New ANBL Licensing Rules - Hurting Small Startup Breweries!

[mr x]

I think it's time to ask more questions. Who are these people testing the beer, where do they work, what is their relationship with macros/micros? Who drafted these new regulations? What was the data collected that required these new laws? Really need to start asking deeper questions to get to the sources.

[BobbyOK]

Just posted this in "Beer in the news", but it applies here too. Big brewery execs don't get it. Not Pete Coors, and clearly not Brian Harriman.

Pete Coors Confused By Craft Beer Growth

Pete Coors, great-grandson of Coors founder Adolph Coors and chair of the Molson Coors Brewing Company and Chairman of MillerCoors, recently talked with the Denver Post about the expansion of craft beer, saying he has trouble understanding the growth of craft beer during such hard economic times. According to thearticle, MillerCoors showed a 2% decline in domestic sales last month, which is indicative of beer sale trends in recent years as craft beer gains more market share.

“We have a lot of bar owners who are enamored with craft beers,” Coors told the Post. “They are beginning to take off premium light handles and putting bottles behind the bar instead and replacing the handles with craft beer handles. We lose 50% of our volume when that happens.”

While domestic light beer sales continue to drop, the more expensive craft beer market continues to grow at 7%, which baffles Coors.

“In this economy, that is difficult to understand. But people are staying home now, not buying cars or houses. They have money to spend. They want to spend it on something that they think has more value…you talk about millennials. The world is very different.”

Coors says his company is looking into brewing more “crafty” labels, but remains a Banquet Beer drinker himself.

[dean2k]

Everything about this industry in the Maritimes is antiquated in the worst possible way. Allow free market, entrepreneurship, and innovation run its course, collect your tax revenues, and GTFO.

[canuck]

Recently had a call from CBC and what they've been told from ANBL is that this new ludicrous fawking rule is also retroactive for other Breweries as well. ANBL seriously needs to wake up and shake their freakin' heads........unbelievable!!!

[mr x]

It would have to retroactive. People need to start requesting the information that led to this change. Find out who came to the conclusions that these new laws were necessary. Names.

[canuck]

I 1000% disagree that this new law should be retroactive. This doesn't affect my brewery personally, but there are others like Big Axe that have been permitted to sell beer on premise in the form of growlers and glasses.......you just can't change the freakin' rules AFTER a brewery has been opened and previously permitted to sell beer in that way. Shit like this makes my blood boil!

[canuck]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns ... -1.2714569" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[chicanuck]

Shane - I am assuming this does not effect you because you do not have a Brewery Agency Store Licence? I guess what I don't understand is what is the difference between selling your beer in kegs to a bar and someone buying a growler from Railcar, if 10,000L is required to prove product quality and financial viability? It really seems unjustifiable, it will be interesting to see if they turn face after the meeting today.

[dean2k]

if 10,000L is required to prove product quality and financial viability?

That line is complete bullshit. By that definition, there would be no Pump House or any other brew pub. I really wish PH would speak up to this.

[jeffsmith]

Looks like there was no turnaround in the decision according to the change.org page. This situation is all kinds of fucked up.

[dean2k]

Given the last minute switcheroo that fucked the business plan, I wonder if Mitch has a legal recourse he can pursue?

[mr x]

What I meant Shane is that you could not grandfather that in, it would create a two tier system. Any laws of that significance are going to have to be universal.

As far as ph, maybe they are comfortable with this....

[dean2k]

As far as ph, maybe they are comfortable with this....

I erred. The rules are for consuming off premises so brew pub wouldn't be affected. However, if the rules concerning the craft beer landscape are changing retroactively, then maybe PH shouldn't be comfortable.

[jeffsmith]

As far as ph, maybe they are comfortable with this....

I erred. The rules are for consuming off premises so brew pub wouldn't be affected. However, if the rules concerning the craft beer landscape are changing retroactively, then maybe PH shouldn't be comfortable.

PH and Picaroon's have likely sold so much volume through ANBL that this may not even be on their radar. Picaroon's possibly, but I'd highly doubt PH.

[dean2k]

Not the question of volume, but I was thinking of the principle of the matter. I know, principle, who am I kidding? But makes me wonder about AcadieBroue. Has Patrice sold 100 HL ? Has Grimross?

[chalmers]

I agree with Jeff, I believe the big two are in no danger.

I worry about Shiretown, as they have bottles in the ANBL (and several tap accounts), but would be surprised if they were hitting that magic 100hl number. They currently offer growler fills.
Big Axe, as they are still breaking in to the market, I don't think their numbers would be above 100hl/year (draft only, no bottles at the ANBL). They currently offer growler fills.
Petit-Sault have only just opened (but are much bigger systems), I suspect they'll be able to do 100hl within 3-4 months. I'm pretty sure bottles and growlers at their spot is part of their plan, though they'd currently be handcuffed until they hit that magic number.
Grimross, I feel they are probably achieving the 100hl level in total, but unsure how much of that is growlers from the Picaroons Brewtique. But maybe they don't need the same license for this to even be a worry.

As far as I understand, the rest of the smaller breweries are draft only.

(Dean, your post came in after I typed all of that up, so lemme rift on that here)

I agree with you, the rules with regards to any minimum volume are garbage. It shouldn't matter what volume, or sold in what format, as long as the beer is safe, it should be allowed to be sold.

[chalmers]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns ... -1.2714979" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

NB Liquor says new rule won’t impede two microbreweries
NB Liquor CEO says Railcar Brewing Company and Grimross Brewers will not be hampered by new rule

The head of the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation (ANBL) says a new rule some brewers believe will kill start-ups in the province will not inhibit at least two businesses.

The rule came into effect this month under a new Brewery Agency Stores (BAS) policy. It requires microbreweries to sell 10,000 litres of beer in NB Liquor stores in to obtain a BAS licence.

A BAS licence allows a brewer to sell beer on-site for consumption off-site.

ANBL's president and CEO met with Railcar Brewing Company of Florenceville-Bristol and Grimross Brewers of Fredericton at ANBL's headquarters Tuesday.

“We are going to work with them to ensure that they are not impeded at all in their start-up and that we can work with them to grow their business and grow the [craft beer] category here in New Brunswick,” said Brian Harriman.

He says the new policy still stands and applies to all brewers, but that ANBL will continue to work with Railcar and Grimross to ensure their businesses, scheduled to open their brewery doors next month and in the fall, respectively, aren’t hampered.

Grimross Brewers's founder and owner walked out of his meeting with Harriman a happy man.

“I was given the assurance that I will be eligible to apply for a Brewery Agency Store and I’m confident based on what we’re doing today that we’ll be in good stead to be able to have that," said Stephen Dixon.

[dean2k]

Well that's a relief for Railcar and Grimross. But there's some interesting language in ANBL's statement for what is supposed to be a regulator. Let's see what transpires.

[chalmers]

Based on my reading of Mitch's posts on Facebook, he is not satisfied, and not happy. So there is a definite reality vs. media spin discrepancy going on here.

[mr x]

Whole thing sounds shady to me. Grimross is in a different situation than railcar are they not regarding equipment?

I'm not remotely concerned about the big two. In fact, who's to say this new law isn't beneficial to them[WINKING FACE]

[mumblecrunch]

Interesting bullshit decision in a completely different jurisdiction:

http://www.thelocal.se/20140722/new-sys ... -breweries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Smells somehow similar to the ANBL thing. Is it potentially the result of Big Beer lobbying, or is it just a misguided attempt to spread the love?

[chalmers]

I don't know for sure, but my understanding is that the "bigger two" (Picaroons and Pump House) were not consulted before these rules were implemented. I can't speak for any contact with Moosehead. And, while it may not be a hindrance to them, the one owner of these brewery's I've heard from isn't happy with all of this either.

[cagiva650]

"And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again."

Stan Rogers, The Mary Ellen Carter.

[mcgster]

I just realized that this probably has more to do with the fact that NBLC will start selling growlers themselves!

[mr x]

Really, how are planning to do that?