Alberta-based readers of this humble missive are long familiar with the recent influx of reputed American craft breweries into their province. New Belgium, Stone, Goose Island and most recently Red Hook have entered the market, with others, including Boulevard, arriving soon. I also remember a few years ago Alberta being the sole outpost for Dogfish Head before they re-calibrated their distribution network.
Alberta is a natural first stopping point for American breweries. Alberta has open borders with no restrictions on the number of SKUs allowed in the province.This is part of the government’s “free market” approach to liquor. I have written before about the consequences of the open border on fostering local production. In short it creates a more difficult market environment for Alberta breweries.
The situation is quite different in Saskatchewan. The SLGA keeps a tight rein on imports into the province, although it has been loosening up in the past couple of years. I have seen a steady growth of Canadian beer, in particular, in the province, suggesting a shift of policy. More recently some of those same big names have stuck their toe into the Saskie market as well.
All of this is to introduce that my latest Planet S/Prairie Dog column focuses on some of the new American arrivals (you can read it here). It is a fairly straightforward column, discussing some of the more interesting breweries, including Anchor, Goose Island and Elysian, and trading in some of the rumours I have been hearing lately.
It makes sense for agents to try to ship some product to Saskatchewan, even if small quantities. The pallets are coming to Alberta anyway, so it is a short jump to get it over to Saskatchewan. What is more interesting to me is that the SLGA is willing to increase the number of SKUs active in their warehouse. Government may more slowly, but it still responds – sort of – to consumer demand.
April 9, 2015 at 1:15 PM
I recently visited a “better than most” liquor store in Regina this past weekend, and I was floored at how unbelievably brutal the craft beer selection and prices were. They had one, maybe two maximum local breweries and none of the beer was available chilled. One only had to browse the wine selection and pricing to see how good we have things here in Alberta. I much prefer our open borders approach and though the local beer in Regina is delicious (Rebellion, Bushwakker) I do like just jetting out to a local liquor store to pick up a cold six-pack. It’s no fun having to go right to the source for beer when you just want a bomber or a couple bottles or cans with dinner. I hope things get better there but as of right now, SLGA stores are the most overpriced, under-stocked and brutal liquor stores going, with staff who are no more informed than the people who work at my local liquor store. End of rant!
April 11, 2015 at 8:29 AM
Wouldn’t it be much easier for Goose Island to enter most markets now that they are under the Anheuser-Busch umbrella?
April 12, 2015 at 7:16 PM
I think rather than commending Anheuser-Busch/Inbev for doing their jobs and distributing beer from breweries they own thru their regular channels, you should be asking why they are choosing to distribute Red Hook thru Beer Thirst and thereby skirting their considerably larger distribution channels thru the BDL.