National Capital Region Beer News

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Breweries aren't buying the government. The world isn't some big conspiracy. Calm your tits.

Your idealism is admirable... reality is a different story...

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2...ians_cohn.html

A Toronto Star tabulation shows more than $525,000 was donated to the three major political parties by The Beer Store, its foreign owners and the union representing beer industry employees in 2013 and 2014. That windfall contrasts sharply with the federal political scene, where any donations by corporations and unions are prohibited by law

[eltodesukane]

What about IGA? Food Basics? FreshCo? Will they also sell beer? When?

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

You can bet that the photo ops tomorrow with the Premier will be cringeworthy with the Premier cracking open a cold one and toasting the wonderful idea her party had for this earth shattering progress into the 19th century

Wynne buys six-pack as Ontario grocers begin selling beer

Adrian Morrow
The Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 11:30AM EST | Last updated Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 12:28PM EST



Ontario has unveiled the first 58 grocery stores in the province that will sell beer.

Most of the locations are outlets of major chains – Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro and Wal-Mart – with a handful of independents.

The stores, which had to bid for special licences, will only be allowed to sell six-packs and singles. The Beer Store, owned by three multinational corporations, will retain a monopoly on 24-packs and most 12-packs.

Premier Kathleen Wynne and Finance Minister Charles Sousa bought the first packs of beer Tuesday from a ?Loblaws on Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto’s east end.

“I’m double-fisting!” exclaimed Mr. Sousa as he ?picked up a six-pack of Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion in one hand and a bottle of Kissmeyer Nordic Pale Ale in the other. “Premier, did you get the snacks?”

Ms. Wynne, for her part, selected a ?pack of Rhyme & Reason from Hamilton’s brewery Collective Arts Brewing.

The Loblaws clerk asked her for ID at the checkout.

“It’s nice to be carded,” Ms. Wynne said.

The beer-in-grocery-stores program is part of a series of modest reforms to the province’s liquor distribution system meant to deliver more money to government coffers and to offer more opportunities to craft brewers.

The province aims to eventually auction off 450 grocery store licences but has not set a deadline.

Follow Adrian Morrow on Twitter: @adrianmorrow

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle27756802/

[McKellarDweller]

There are a few more Ottawa stores listed here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...ores-1.3365789
W00t that the Sobeys at Tribeca I go to 3-4x a week will be included.

[Proof Sheet]

Premier Kathleen Wynne and Finance Minister Charles Sousa bought the first packs of beer Tuesday from a Loblaws on Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto’s east end.

“I’m double-fisting!” exclaimed Mr. Sousa as he picked up a six-pack of Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion in one hand and a bottle of Kissmeyer Nordic Pale Ale in the other. “Premier, did you get the snacks?”

Ms. Wynne, for her part, selected a ?pack of Rhyme & Reason from Hamilton’s brewery Collective Arts Brewing.

I knew this photo op would be cringeworthy. Similar to those pre Stanley Cup or Grey Cup bets that mayors have of opposing cities involving iconic food or uniforms of each city.

I would love to know how this news is playing out in the rest of the world.

Well at least Mr. Sousa picked a good beer.

[eemy]

I wonder why they are almost all in the west end.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I wonder why they are almost all in the west end.

A subset of them all being in the suburbs. Same in Hamilton.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I wonder why they are almost all in the west end.

As well, why so many proportionally in Ottawa area in general....for many here in Ottawa we are used to heading to Hull to buy cheap beer and also Quebec craft/micro beers. It is probably the easiest place in Ontario to get cheap beer outside of the province. People in Niagara, Windsor, Sarnia, Cornwall etc all have the hassles of long border lineups, bridge tolls, exchange rates that cut into the cost efficiency of buying beer in the US.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

As well, why so many proportionally in Ottawa area in general....for many here in Ottawa we are used to heading to Hull to buy cheap beer and also Quebec craft/micro beers. It is probably the easiest place in Ontario to get cheap beer outside of the province. People in Niagara, Windsor, Sarnia, Cornwall etc all have the hassles of long border lineups, bridge tolls, exchange rates that cut into the cost efficiency of buying beer in the US.

to my mind, that's exactly why there should be more outlets in Ottawa.

Of course, those outlets should be the result of a free market instead of a managed economy...

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

A subset of them all being in the suburbs. Same in Hamilton.

The Sobeys downtown is going to be one of them.

[rocketphish]

Beer in grocery stores means expansion, more jobs at Beau's: CEO

Tom Pechloff, OBJ
Published on December 15, 2015

Calling it a very exciting day, Beau’s All-Natural Brewing Co. CEO Steve Beauchesne said Tuesday that selling his beer in grocery stores in Ontario will eventually mean at least 100 new jobs at the brewery’s headquarters in Vankleek Hill.

“When it’s fully rolled out, we can expect this to come close to doubling our sales through the retail channel. Obviously, it’s going to take some time,” Steve Beauchesne said.

For now, 58 stores across the province are licensed to sell six-packs of beer, including eight in Ottawa. By May, it’s expected beer will be in 150 grocery stores across the province, with that number eventually climbing to 450. Beer will be the same price as at the Beer Store and LCBO outlets.

“This is kind of the starting point,” Mr. Beauchesne said. “The biggest issue for craft brewers has always been access to the customer.”

With that access now potentially coming in spades, Mr. Beauchesne said Beau’s is investing to meet growing demand.

“This spring we’ll be adding, I believe, six new fermenters and should be able to more than meet the initial demand and be ready for future growth as well,” he said. “We’re at about 150 employees at this point and it’s going to add easily another 100 when it is fully rolled out.”

It’s not just Vankleek Hill that will benefit from the ripple effects of the new sales channel, he said.

“That’s the wonderful thing about this,” Mr. Beauchesne said. “We’re one of 130 breweries in the province, spread out over a number of different towns of all sizes. When you roll this out in terms of what it means for employment and investment into Ontario communities, it’s huge.”

For now, Beau’s is being sold in 19 Loblaw stores across the province, and the brewery is in talks with most of the other 39 stores that are licensed to sell suds.

Mr. Beauchesne said Beau’s met with Loblaw to present its portfolio of beers. While he expected its signature Lug Tread brand to be selected, he was pleased to see the store also pick up its Tom Green stout and Kissmeyer, Beau’s nordic pale ale.

He said Loblaw stores launched the sale with craft beer making up 50 per cent of their inventory.

“As they expand, they’re committing to keeping that (ratio) and I think that’s huge,” he said.

Farm Boy is expected to place its first order with the brewery shortly, possibly as soon as Tuesday, Mr. Beauchesne said.



Grocery Stores in Ottawa now selling beer from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

• Loblaws - 1980 Baseline Rd.
• Real Canadian Superstore - 760 Eagleson Rd.
• Brown’s Your Independent Grocer - 1251 Main St. (Stittsville)
• Farm Boy - 2030 Tenth Line Rd.
• Sobey’s - 700 Terry Fox Dr.
• Sobey’s - 840 March Rd.
• Sobey’s - 193 Metcalfe St.
• Metro - 3201 Strandherd Dr.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/2015-12-15/a...Beaus%3A-CEO/1

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

The Sobeys downtown is going to be one of them.

"Is going to be" is a future tense.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

"Is going to be" is a future tense.

The downtown Sobeys is part of the wave of the first 58. If not already, they will have beer within weeks.

[rocketphish]

This could be interesting...

Inter-provincial beer ban violates Constitution, N.B. judge rules

CAMPBELLTON, N.B. — The Canadian Press

Published Friday, Apr. 29, 2016 12:56PM EDT | Last updated Friday, Apr. 29, 2016 12:58PM EDT

A judge has dismissed charges against a New Brunswick man charged with illegally importing 14 cases of beer and three bottles of liquor from a Quebec border town, in a ruling the defence lawyer says “huge” ramifications.

Judge Ronald LeBlanc threw out all charges Friday against Gerard Comeau, one of four people facing charges after a police “sting” operation in 2012.

“Essentially, Judge Leblanc’s decision confirms that what tens of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands of New Brunswickers have been doing for the past 40 years is not a crime,” said Mikael Bernard after the ruling in Campbellton provincial court Friday.

The New Brunswick Liquor Control Act prohibits anyone in the province from having more than 12 pints of beer that wasn’t purchased through a liquor store in the province.

Comeau’s liquor was seized and he was fined $292.50.

His lawyers challenged the provincial laws as unconstitutional, arguing the Constitution says anything produced in one province shall be admitted free into the other provinces.

The prosecution told the court when the case was heard that the issue is whether the section of the Constitution Act applies today in a country that has developed significantly since 1867.

“Judge LeBlanc found that section 134b of the Liquor Control Act...goes again section 121 of the Constitution Act of 1867,” said Bernard Friday. “He declared that the Liquor Control Act...had no force in effect.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle29800098/

[rocketphish]

Beau's to sell brewery to employees

OBJ Staff
Published on May 17, 2016

Beau’s All-Natural Brewing announced Tuesday it is selling its operations – but as the trailblazing Vankleek Hill brewery has done for most of its 10-year history, it is taking an unconventional route.

In July, the family-run operation will start selling shares in the business to its employees, a path only a handful of other breweries in North America have followed.

CEO Steve Beauchesne, who founded the company with his father Tim in 2006, said he believes giving employees a stake in the firm is the best way to ensure it remains independent while it moves ahead with plans to expand across the country beginning later this year.

“By handing the reins over to our employees we are saying this changes everything, because this change is everything,” Mr. Beauchesne, an OBJ Forty Under 40 recipient last year, said in a statement. “We look forward to our expansion and success across Canada, with the help of our new company stewards.”

In an era when large breweries are entering the craft brew market by snapping up microbreweries, Beau’s move is designed to keep the brewery’s “legacy as a fiercely independent, Canadian owned and family-run operation,” the company said in a release.

Since 2006, Beau’s has grown 45 per cent year-over-year and now has 150 full-time staff.

“Our success during this time is strongly rooted in the support of our employees and fans, who have always believed in our promise,” Mr. Beauchesne said.

As co-owners, the employees will now have “shared responsibility” for the future of Beau’s, the brewery said.

Currently, Mr. Beauchesne and his father own 60 per cent of the company, with early employees and other investors holding the remaining stake. Under the new ownership plan – which will officially launch on July 1, the brewery’s 10th anniversary – Beau’s will transfer a portion of those privately held shares to employees each year over the next few decades.

Employees can buy shares either through payroll deductions or lump sum payments.

The move marks the beginning of the brewery’s 10th anniversary year, which will also see a new “look and feel” for the brand as well as limited-edition brews and philanthropic projects, the company said.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/2016-05-17/a...to-employees/1

[rocketphish]

Beau's to be official beer partner for Ottawa 2017

Tom Pechloff, OBJ
Published on June 09, 2016

Ottawa 2017’s latest partner will not only quench the thirst of 150th birthday celebrants, it will also help market the city across the country, Mayor Jim Watson said Thursday.

The mayor announced that Beau’s All Natural Brewing of Vankleek Hill will be the official beer partner for Canada’s year-long birthday party in the city.

“Millions of bottles of beer that will be consumed and distributed throughout our country will market and promote Ottawa as the place to visit, the destination of choice for the residents of Canada and the people around the world in the sesquicentennial year,” Mr. Watson told an enthusiastic crowd waiting for samples at an Elgin Street restaurant.

The Ottawa 2017 branded bottles were unveiled at the news conference and will be available in the coming weeks. The brewery’s cash and in-kind contribution will also include promotions in local restaurants and bars, pouring at Ottawa 2017 events and hundreds of thousands of celebratory coasters.

Noting Beau’s marketing initiatives, its community work and its recent announcement it would sell a portion of the brewery to its employees, Mr. Watson called the company “a classic textbook case on how to run a great local business in our economy.”

Beau’s CEO Steve Beauchesne said it was an honour to be selected, adding it was particularly special because the brewer’s success was based on the support its Lug-Tread Lagered Ale – which will be the official beer of Ottawa 2017 – received from Ottawa beer lovers in the company’s early days.

“This is our gift to the city of Ottawa to say thank you for all you’ve done for us over the last 10 years,” he said.

The craft brewing industry is known for collaboration, and this partnership will be no different, Mr. Beauchesne said.

“We wanted very much to share this sponsorship with lots of people, so every event that we’ll be pouring our beer at we’ve decided we’ll include at least one local brewery to pour alongside with us,” he said.

In addition, Beau’s will work with partners across the country in the hope of brewing one collaborative beer a month throughout 2017. Two of those partners – Kichesippi Beer Co. and Big Rig Brewery – are local.

Mr. Beauchesne said choosing which local breweries to partner with was tough.

“Both of those two breweries were quite interested in Ottawa 2017 as well, so we were looking for a way to involve them to make sure that people that really put their hands up and said, ‘Hey, I want to do something with this’ had an opportunity,” he said.

He said the intent is to eventually include all the city’s craft brewers in the celebrations.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/Tourism/2016...-Ottawa-2017/1

[rocketphish]

Craft Beer festival bigger and better than ever, back for its 5th edition this weekend

Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: August 25, 2016 | Last Updated: August 25, 2016 4:55 PM EDT

Ottawa craft beer enthusiasts are expected to descend on Lansdowne Park this weekend to partake in what has become the largest craft beer festival in Ontario.

The fifth edition of the Ottawa Craft Beer festival will kickoff at the Aberdeen Pavilion when it opens its doors on Friday. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will see more than 40 breweries offer in excess of 200 different styles of suds for attendees to try.

The event’s expansion over the years coincides with a massive explosion in interest from consumers. The demand for locally brewed craft beer has never been higher.

“There’s an option now. That’s the joy. Back in the day you went in and bought a case of Molson Export, (Labatt’s) Blue or whatever it may have been,” said Philip Dangerfield, executive director of the Ottawa Craft Beer Festival. “Today, you’ve got all this selection.”

There are 140 craft breweries currently operating in Ontario, according to Ontario Craft Brewers, an industry group that has been formed by the upstart beer makers. Another 130 new breweries have already received manufacturing licences and are in the process of setting up operations across the province.

Things are no different here in Ottawa, where palettes of beer-drinking consumers have grown more sophisticated. An explosion of new breweries in recent years has blanketed the nation’s capital with new beer styles, new brands and more choice when it comes to what’s on tap. About a dozen local breweries will be represented at the event this weekend, including local relative newcomers as Stalwart Brewing Co. from Carleton Place and Bicycle Craft Brewery. Some of the attendees are long-term supporters of the festival —like Big Rig Brewery and Beaus All Natural Brewing — who see the event as a great opportunity to reconnect with the local supporters that have helped them expand their brand.

It’s also a chance to get feedback from some of the most passionate beer aficionados around.

“Local beer festivals give us an opportunity to meet and chat with the people who’ve been drinking our beer all year long, and hear what they think,” said Jen Beauchesne, a spokeswoman for Beaus. “It’s all the more fun when when we can be shoulder-to-shoulder with other local craft breweries we have built friendships with, and get to try their latest creations too.”

Beauchesne said Beaus will be bringing special kegs of beer it brewed for its 10th anniversary, which the brewery is currently celebrating.

The local breweries and brewing upstarts will join other heavy hitters from beyond Ottawa, including Waterloo Brewing Co., Goose Island Beer Co., and Amsterdam Brewery, as well as several other cider, food and merchandise vendors. Several imported beer brands will be on offer, including a number of brews by American craft beer savant Brewery Ommegang from Cooperstown, N.Y.

Last year’s event attracted as many as 20,000, but with an indoor space and more breweries, organizers are hoping for an even bigger turnout. This year’s event also features several tasting courses led by beer buffs to help those who are less initiated in the craft beer craze learn about the various styles on offer.

Ottawa Craft Beer Festival
When: Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.
Where: Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park
Tickets: Available online at ottawacraftbeerfestival.ca. Day passes are $22.50. Two day passes are available for $32.50 online and three day passes are $37.50. Admission does not not include tickets for beer tastings, which are extra.

http://ottawacitizen.com/business/lo...n-this-weekend

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Craft Beer festival bigger and better than ever, back for its 5th edition this weekend


Ottawa Craft Beer Festival
When: Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28.
Where: Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park
Tickets: Available online at ottawacraftbeerfestival.ca. Day passes are $22.50. Two day passes are available for $32.50 online and three day passes are $37.50. Admission does not not include tickets for beer tastings, which are extra.

What exactly do you get for $22.50 - $37.50 if that price doesn't include beer tastings/tickets? I'm sure it is a good time but it seems like a cover charge that is pretty steep.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

What exactly do you get for $22.50 - $37.50 if that price doesn't include beer tastings/tickets? I'm sure it is a good time but it seems like a cover charge that is pretty steep.

A LOT of pretzels?

[Admiral Nelson]

Was it always that pricey just to get in the door?