Interesting to note that Ontario, through the LCBO and Ontario Craft Brewers, has witnessed the launch of a beer route for beer related tourism. This is similar to the idea moving through New York's legislature that we read about last month. The LCBO, the province's semi-monopoly on hootch supply has the following plans:
As part of the month-long Beer Spoken Here promotion, currently in stores until August 13, the LCBO has produced 300,000 copies of an Ontario craft beer route map for consumers called "The Great Ontario Craft Brewers Tour Map"; 250,000 copies will be inserted in the Toronto Star on July 26 and 50,000 copies will be available in 130 LCBO stores across Ontario. During the beer promotion, the LCBO will feature more than 300 tastings of Ontario craft beers in select LCBO stores throughout the province.Too bad plans do not appear to include ensuring that the 25 brewers get their stuff into most LCBO stores most of the time.






Comments
val stimpson - October 8, 2007 12:34 AM
thats not fair! we all try our best to work with the LCBO. Unfortunatly we come across staff who are not interested in micro beer and will not profile it or stock it. so may be you should have a go at the staff in the LCBO stores who should be stocking it and are not!
Alan - October 8, 2007 10:02 AM
Well, I think it is fair that I want a lot more access to a lot more Ontario craft beer, Val. My local LCBO seems to be replicating their sense of eastern Euro lagers as I have a fine selection of Ontario craft lagers and ambers but not much else - including too often a lack of your wonderful beers. I am just happy you guys are on a route to an in-law.
What would you think of a chain of OCB shops focusing on Ontario craft beers?
Val stimpson - January 31, 2008 1:58 AM
I think that idea would be great! but unfortunatly
AGCO are not ready for that market yet.