Craft beer industry in Canada?

[TBIM]

Does Canada have a big craft beer industry like we do in the U.S.? :confused:

[markaberrant]

Yes, craft beer is on the rise gaining in popularity here. However, I would say that it is not as "mature" as the US brewing scene. There is some excellent beer being made, but a lot of brewers are still fairly reserved and traditional when compared to the US brewers. For example, it is hard to find an IPA that compares to a US hop-bomb... even the really hoppy ones up here still tend to have a lot of body and malt complexity. Forget about sour beers (I know of only 1 in the country) or other experimental stuff... I can only think of 1 saison too.

Another problem with Canada is we are geographically sparse. It's tough for a new craft brewer to grow sales when there just isn't that many people around. Think about it: Canada has around 30 million people (same as California) - only a small portion of these people are interested in craft beer. You've got these small pockets of people across the country, instead a concentrated market (like say California).

That being said, there is a great little online community of Canadians who trade craft beers amongst ourselves, and so the word gets around about great breweries across the country.

[TBIM]

Good to hear that it's growing!

[cattersley]

I live in Ontario, where the caft brewing industry has organized under the Ontario Craft Brewers ( ontariocraftbrewers.ca ), and granted there 30 breweries within the association, and a number of independents/brew pubs, are producing some great brews the craft brewing in Ontario stick to only certain styles, and doesn't produce the experimental, extreme examples of these styles to which I have sampled in the U.S.A.

I very much enjoy hunting for beers in the U.S., for I am finding though the craft beers available to me are good in Ontario, I have tried them all, and crave new products.

The first response to this thread mentioned population, but what could be another problem is interprovincal trade restrictions, gas prices, as well as the Brewer's retail (Big 3)/ LCBO monopoly that controls distribution in Ontario.

When I have went outside of the province (QUE, NB, NS, NFD & LD, AB, & BC), and or friends/ family, I am always bringing back a numourous craft brew that I wish were sold here...

As I am typing this I had three orders of craft brews coming from the States, and I can't wait to try them!

I honestly think we need some new blood to shake up the industry up here, and should petition the powers that be to look at making beer from other provinces, and the U.S.A. more available, possibly create an all craft brew outlet chain so that Ontarians are not limited in there beer experiences.

Cheers all!

Regards, cattersley.

[shugalou]

I'm my own craft brewer. One of the reasons I enjoy brewing so much is because I can brew things that aren't available at the LCBO. I'll brew things that I've never tried before because they aren't easily available.

Pumpkin Ales, Christmas Ales, and Vanilla Oatmeal Porter are my most adventurous brews to date. I enjoy showing up to a get together and bringing my latest brew and telling people whats in it.

I think it's difficult for craft beers to find their way into the LCBO due to the tight restrictions and regulations designed to keep the craft brewers at bay.

[cattersley]

I just bought a house and am looking to set up my own home brew. I can't wait to do the same as you, making my own beer to share with family and friends.

Recently I tried Headstrong Munich Lager, English IPA, and Neustadt Springs Lager, and Scottish Style Ale. All were enjoyable.

I had a care package delivered to me from the good old USA:

- Dogfish 60 minute IPA
- Shipyard Pale Ale
- Rogue Porter
- Blue Moon
- Bue Moon Summer Ale
- Crazy Dog Summer Wheat

I can't wait to try these. I have been to NY State, and Florida in the past year, and there selection of craft brews even at grocery store was fantastic, as well as the price compared to here...

regards, cattersley.

[shugalou]

Congratulations on the new house! The business case for making your own beer has just gotten stronger with the money you can save brewing your own.

Those sound like some tasty beers - I've heard a lot about blue moon and dogfish. I try to find some new beers at the LC, but selection is limited. I recently tried 'Motor Oil' (I think that's what it was called) and it was a nice dark beer.

Sharing the brew with family and friends is really the highlight of brewing for me - it doesn't cost much to make and you can really suprise people who don't expect much from a homemade brew. I went the all grain route with the help of Kulman last winter and I haven't looked back.

[markaberrant]

Homebrewing rocks. I'm one of the organizers of the largest homebrew competition in Canada. It's right around the corner, but you've still got a few days to get your entries in:

www.alesclub.com

[thebirdman]

Mine is on the way

[Jordan303]

im a college student originally from vaughan ontario (near wonderland) but in college im in sault ste. marie. back in toronto i found tons of great places to purchase products. Especially since the guy who tought me how to brew won first in canada for a stout, so he takes me most places i need to go. But here in sault ste. marie its impossible! There was northern brewers here but they closed down long before i got here. As for brewing supplies im restricted to wine shops and offcourse the internet.

Micro breweiry beers are hard to find here. Luckly they carry mill st and the bottles allways have a fine coat of dust on them!

As for craft beer i think in toronto you can go to a bunch of great places such as mill st, cafe volo, granite brewery. As for the rest of the country i couldn't really say...

[thekulman]

Hi All;

I've had the opportunity to try some of Sugalou's beers and they are indeed fine!
As for craft brewing/Micro's it was in a very good state back in the late 80's, early 90's with Upper Canada, Connor's, Wellington, Sleeman's, Amsterdam etc... but alas, most of those have been either bought or merged into the big Beer machine.
Mill St. has expanded and now has a new brewery in Scarborough plus their flagship opperation in the Distillery district to supply their demand and Amsterdam has their new brewery - I'd still consider them Micro's as well as Creemore, which is owned by the big boys now but allowed independance.

But gone are the dozen or so brew pubs that doted the Toronto region landscape back in the early 90's ... even Gordon Biersch which opened in Whitby was forced to close when one partner embezzelled the money and took off!

My list of favorite places to enjoy a beer are Smokeless Joe's, the Granite and C'est What plus, my home! Sugalou and I just bought kegging systems from www.kegconnection.com and are hoping to have them up and running by the weekend.

Brian
Homebrewers Retail

www.homebrewersretail.com