Miraculously, microbrewery regulations ease up slightly
While craft beer fans are still lamenting the takeover of the old Duggan’s space by Molson Coors subsidiary Six Pints Specialty Beer Company, there was one good piece of news for the province’s microbreweries last week. Due to some last-minute intervention by Liberal MPP Grant Crack, licensed liquor delivery services (yes, they exist) will now be able to purchase their beer directly from small brewers, not just from the LCBO or the Beer Store. This was all precipitated by the shutdown of the new delivery service run by Beau’s All-Natural on the day it was supposed to open. What’s more, the incident has sparked a 15-month full-scale review of liquor licensing practices in the province. Some items on the craft brewers’s wish lists no doubt include: an all-craft beer retail store, to escape the Beer Store’s stranglehold and the vagaries of LCBO listings; the ability to share trucks between small breweries to save on shipping costs; and easier access to out-of-province markets. Not earth-shaking stuff, perhaps, but when it comes to liquor control in this province, things proceed only by baby steps. Read the entire story [Toronto Star] »
*luv* the idea of the Craft Beer Store.
While I think it’s good to report on the Beau’s/AGCO debacle, saying craft beer people are lamenting the take over of the Duggan’s space by Six Pints is misinformed and close-minded. If one thing is clear, a classic small microbrewer can’t sustain themselves there. Both Duggan’s and Denison’s proved this. That Six Pints has the financial backing and marketing machine of Molson-Coors means it is much more likely they will actually succeed where smaller companies have failed. I assume the perceived “lament” is because it’s Molson-Coors, to which I would reply, really? The owners of Creemore and Granville Island make you worried about their new endeavour? What historical evidence do you have Molson-Coors is unable to reasonably run a craft brewery? I would suggest there is none. We’re many people sad to see Duggan’s go? Sure. Should people be lamenting Six Pints moving in? Absolutely not.