Ontario Craft Brewers association launch new app for beer lovers

In an effort to make it easier to find your favorite Ontario craft beer , the OCB has launched its new Beer Finder app for Apple and Android platforms. Basically this allows you to discover the 50 plus breweries that make about 70% of the province’s independent craft beers. Every time you open the app you are greeted personally with news of the latest releases – you can then dive in and get the details on both the beer and the brewery it comes from. It then allows you to rate the beer with various attributes such as appearance ,mouthfeel ,aroma and flavour.

There is then a area for you to track the beers you have tried and your favorites. The next cool thing is a brewery finder that allows you to get details such as location, contact info and beers available. Perhaps the most useful tool is the beer finder – this allows you to search individual beers and allow you to rate as well , but more importantly where you can purchase. A map appears and shows LCBO , Beer Store ,bars and the brewery locations that sell the beer you are in pursuit of.

Getting out there and supporting your local breweries is not only is allot of fun, but it supports a local industry that employs thousands of people in the province that embraces the true spirit of adventurous business entrepreneurship!

OCB Beer Finder

Cans or bottles – what is going on in the Canadian craft beer market?

Have you noticed that most independent craft breweries chosen delivery vessels are tall boy cans? It used to be a big deal when we were in the eighties that a beer company came out with a tall boy or king can, and now it is common place. Basically they are little kegs that preserve beer better, cool faster and ship easier then bottles. They are also the most cost efficient way for breweries to get their beer through the supply chain.They just don’t quite present as well when placed on the bar or table when you sit to enjoy them. While our European cousins have not embraced this trend , Canada has really gone the road of the canned beer. In fact according to Beer Canada , sales of cans have gone from 34% of market in 2011 to 57% in 2014.

What is interesting is how this varies across the country. When you look at the 3 biggest markets it really varies-

Quebec – 51% cans -up 15% over 5 years

Ontario – 43% cans – up 5% over 5 years

B.C – 82% cans – up 5% over 5 years

It would seem Quebec is moving at quicker pace towards cans while most of B.C’s market is in fact cans. Cans do provide the opportunity to billboard you brand personality quite effectively, but you cannot beat the personality you get from growlers or the 500 and 750 ml bottles that present so well in a social setting. The bottom line is there really is not a best way to enjoy a beer , but it certainly has regional biases that are quite dramatic.

Ontario craft beer market is red hot!

Recent data released from the LCBO is showing craft beer up a staggering 26.6% year over year in an overall market that is actually in decline as consumers look to spirits and wine as an alterative.  Looking at the actual growth of breweries in Ontario, after a few years of no growth, since 2011 brewery count has doubled to 140 according to Beer Canada. The Ontario beer network notes that Ontario Brewery directory there are over 60 more in the planning stage. This translates into good news for beer drinkers as variety and accessibility will only get better over time as each location not only will offer tastings , but will have opportunity for retail. If recent announcements by the Ontario government hold true then each brewery can add a second offsite location.

These new breweries will add to the communities personality and create a location that true beer lovers and casual fans can get together and talk all things beer and maybe take in some entertainment and a tour the brewery and understand what goes into making a craft beer – get out there and take a tour!