Ontario Beer Perceptions

I wouldn't normally even consider drinking those beers, but the alternatives were worse.

 

Actually got them at the LCBO. The bottle of Makers Mark that I also got was a much better purchase.

 

If you know what to look for and where to go, there is some outstanding beer coming out of Ontario.

That said, if you just blindly go into an LCBO and pick out 10 beers, there's a very good chance less than a few will be worth revisiting. Bellwoods is awesome but not distributed and almost all other breweries here have at least a few terrible beers that are ubiquitous (red leaf lager, big wheel amber, etc.) and for every Canuck Pale there's a Hops & Bolts that looks just as good to an unsuspecting shopper. Go to a grocery store in Michigan and randomly pick out 10 different local beers and you'll see a shocking difference.

Add all that to the LCBO stronghold and it's a fair point by OP but is more a good reminder that before you travel you should use BA to get the locals' opinions on what's worth checking out. There is great beer here but you gotta work for it.

 

Just came back from Warren MI. Champane's Wine Cellars

6 single side racks approx. 25ft long or so each. Four tiers. 18" deep each so stock goes back instead of consuming valuable eye space. 2 racks are singles 4 multi packs racks. Approx. 200 different singles and about the same in multi packs so I would say 400 to 450 max different beers. Beers from everywhere.

Here's the deal though...... VERY expensive. Even in the USD I used very expensive. Believe it or not we get around 30-35% of what I saw in Canada however in Canada you gotta scope the LC's to get them as they only come around once in a blue moon so you need to load up. Over here we get it limited/once they have it there regularly. What we buy here... Orval at @$3.45 or so is $4.99. Roch 10 is worse. Prices were between 10 and 50 percent more in this place than here at the LCBO for out of US beers. Founders Breakfast Stout was $1.00 cheaper per 4pk there then here last year. U betcha I bought a 4pk of these to try with my FBS from last year. Will report back!!!

I will admit that they had a nice selection and I have never saw 30% of these beers before. Please bear in mind that just because there are 8 different Sierra Nevada beers they aren't special..... they are good but not special. Once you have them they are nothing you will go out of your way to try again. Those special County Bourbons from Goose Island are not there. Nor the KBS and every other sought after beer or I would have brought oodles of them back trust me. No gems as like here people swoop in and buy, buy, buy!

Anyone want to trade stouts?? Got some Fidy!

 

s of reasons why micro brewers don't want to deal with the LC.....

The LC has minimum buy quantities that some micro breweries do not or cannot attain. It's poor business practice to put all your eggs in one basket. Actually in today's day and age not many companies want to deal with companies that put everything into one basket. How do you absorb change or loss??

The LC demands low pricing for a variety of reasons as they are the only kid on the block. This erodes profit. Imagine a micro brewery sells a 500ml bottle of a good stout aged in barrels in it's bottle shop for $10.00 to keep the numbers round. The LC knows the bottle can fetch $12.00. The LC gets the brewery to sell them what they want (as long as the quantity is there) for $6.00 and tells the brewery to increase their price to $12.00 to gain profit. Not saying that is what is going on but it's common place in sales in other industries.

Then there is the lab testing required. Just a hassle and consumes time.

Although North America is a huge place it's a small one when it comes to business. People know people and you (the great micro brewery in the US) knows full well that the LC ain't calling you and if you call them then expect the above.

Saving grace though, our pricing is really, really good for all products that are extra tasty. I saw those hundreds of beers and have nearly all of the 30/35% of the shelf that I saw over there that we have or had access here to in the past 2yrs and know what I paid for them. In every case the over the ponds beers were higher. LOL I got a bottle of Terrible 750ml for $8.00. I don't think if we got it in Ontario that I could get it for that though. For some reason I think it would be $10.00. Goes to show you how much tax is paid on alcohol here in Canada as when we export the taxes are elevated.

So North American beer is cheaper in the US for the most part. Beers from over the pond cheaper here.

Champagne's is regarded as a very well priced outlet in Michigan so I am guessing their pricing is rather fair and reasonable.

 

Oopsy! I see a mistake on elevated LOL! Meant to say lowered!!! Sorry all