10,000 Litre Policy

[shazapple]

I was listening to Maritime Noon and they brought up the 10,000L policy that NBLiquor has implemented.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/Maritimes/Maritime+Noon/ID/2483517051/ (starts just before the 10 minute mark)

If I understand correctly the intention is that the brewery has to sell that much beer through stores/pubs via kegs/bottles before they are allowed to sell it onsite? Is 10kL a lot of beer to make/sell in one year via kegs and bottles? Kegs would move the majority of the product anyway wouldn't it?

What are other peoples thoughts on this?

[brew]

The below is collected from a variety of others who have shared information on the topic.

Yes the interview this morning definitely had some good stuff there - they have been getting some national press as well. A few weeks ago, there was a petition going on for Railcar (impacted significantly) on change.org:

http://www.change.org/petitions/new-brunswick-government-allow-microbreweries-with-applications-into-the-province-to-sell-beer-on-site-to-the-public-for-consumption-off-site-to-proceed-under-the-old-regulations-in-place-when-the-application-was-made?

There was some CBC news coverage as well:

http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningfredericton/2014/07/17/brewery-changes/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/start-up-brewing-company-daunted-by-new-nb-liquor-rules-1.2710603
http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/NB/ID/2474883448/

Of course, ANBL met with Railcar and Grimross and gave them a pass on the new policy:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-liquor-says-new-rule-won-t-impede-two-microbreweries-1.2714979

At the meeting with ANBL, Steve Dixon (Grimross) suggested ANBL meet with the commercial craft brewers in NB, which they accepted and are meeting on the 15th of this month. Should be interesting to see if any changes come of it...

Some other stories on the same topic as well:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/NB/Newsmaker+Interviews/ID/2476041100/
http://peoplesalliancenb.com/what-s-new/274-people-s-alliance-form-plan-to-privatize-retail-side-of-nb-liquor
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/riverview-craft-brewery-may-be-stymied-by-nb-liquor-rules-1.2717759
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/petit-sault-brewers-hope-to-tell-edmundston-s-stories-1.2719536
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/charlo-brewery-s-future-uncertain-after-new-nb-liquor-rules-1.2722641
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1227105-new-brunswick-beer-policy-will-hurt-craft-brewers-critics-say
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/07/30/new-brunswicks-anti-bootleg-beer-policy
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/08/05/new-brunswick-micro-breweries_n_5650528.html

And of course the slap in the face to brewers who cant sell on premises due to this new policy:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/growlers-to-be-sold-at-3-nb-liquor-stores-1.2723329

Of course the interview with Brian Harriman, CEO of ANBL - he said a few really weird things relating to safety in the industry (someone should tell Excise Canada and DPS / DoH that Brian Harriman is suggesting they are not doing their jobs properly)

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/NB/Audio/ID/2476334346/

I'm sure there's more, and definitely more to come. Here's to hoping this stupid policy is struck down by the Board at ANBL...

[ECH]

10000litres is alot.

As Mitch from Railcar said, on his system, if he brewed once a week, had no spillage, and no spoilage, he could produce 10600 litres in a year.

The problem with this, is that it's not just a 10000 litre mark, it is 10000 litres in the span of 1yr. If you get to the end of your yr term and you only have sold 9500litres, then you don't qualify, and have to start all over.

It would be one thing if you just had to hit the 10000 litre mark (still wrong), but it is 10000 litres in 12 months, don't meet the 10000 litres in 12 months time, you start over at zero.

Having been in some great craft brew stores in the US this past week, just shows how much liquor sales in the province need to be privatized, and  allowed to sell at corner stores, grocery stores and the like, instead of the monopoly that is ANBL!

[JohnQ]

A little sideline topic...

Heard an interesting idea on a call in show this week...

Corner store sales for any store that wants to sell NB produced products only.

If the big guys want to participate, they have to make it here.

Anything that crosses the border still goes through ANBL, but if you want to have local product, it's really easy to find.

Would be an interesting first step in the Privatization program.

JQ

[shazapple]

That would be difficult if not impossible for the government to implement. Imagine the fuss you would get from NS, PEI, or Maine. A "Beer Store" idea might be able to work that, but probably wouldn't. Certainly NBLiquor should be highlighting and promoting NB companies though.

[blisster]

A little sideline topic...

Heard an interesting idea on a call in show this week...

Corner store sales for any store that wants to sell NB produced products only.

If the big guys want to participate, they have to make it here.

Anything that crosses the border still goes through ANBL, but if you want to have local product, it's really easy to find.

Would be an interesting first step in the Privatization program.

JQ

I believe NFLD has something similar in place?

[JohnQ]

It would not be difficult at all. Lots of provinces have exclusive deals for local producers.
Seems like a simple and elegant solution to a couple of problems, providing local producers with easier access to market and at the same time providing a greater availability of product to the consumer.
ANBL already knows the origin of every product in the catalog, easy to make certain things available.
They're already doing something of the sort with this wine trial, they just aren't using the right focus.
JQ

[paulmaybee]

A little sideline topic...

Heard an interesting idea on a call in show this week...

Corner store sales for any store that wants to sell NB produced products only.

If the big guys want to participate, they have to make it here.

Anything that crosses the border still goes through ANBL, but if you want to have local product, it's really easy to find.

Would be an interesting first step in the Privatization program.

JQ

I believe NFLD has something similar in place?

Yeah, I was going to say the same thing.  This is exactly what they're doing in NFLD.

[brew]

A little sideline topic...

Heard an interesting idea on a call in show this week...

Corner store sales for any store that wants to sell NB produced products only.

If the big guys want to participate, they have to make it here.

Anything that crosses the border still goes through ANBL, but if you want to have local product, it's really easy to find.

Would be an interesting first step in the Privatization program

This would be an awesome idea - I wonder if there's a way to get it presented to ANBL?

[ECH]

Guess it is over, ANBL has reversed it'd policy.............


http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2014.08.1065.html

[Kyle]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-liquor-reverses-new-microbrewery-rules-1.2737929

[blisster]

An association of craft alcohol manufacturers will be formed to represent the NB industry and will be meeting regularly with ANBL.

I believe NS has something similar in "Craft Brewers Association of Nova Scotia" (http://nscraftbeer.ca). The idea is to have one voice representing all.

We should try have NBCBA part of this association!

[brew]

This is awesome news to be sure!

[jamie_savoie]

We should try have NBCBA part of this association!

that would be awesome