Dave Scharf, Centretown News
Beyond the Pale partners (left to right) Rob McIsaac, Al and Shane Clark at their Centretown brewery.The dream of cold ones next to eggs and milk at the grocery store has finally become a reality.
It’s been about a month since Ontario introduced beer into grocery stores. Sobeys on Metcalfe Street is one of the eight locations in Ottawa announced in December to start selling cold ones.
Rob McIsaac, a co-owner of Beyond the Pale Brewing Company, a brewery in Centretown, is pleased with the province’s decision to finally allow alcohol sales in grocery stores.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” he says. “Everything was so tightly regulated before. Don’t get me wrong, this is not the end-all be-all, but it’s certainly good that the province has loosened it’s grip a little bit on alcohol sales and are allowing it to be sold in different places.”
Beyond the Pale has beer in two Ottawa grocery stores – the Sobeys on Metcalfe St. and Farm Boy in Orleans.
Josh McJannett, a co-owner of Dominion City Brewing Company, says customers will have better access to Ontario brews, which is great news for the craft beer industry.
“The more people have an opportunity to see these products, pick them up and try them at home – you’re just going to grow the market. It’s going to get more people into craft beer,” he says.
Dominion City’s beers are not currently available in stores right now, just in their storefront and many Ottawa restaurants.
Mario Di Martino, director of operations for Sobeys Urban banner, says the Metcalfe store started selling beer the first week of January. He says there was great anticipation from customers.
“Once (shoppers) realized that we were going to facilitate the beer in this location, (there was) a lot of excitement. We’ve been at it now for about three weeks and customers have been very pleased.”
The excitement is being felt at the tills, too, Di Martino says. The Metcalfe store has strong beer sales and customers like the fact it’s a one stop shop for all grocery shopping needs.
However, the province regulates that only singles or six-packs with alcohol less than 7.1 per cent by volume can be sold in stores. Beer prices in grocery stores are the same as the LCBO, and hours beer can be sold are the same as The Beer Store.
Both McIsaac and McJannett agree that the grocery store’s packaging regulations have not affected the way they bottle beer as of yet. But when both breweries grow, it’s a change they are willing to consider.
Ontario craft breweries have a place in the beer section at grocery stores. The province mandated a minimum 20 per cent of the shelf space be reserved for Ontario craft breweries.
Di Martino says the Metcalfe St. Sobeys currently dedicates about 25 per cent to craft beers and that number is on the rise.
“It’s customer driven as far as craft beers are requested. To get the local beer is obviously preferred. If our customers are demanding it, it will be here,” he says.
Rob McIsaac says it’s an encouraging mandate from the province.
“They’re supporting Ontario breweries, which is great. I think that the number should be even higher. But it’s a great position for them to have.”