News broke last week by Dean Beeby of The Canadian Press that the recent minimum price that beer can be sold in Ontario by the case, up to $25.60 from $24.00, was implemented by the LCBO on the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance.  This has sparked some discussion on Bar Towel and quite a few news […]

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As we originally discussed in July, Beau’s was having serious challenges with The Beer Store and Beau’s unique swing-top bottles.  Since Beau’s does not sell their beer in The Beer Store, they were refusing to give them back to Beau’s when customers return them.   Good news for Beau’s however.  As Beau’s reported, as did […]

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The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) has an extensive online archive of TV and radio clips from their broadcasting history.  One of the topic areas that’s available is entitled “Selling Suds: The Beer Industry in Canada” that covers clips from 1961-2005.  It’s very interesting to see some of changes to the industry over the years.  Something […]

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Last night I was having some beers with friend Troy Burtch, and the topic of beer at fine restaurants came up. He had just written a post about the subject, and we both agreed that generally it is quite frustrating that many Toronto restaurants pride themselves on food and wine, but seem to not care […]

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Ted Chudleigh, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Halton, recently published an article in the Burlington Post about how Ontario needs to rethink how the beer retailing system works. Mr. Chudleigh has indicated that he will read into the record at Queen’s Park the petition collected by Derek Forward about breaking up the current system. […]

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Oftentimes it’s easy to believe that if something is a certain way here, it must be that way everywhere else.  But we all know this is certainly not the case with local customs and cultures.  However, sometimes we fall into this trap when it comes to alcohol in Ontario.  Today I’m writing a new article […]

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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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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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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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