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 successful offering), has been held up in the LCBO warehouse for a month and not being released to stores. The reason being, as explained by the beer’s importer, is that the beer has been tested with a higher alcohol percentage than declared on the label.

According to the LCBO’s chemical testing guidelines, a beer’s alcohol percentage must fall within +/- 0.3% if the beer is less than 5.6% alcohol, or within +/- 1.0% if the beer is greater than 5.6% alcohol. Since Brussels White is not a strong beer, it has been tested as being more than 0.3% higher than stated on the label. The label, it should also be mentioned, is one that Brussels White goes to the expense of printing specifically for the Canadian market to meet the LCBO’s standards.

The importer has been given two options from the LCBO: either pay $6900 to have the 800 cases of beer re-labeled with the accurate alcohol percentage, or have the beer destroyed (at the importer’s expense). This cost works out to be over $8 extra per case to apply the labels.

The LCBO is holding Brussels White hostage. A small alcohol variance is causing this successful beer which has sold well in the past and distributed all over the world, to be sitting in a warehouse. This site is called Free Our Beer. I can’t think of a more appropriate phrase to apply to this situation. Please continue the conversation at The Bar Towel or in the comment form here.

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

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 the LCBO as they are.  Speciality stores and large, mass-focused stores exist together with just about every other form of consumer good.  Why should beer be different?

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.

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 spirits can’t be sold in the same store.

Good to know we’re not alone in our attempts to achieve government reform with regards to alcohol.  Keep up the fight Lew, and at worst we can commiserate together over beers. 

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 in his riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook.  However, one of his recommendations in the report is very interesting (emphasis is mine):

Ontario VQA Wine Stores: 

Ontario VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) wines are made with 100 per cent Ontario-grown grapes and meet high quality standards. VQA wines have a tremendous spin off in agriculture and in tourism in the Greenbelt. According to a study commissioned by the Ontario Wine Council, Ontario wines contribute $4.29/litre to the Ontario economy, while imported wines produce only $0.50/litre. Opening market access for these wineries (and microbreweries) would increase provincial tax revenues; stimulate job creation in the agriculture, beverage alcohol and tourism sectors; and support the long-term viability of the Ontario Greenbelt. 

The report recommends that “the Province of Ontario should allow for a parallel system of private retail stores that specialize in Ontario VQA wine to open up in Ontario”.  This is certainly the type of thinking we need more of from our political representatives.  But it’s not just Ontario VQA, not even solely Ontario microbreweries, that should benefit from a beer retail reform.

Give a read of Mr. Hudak’s report backgrounder and complete report.

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 Greg Clow, there’s quite a double standard with this.  The very same week that Dalton McGuinty dismissed any changes to our beer retailing system he seems to indicate that his government would consider specialty retail for Ontario wines.  Obviously it makes better politics to favour Ontario wines over beer.  Although any beer aficionado would know that this has been the case for quite some time.

Troy Burtch, an all-around nice guy and author of the excellent beer blog Great Canadian Pubs and Beer, has posted an extensive perspective on the beer retailing system in Ontario in light of all the recent happenings in this area.  Be sure to give it a read.

The Toronto Star continued its coverage of the recent groundswell of support about reforming the beer retailing system in Ontario. The article centers around a recent online petition created by an Ontarian named Derek Forward, which to date has received over 3,700 signatures. Every little bit counts in raising the awareness of how our beer retailing system is flawed – good job Derek.  Plus, there’s a little announcement in the article about the launch of FreeOurBeer.org, which is fantastic.

Continuing its series on the beer retail system in Ontario, The Toronto Star published some quotes from Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty today about his thoughts on the issue. He said, “I like the system as it’s found at present” and continued to use the social responsibility excuse as a reason to prevent change.

How unfortunate that the Premier is not willing to even consider that there may be a better way of selling beer in Ontario. And even more unfortunate is the belief that social responsibility could not exist with other retail systems. There are bars and pubs on virtually every major street and they consistently practice “social responsibility” and keep alcohol out of the hands of minors, with stiff penalties upon violation. Could private retail not be expected to do the same?

I wonder if we will ever have a government willing to seriously look at this issue? Dalton – let’s have a beer and chat about it. I’ll even pay.