Well if you haven't noticed already, any newer bottles hitting the shelves from outside of Canada (specifically USA one's) have been grossly impacted by the low dollar. This makes me sad, last year a bottled of Old Rasputin Barrel Aged floated around he $22-$24 range and was recently spotted for $37 for this year's version. However, any old stock from last year is still available at the "at par" rates, so good chance to stock up on any shelf beers that are cellar worthy. It will also impact the price of imported ingredients for brewers which will get passed on to us, but in a smaller manner. This makes me sad I love my USA imports, but I'll be buying a lot less of them this year and taking a lot few chances on bottles. Have you noticed the impact yet in your Province? Have you started buying less beer south of the border? I'm thankful for my solid local BC beer scene even more now!
For me the big impact is on trips across the border. I was planning a trip to Chicago in the spring that included a few brewery stops (3 Floyds in particular) and some nice entertainment. However with the exchange rate hovering at $1.43 to buy USD and it looking like it may get worse, it looks like that trip will have to be put on hold.
Ha, but the mark up we pay is insane here at 55% (percentage!), so we pay a lot for that privilege. I've I lived in Quebec, I'd drive to the USA and bring back beer regularly for the 40 cents a litre mark up
Yeah, it is definitely nice to have an option and it is in close proximity to some veritable beer Meccas (BC's a similar case in that respect). That said, I would rather have it available here at a big mark-up since it would end up being more affordable than it is once you figure your gas, time, eating at restaurants, etc. that you need to go on a run to the states. However, I am of the opinion that Quebec's beer scene wouldn't be nearly as big, or developed, or wonderful if there had been easy access to beer from ailleurs. There's two sides to every coin.
Time is usually the thing that keeps me from buying beer in the US, as opposed to money. I only wind up on the other side of the border with my car a few times a year, so I'll probably just splurge and grab everything I can when it happens. Not that I'm looking forward to what the exchange rate will do to the price tag next time I bring back 8L of Hill Farmstead or Heady Topper, mind you.
Just means less trips to the States for me, normally each I go to the Craft Brewers Conference, this May unless the dollar rebounds a bit probably not going. As to not buying American beer if there is something I really want it is not going to stop that. What really hurts is other percussions like international shipping coming to Canada is calculated in American dollars. So this is going to affect all your purchases whether minutely or majorly as European hops and malt all are going to take an increase and most Canadian breweries are not going to be able to absorb that.
The 4 trips to Vermont will likely be 2 or even 1 trip, and rather than paying out of the nostrils for a room in Waterbury I'll be camping at the state parks. By choice of course! Hopefully there is a mild rebound by the time spring and summer hit, but with things being in the crapper the way they are I'd say things will get far worse before they slowly inch to the upside. Online orders are firmly out.
Right now I'm glad that the Oregon state parks book 9 months in advance... Next summer is already booked and paid for. Gas, beer and groceries will probably still be close to par, we just won't eat out as much. I recently booked a few nights at Mt. baker though, and the added costs will certainly add up.
lalalalalala can't hear you (...going to Vermont next week) thank the beer jesus HF beers are actually priced really cheap all things considered. Case of Heady still under $200 Cdn. I think.
Definitely impacting frequency of border crossings for beer, and amount purchased. This will help with reducing the cellar which is a task unto itself. Better yet, reduce beer consumption overall. Health reasons. Yeah, thats it. HEALTH reasons. I popped over the border at lunch today (which I am fortunate enough to be able to do). Restricted myself to 2x4packs. I had other business (beer mails going out and coming in) over there. Otherwise, would not have made the effort and spent the toll for 8 beers.
Things are going to get far far worse before they have a sniff of getting better. Especially with calls of 15 dollar oil and a 59 cent Loonie. I'm starting to hoard all the american coinage I can get my hands on.
For standard shelf beers, even with the crazy exchange rates, its still cheaper in US. Just across the border I can get a 6-packs of pretty good IPAs for 10$. Theres very few 6-packs here for under 14$. Moralite is right about there, but not much else.
If I happen to be over the border I'd be game for $10 6'ers of beer I know I like. But throw in $4.25-$5 toll each way prohibits casual beer runs. Odd Side Ales releasing Hazel's Nuts in a few weeks. By that time the $100 case will be $160 to me. Nope. Can't do it.
It doesn't take long for a $10.55 US six pack to get out of hand once you add their tax, deposit, exchange and duty if you are not staying over. We were in Michigan just before Christmas and it was tough trying to decide what to buy. Was at the mall today and the local currency exchange in there was selling USD at $1.4870!
It's not getting any better according to forecasters, so now is the time when we should be funneling our money into out local scenes and helping Canadian beer grow as best we can. One of the upsides I can see from this is just that. Someone walks into a store, hoping to get a new, exciting thing. They see the ever increasing price on the imports and decides to get the 6 pack/bomber of something from Canada for 60% less. I could see this working for the new beer fans across the country, who are growing in numbers. When you were starting to get into beer, what seems like a better deal (even with a cursory glance at ratings) $7 Fat Tug or $16 Sculpin bombers? I can see this as a potentially good scenario for Canadian producers, especially in local markets, but tough on established beer folk looking for the next crazy thing to land.
The low Canadian dollar has restricted my choices. Even when the dollar was much better I still tended to buy Canadian and local brews. However, I'd sprinkle in others. Now, I rarely buy US imports I have not bought any Sierra Nevada this side of the order since it became available in AB this Fall - and I'm a big fan of Hop Hunter. I suspect it's not a great time to be an importer.
Especially in AB with the rule changes. Oddly enough, in BC we are seeing Cascade bottles for $29.99 CDN, cheaper or on par with the prices at the brewery (when you consider exchange), so some price sheets haven't caught up yet.
Good call on the sixers, if you don't have to pay duty and tax at the border it's still a decent deal. Rarely do you have to pay for a sixer, regardless of how long you've been across. I doubt the paper work is worth it. Always claim it of course!
