online/mailorder to or within Canada?

[markaberrant]

I live in Canada, and I am interested in seeing what beer making products and supplies are available for online/mailorder purchase? I would prefer to buy within Canada so I can avoid customs hassles.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again, this forum rules!

[mmmBeer...]

The only fully stocked one I know is Paddock Wood www.paddockwood.com

Beer making ingrediants can also be found at http://www.skinaneybrewing.com/

Lists of other suppliers here:
http://barleyment.wort.ca/biz/
Mainly geared to the Ottawa market but some of the companies are Canada wide.

So where you from?

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by mmmBeer...
The only fully stocked one I know is Paddock Wood www.paddockwood.com

Beer making ingrediants can also be found at http://www.skinaneybrewing.com/

Lists of other suppliers here:
http://barleyment.wort.ca/biz/
Mainly geared to the Ottawa market but some of the companies are Canada wide.

So where you from?

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out later.

I'm from Regina. We've got a couple beer-making shops in town, but I find the selection quite small and I question the product freshness. Not that I have anything to compare them to, nor am I an expert, it's just an educated guess.

[mmmBeer...]

Originally posted by markaberrant
Thanks for the links, I'll check them out later.

I'm from Regina. We've got a couple beer-making shops in town, but I find the selection quite small and I question the product freshness. Not that I have anything to compare them to, nor am I an expert, it's just an educated guess.

Product freshness is a big problem in Canada LHBS's just not enough demand. I usually end up ordering from the states except when our club does bulk buys.

I have never heard any problems with freshness from Paddock Wood and they are based in Saskatoon so at least it isn't shipping very far.

We should get together for a pint or two sometime. I work for the RCMP so I find myself in Regina ever now and then.

[grainbrew]

You wouldn't happen to know where I could find any documents regarding the laws concerned with homebrewing in Canada would you?

The owner of paddockwood explained to me that it was illegal to steep grains for the purpose of making alcohol in Canada.

I also have a hard time finding what I want in Canada. I'm surprised that cities such as Montreal or Toronto don't have larger stores carrying equipment.

Cheers!

J

[mmmBeer...]

Hi Grainbrew

Laws are dependant on the province, so what is acceptable in Ontario might not be so in Nova Scotia. You would need to search you’re provincial liquor laws for the answer.

I can only imagine that he is talking about steeping grains for distillation purposes. AFAIK this is illegal in all Canadian provinces and the US for that matter.

Mashing is steeping grains to produce wort, which is then fermented into beer. This is legal in all provinces, but you can only brew for personal consumption (amounts are restricted…but who is gonna check), again depending on the province.

Equipment is easy to finding Canada, but quality ingredients are harder to find. Both Montreal and Toronto have some good places to buy equipment.

Where in the Maritimes are you? Our virtual brewclub http:barleyment.wort.ca has quite a few members from the east coast (mainly NB) that can help you out locating stuff, plus we have a club co-op so you can get stuff from other members. They do bulk purchases as well.

Our sister club in Montreal http://www.montrealers.ca can help you out with gear in Montreal. Both clubs rely on mail lists to communicate, so you would have to sign up to the list to reach the communities. Both are pretty traffic heavy, but very friendly.

[Bigal]

Hi , I was wondering if you minded listing the shops in Toronto that you would recommend.

[mmmBeer...]

Hey Bigal

We don't have too many members in Toronto. But one from Guelph highly recomended the Wine and Beer Factory in Brampton. Not sure if that is too far out for you.

If I get any more feedback I'll let you know.

[Bigal]

Thanks for the information. I actually live in Guelph too and work near Brampton.

[Platonic beer]

The law is a federal one that requires an excise permit if you soak malted barley in water. It is assumed that you intend to ferment it, and they want to track that. From a discussion I had with the CRA people, just technically, brewing from grain without a permit is illegal. But relax, nobody is going to do anything. Brewing from extract does not require this permit. This isa silly law carried over from the 1930 era, and nobody has botherd to change it.

[thekulman]

Happy Victoria Day weekend boys - cheers to May 24!

Getting ingredients has been my bain also. Years back when I started (late 80's) the Wine Art stores carried lots of cheap beer making supplies - not any more (the stores BTW are now called Wine Kitz).
The best store I know of is the
Soda Centre & Home Brewer's Retail
416-284-0007
4180 Kingston Road,
Scarborough, ON M1E 2M4

But even they have toned down on beer making supplies and mainly have extracts.

2 tips:
Go to any place that sells limited beer supplies, they usually order from VinoTec (or something like that) in Montreal. This dealer supplies most of the Canadian stores, but we can't buy directly through them. Give the manager your recipe and ask him to include what you need on his next order to them (usually at min. once a month), that way they will order for you what they don't usually stock, and when it comes in - it will be fresh!

Also - go to a local "brew on premise" location with your recipe, the good ones will happily sell you the the grains, extracts, hops you need, even if you're not brewing it there - and they usually have a large stock - just take lots of ziplock bags with you (they usually have a grain mill too!)

Also, check out www.5gallons.com/

Kul

[mmmBeer...]

Hey Guys,

Not mean to press...but if you check out the barleyment site (http://barleyment.wort.ca/), we are getting more and more southern ontario folks joining the mailing list. They are doing some bulk ordering so you can get stuff really cheap this way. The more of you that hook up this way really drops the cost for grain, hops and yeast.

Cheers!

[thekulman]

Originally posted by mmmBeer...
Hey Guys,

Not mean to press...but if you check out the barleyment site (http://barleyment.wort.ca/), we are getting more and more southern ontario folks joining the mailing list.

That is a good web site. Have you heard of an Oshawa based group calls Bozo's? (Brewers and Zymurgolist of Oshawa, or something like that).

ps - that Brampton store looks stocked! I'm planning on paying a visit soon.

Kul