beernesday

my notes from yesterday's beer column on cbc radio's on the coast with stephen quinn: Coralee Oakes, the BC Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction announced last week that as of November 30th government liquor stores will be able to carry up to twelve local craft beers that are non-listed.  Being non-listed means that the products are not otherwise available at the government stores. The new program is timed to coincide with BC Buy Local Week.   Buy Local Week is "an annual celebration of local business to promote the contributions that BC businesses make to our economy and our communities".  Craft breweries definitely fit that bill - they're contributing more and more to local economies and are changing the face of neighbourhoods, so you can't fault the Ministry on their timing! There are currently 102 breweries in the province which qualify as microbreweries by the Province and can take advantage of the initiative.  To be considered...

another beer-related kickstarter campaign is on its way i'll have the link once it's live but in the meantime, here's the low-down (and, of course, i would never suggest anyone break any laws): Lolo lids is the new way to hide your drink while keeping it cool from the sun.  Simply snap your beer or can of choice into the bottom of the lid and pop it into your coffee cup.  Lolo lids fits almost all to go cups including Starbucks, 7-eleven or Van Huet to name a few.  The can inside is suspended from the lid so it forms an air barrier that keeps your drink colder longer than a traditional beer cozy.  Lolo also features an ergonomically designed lid thats nicer to drink out than a can and the extra breather hole keeps it flowing smooth. The perfect thing about a Lolo lid is when you’re done with it, simply recycle your can and cup, and throw the lid in your pocket for next time. I love when I’m travelling and I can drink on the streets, parks, and on the...

can no one just provide a straight-forward, simple answer to a direct question any more? look how frustrated i am, i'm talking in huge generalities! i have been trying for the past couple of days to find out if vancouver breweries and distilleries can just up and start selling each others' products with no further ado. do you suppose the city or the province could tell me? nope. my tweet to @CityofVancouver August 3rd: "Do local breweries & distilleries need to do anything before they start selling each others' drinks under the new BC law?" tweet from @CityofVancouver August 4th: "Morning! I would suggest contacting the LCLB in regards to the Liquor Control and Licensing Act [link to Liquor Control and Licensing Branch page at gov.bc.ca website]" my tweet to @CityofVancouver August 4th: "Thanks but I need to know if the City will allow breweries to sell hard liquor, and distilleries to sell beer, wine & cider" tweet f...

here are my notes from yesterday's beer column on cbc radio one's on the coast with stephen quinn: The Beer News: I hope everyone got to celebrate Vancouver’s “Patio Day” yesterday.  The Mayor and council made it possible for restaurants to place temporary patios on the sidewalk or business parking stalls.  19 businesses took advantage, including 12 Kings Pub. Tap & Barrel has a new location in North Vancouver.  Called Tap & Barrel Shipyards, it is Western Canada’s largest restaurant at 14,000 square feet.  It is located in a 100 year old building, using reclaimed and regional materials in keeping with Tap & Barrel’s commitment to sustainability and keeping it local.  It also has a lending library, so feel free to drop of a book or two, and to borrow one while you’re there.  Good news for patio lovers, the custom designed aluminum trays that hold tasting glasses are chilled so that you beer will stay cold longer in the hot weather....

well, that took me by surprise! changes to the provincial cabinet leave suzanne anton out of liquor the liquor distribution branch is no longer under the purview of the solicitor general it's now with small business and red-tape reduction hopefully this means some better handling of the revisions to the liquor laws (dare we hope for a new look at the pricing model???) and more red-tape reduction best bet for change though? vote the liberals out when you get the chance!

NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release 2015JAG0182-001191 July 28, 2015 VANCOUVER 􀀃Most customers at a distillery lounge are visiting for the spirits 􀀃however, thanks to the latest government liquor update, they will now also have the option to order a beer, cider or glass of wine, if they prefer. Previously, a winery could only sell glasses of vino it produced onsite, and a brewery could only let you buy a glass of its local beer. This would sometimes mean that some visitors would choose to not purchase anything, if they'd rather have a cider or a mixed drink, for example. No longer is this the case. Starting today, distilleries, wineries, cideries and breweries with licensed lounges or special event areas can sell liquor they don't produce, for customers to enjoy during their visit. By making this change, it also means that, in many cases, customers throwing a wedding or other event at one of these locations won't have to apply for a separate Special Occasion ...

When I first heard about the price hike on 87% of the beers available in this province I, like most people, grumbled about it.  But I said that I didn’t think the price hikes would keep most people from drinking craft beer, and in the short term, I still think that’s the case.  But if the government raises prices, without notice to the brewers or the consumers, what’s to say that they won’t do so again soon?  If prices keep on rising that WILL make a difference in how many people drink craft beer, and how much of it they drink. Craft beer is a booming industry.  It employs people, it brings tourists to our province, and it brings in tax money to the province.  So why does government seem to be trying to destroy the industry?  I’m no financial wizard, but even I can see that making craft beer unaffordable for the masses will keep them from buying it.  If people aren't buying the product, fewer craft breweries will open, which will result in few...

and oldie, but it's about sours , so that makes it a goodie! iain hill and conrad gmoser talk sours truer words... running a beer festival is way more work than you'd ever expect live long and thank beer paddy treavor is back! calling the liberal asshats out on their liquor law asshattery 10 reasons to visit breweries by bike ipas are giving you man boobs and making me feel fabulous! now i just need some sage and henbane... oh, right, and to actually bother brewing again! microbrewing big business in edmonton

my notes from yesterday's beer column on cbc radio one's on the coast: Everyone is abuzz with the news that the price of craft beer has gone up in British Columbia.   I’m definitely not in favour of increasing beer prices, but I also can’t say that I’m surprised by the increase.  Beer advocates have been saying since the announcement of “leveling the playing field” that the policy was going to result in an increase in beer prices.  And here we are, a mere two months after the change and prices on 90% of the beers at the government liquor stores have increased, some by 10%.  But just because it is expected doesn't mean that craft beer drinkers aren't very annoyed by the price increase.  Especially when the increase is not even across the board.  Craft beer has definitely seen a higher price increase than macro beers. Molson Canadian, Labatt’s Blue and Kokanee beers haven't seen a price increase.   I think the people who are looking for a...

surprise, surprise the new liquor laws in bc are hurting private stores level playing field?  hardly

craft beer still on the rise in america (which isn't really news, now is it?) bc liquor policy changes leave the industry in limbo and hey, why not? a great craft beer 'i saw you' from the georgia straight: Nice Fellow (with a broken hand) at Strange Fellows Brewery posted Friday, March, 13th 2015, 12:13am Hope your hand is healing well Michael! It was nice to chat biking, beer, ghosts, roommates, home towns and stars (the moving kind too) with you and your Albertan/East coast friend. I wish I had given you my number. See you at Strange Fellows soon, same time same place? When: Thursday, March, 12 2015 Where: Strange Fellows Brewery

here are my notes from yesterday's beer column on cbc radio's on the coast: As the year draws to a close, let's recap the beer happenings in 2014. 2014 has been quite the year for craft beer!   So far 20 new breweries have opened up across the province. I’d like to welcome the newest Vancouver craft brewery:   S trangefellows!   Strangefellows is now open on Clark Drive in East Vancouver .   They are still jumping through hoops to get their lounge endorsement, so currently they’re just serving up growler fills.   Iain Hill, formerly of Yaletown BrewPub, is the brewmaster and he is well-known in the craft beer world for his incredible sour beers.   Strangefellows will have a barrel program, so look for sour beers from them in 2015.   Currently they have a deliciously hoppy pale ale on tap that is a mere 3.8%, a wit, a lager and a brown ale. Also freshly opened are Category 12 Brewing in Central Saanich and Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse in Terrac...

best beer cities by livability.com bellingham makes #8 on the list (san diego, denver and bend are the top three) those rascally liberals were warned that their happy hour pricing would result in an increase and bill tieleman warns it will be the same thing with "level playing field" pricing to liquor sellers the secret world of beer muling 12 bucket-list breweries is this new home-brew system a good idea or a disservice to home brewers? hop vodka from anchor distilling best and worst christmas ales according to paste magazine (american and belgian) craft beer in kamloops and i'm throwing this one in there to see if anyone's paying attention the feminist killjoy holiday gift guide nothing beer related on the list, but day-um, it's a good list!

more changes were announced yesterday to bc's liquor laws they're nothing we hadn't already heard was probably coming, but there is an effective date now, confirming that the gov't is keeping with its promise to roll out the changes next spring. april 1, 2015 is the day. april fool's day seems an inauspicious day... hopefully it won't prove to be. click for the full news release , the highlights of which are:   For consumers, April 1, 2015, will mark the first day that grocery stores are allowed to sell liquor through the store-within-a-store model. As well, that same day, restrictions will be lifted on BC Liquor Stores, allowing them to offer refrigeration and to stay open longer hours, including on Sundays. Starting April 1, 2015, all liquor retailers, including BC Liquor Stores, will purchase their product from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) at a common, wholesale price. This will do away with the existing complex model that offers retaile...

i was on tv again last evening! talking to andrew chang at cbc about the new changes to the liquor laws in bc if you missed me, you can still check it out here

belgian beer pipeline can we get enbridge to build one of these instead?? shame on you labatt's still trying to convince the gullible that shock-top is craft brewed vintage pics of vancouver's brewing scene stone brewing is going to be available in bc once again!  yay! the serious down-side to the legislation allowing beer sales in grocery stores and unfettered re-location of existing licences under an 8 year moratorium on issuing new licences - small communities may see their licences bought up and moved elsewhere

when will beer be coming to the shelves of british columbia's grocery stores? that is the question i was tasked with answering for the cbc local tv news yesterday the answer in a nutshell:  not any time soon the pessimistic addendum:  if at all oh, i'm sure the legislation will be written in the spring like the liberals have promised i'm just not sure that it will be written in such a manner as to be practicable background - facts (and my opinionated commentary): - the liberal government held meetings and welcomed feedback from the community about revising the province's liquor laws (listening attentively to health and safety concerns and big business concerns, and not so attentively to stakeholders and beer advocates) - parliamentary secretary john yap wrote a list of recommendations and delivered it to attorney general susan anton on november 25, 2013, amid a media flurry (giving the ag a couple of months to review the report before it goes public - g...