatsoever how they'll help Mitch, myself, or any other Nano in New Brunswick reach the 100hl requirement. They haven't helped me in any way so far so I don't see how that's going to change. In the end, they aren't there to help anyone except themselves.

[canuck]

It sounds like the things he's trying to achieve, particularly as expressed in point 3, could be met by a simple re-arranging of the rule they just introduced: require brewers to prove they've sold 100hL of product before the ANBL will consider listing them. i.e. anyone can bottle/sell out of growlers/whatever at their brewery or directly to licensees as long as they have a brewing licence, but the ANBL waits 'til you've sorted out the kinks to go through the effort of adding you to their network.

I'm not saying such a policy is ideal or friendly, but it would allow the ANBL to maintain their belief that their products are superior.

As an aside:

which are safe for the public

He's aware his job is to sell poison, right?

But that would be impossible as you can't sell beer in any format (bottle, growler, keg, etc) in NB without being listed with ANBL first.

[benwedge]

It sounds like the things he's trying to achieve, particularly as expressed in point 3, could be met by a simple re-arranging of the rule they just introduced: require brewers to prove they've sold 100hL of product before the ANBL will consider listing them. i.e. anyone can bottle/sell out of growlers/whatever at their brewery or directly to licensees as long as they have a brewing licence, but the ANBL waits 'til you've sorted out the kinks to go through the effort of adding you to their network./quote]

But that would be impossible as you can't sell beer in any format (bottle, growler, keg, etc) in NB without being listed with ANBL first.

Allow anyone to fill growlers. Keep the 100hL requirement for ANBL distribution. (Better: copy NS and get rid of those restrictions.)

[cagiva650]

Hard to believe that NS liquor laws are more progressive than another province!

You should visit the NLC in Newfoundland. You will believe it is 1975

[RossBee]

Any response from the crowds at Picaroons or Pump House? I know they are not affected, but it is their heritage!!

As far as samples to NBLC, we have to send every product to be listed to them for "taste testing and review", a big drunk once a month if you ask me.

As far as ensuring that nanos and micros are financially stable and able to supply, what the fuck, does any other retailer do this check? Are we in the automotive beer industry, where sales grind to a halt when one part is not delivered?

We just had our weekly Monday musical event at Winegarden, questions regarding craft beer production and sales are continually coming up. What to do?