One of the often overlooked problems with our beer system in Ontario is how the rest of our great country is generally omitted. To a casual beer drinker in Ontario, the craft beer selection consists of beers from Ontario and the rest of the world. Not, however, from the rest of Canada. Canada has thriving […]

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I was tipped off to a story from Ottawa about Steve Beauchesne from Beau’s on the CBC this week (MP3 file) discussing their challenges with The Beer Store and bottle deposit returns. Beau’s recently began offering their Lug Tread Ale in 750mL ceramic swing-top bottles at the LCBO.  This bottle is certainly a premium bottle and costs […]

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This will be a new feature at FreeOurBeer.org: Unavailable Beer of the Month.  This column will feature different beers from around the world that are unavailable for sale in Ontario, but might possibly be available under a private retail system if we had one. Today I’m tasting a beer from one of the most famous […]

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Brussels White has been scheduled to be part of the LCBO’s Summer 2008 seasonal beer release. There are a number of beers in this release, and many have shown up on LCBO shelves so far. Not Brussels White, however. Brussels White, a beer which the LCBO has released before in the past (therefore presumably a […]

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I created a logo for FreeOurBeer tonight.  What do you think?  T-shirts up next.

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Stephen Beaumont, acclaimed beer writer whose 10-year old article about Ontario beer retailing I have already linked to, has just posted a new article on the subject in light of the recent groundswell.  Stephen’s opinion echoes my own, which is to allow speciality beer retail stores, which can happily co-exist with The Beer Store and […]

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Dana Flavelle, author of the recent Bad Brew series in the Toronto Star, posted a follow-up article detailing her back and forth with Labatt and InBev in an attempt to secure an interview. An interesting read for sure.

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Stephen Beaumont tipped me to the fact that Lew Bryson, the accomplished beer writer from Philadelphia, also has an online call to arms addressing the shortcomings of his state liquor system.  Entitled Why The PLCB Should Be Abolished, Lew discusses the issues with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, such as the fact that beer, wine and […]

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As referenced in an article this week in the Toronto Star where Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed his support for Ontario wines, a report was released last week by MPP Tim Hudak entitled “Where Do We Grow From Here?” This report focuses on the future of the tender fruit and grape industries, which Mr. Hudak represents […]

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In an interesting yet maddening article this week in the Toronto Star, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed his support for Ontario-produced wines and announced that Transportation Minister Jim Bradley would be “considering any and all proposals that could enhance the sale of wine in the province of Ontario”. As correctly pointed out by my friend […]

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