News came last week that brewery taprooms and brewpubs (along with other licensees except nighclubs) will be included in the first phase of the Alberta government COVID-19 re-opening strategy, with restrictions. This news came as a bit of a surprise… Continue Reading →
A couple weeks ago I sat down (virtually) with Dalen Landis of Grain Bin Brewing in Grande Prairie. During the COVID crisis, he has been doing a series of informal conversations with various local personalities (including the Mayor!), people with… Continue Reading →
As will surprise no one, I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to fads and crazes in the beer world. I am old enough to have seen quite a few of them and so usually need to… Continue Reading →
Recently, before the world went to pieces over COVID-19, my wife and I took a trip to B.C.’s Sunshine Coast to escape Edmonton’s interminable winter. We have been to that part of the country a few times – we quite… Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago there were rumours flying around the Alberta beer industry that Calgary brewery Caravel Brewing had closed its taproom and the future of the brewery was in doubt. Then the COVID crisis hit and that story quickly… Continue Reading →
Earlier this week (April 15, 2020), Beer Canada, the beer industry trade and lobby organization, released its annual Industry Trends 2019 report. The statistical report offers up a snapshot of where beer in Canada is sitting. Sort of. I normally… Continue Reading →
I have had a bit of time in the couple of days following the announcement of the 2020 Alberta Beer Award winners, which you can find here, to do something of an historical analysis of the first three years of… Continue Reading →
Tonight, via internet livestream, the winners of the 2020 Alberta Beer Awards were announced. The big winners were Cabin Brewing and Alley Kat Brewing, but there was plenty of celebration to go around. Forty-eight different breweries won medals, showing an… Continue Reading →
Late last week the AGLC released a Bulletin (which you can read here) making some amendments to their Liquor Manufacturer Policy. The big news is a relaxing of rules around contract brewing. The timing of the changes is a bit… Continue Reading →
COVID-19 is going to transform many aspects of our daily lives. Dozens of industries will not look the same after we collectively get through this crisis. Our society, and our economy will be very different. The craft beer industry in… Continue Reading →