Beer boutique

[jaymack]

Sorry, I'm sure it's been posted somewhere on here already but...

http://torontoist.com/2011/04/the_beer_ ... illage.php

[Gedge]

"The store's products will remain the same."

That saves me a trip to Liberty Village to check it out.

[phirleh]

"The store's products will remain the same."

Doesn't anybody remember laughter?

[Gedge]

Doesn't anybody remember laughter?

Doesn't anyone remember Laker?

[cratez]

"The store's products will remain the same."

That saves me a trip to Liberty Village to check it out.

+ 1

[Lukie]

Deal killer:

"But what won't change at The Beer Boutique is the selection of beers available. Beer Store president Ted Moroz says the process by which brewers sell beer through The Beer Boutique will remain the same as at existing locations, meaning selection at the new store will be about on par with The Beer Store's larger current locations."


Not exactly lying but talk about a spin doctor:

"Moroz rejects the criticisms that the listing fees limit choice. "We actually have import and craft brews in all of our stores," he says. "I think one of the things that gets missed is that because our stores don’t have that self-serve shopping experience, a lot of people don’t realize that those products are actually there, they’re in the store." He says The Beer Boutique will fix this problem by better featuring The Beer Store’s selection of craft and imported beers."

But there is a glimmer of hope. Perhaps this new more public format will put more pressure on BS to actually improve their bs inventory.

[xocoatl]

And its not just the public that doesn't know the craft brews are there. I went into my local beer store a few weeks back after seeing it listed as carrying the Paddock Wood 606 IPA. Didn't see any on the 'wall of beer' while waiting in line, asked the guy at cash if they had it, and he says never heard of it. Tries to find it on computer, says doesn't see anything. Asks the store manager beside him, he says never heard of it. After another minute or so of searching, the manager says 'isn't that whats on the skid in the back corner?' and employee goes back and comes back with a 6-pack for me.

And Paddock Wood is paying that store a listing fee to carry their product. Even knowing the product was supposed to be there, I almost left without it.

[Ale's What Cures Ya]

And its not just the public that doesn't know the craft brews are there. I went into my local beer store a few weeks back after seeing it listed as carrying the Paddock Wood 606 IPA. Didn't see any on the 'wall of beer' while waiting in line, asked the guy at cash if they had it, and he says never heard of it. Tries to find it on computer, says doesn't see anything. Asks the store manager beside him, he says never heard of it. After another minute or so of searching, the manager says 'isn't that whats on the skid in the back corner?' and employee goes back and comes back with a 6-pack for me.

And Paddock Wood is paying that store a listing fee to carry their product. Even knowing the product was supposed to be there, I almost left without it.

You should forward that information to Paddock Wood.

[icemachine]

And its not just the public that doesn't know the craft brews are there. I went into my local beer store a few weeks back after seeing it listed as carrying the Paddock Wood 606 IPA. Didn't see any on the 'wall of beer' while waiting in line, asked the guy at cash if they had it, and he says never heard of it. Tries to find it on computer, says doesn't see anything. Asks the store manager beside him, he says never heard of it. After another minute or so of searching, the manager says 'isn't that whats on the skid in the back corner?' and employee goes back and comes back with a 6-pack for me.

And Paddock Wood is paying that store a listing fee to carry their product. Even knowing the product was supposed to be there, I almost left without it.

You should forward that information to Paddock Wood.

And North American Craft who is repping this beer in Ontario

[xocoatl]

I already sent that off to North American Craft the night it happened. But really, what can they do. The beer store can pretty much dictate their terms and treat the craft brewers like crap becuase the only other option is to try to get listed at the LCBO, which seems like a long hard process.

[TheSevenDuffs]

And its not just the public that doesn't know the craft brews are there. I went into my local beer store a few weeks back after seeing it listed as carrying the Paddock Wood 606 IPA. Didn't see any on the 'wall of beer' while waiting in line, asked the guy at cash if they had it, and he says never heard of it. Tries to find it on computer, says doesn't see anything. Asks the store manager beside him, he says never heard of it. After another minute or so of searching, the manager says 'isn't that whats on the skid in the back corner?' and employee goes back and comes back with a 6-pack for me.

And Paddock Wood is paying that store a listing fee to carry their product. Even knowing the product was supposed to be there, I almost left without it.

That is ridiculous. There is defintiely a reason why I have only visited the beer store once in the past 2 years.

[Lukie]

And its not just the public that doesn't know the craft brews are there. I went into my local beer store a few weeks back after seeing it listed as carrying the Paddock Wood 606 IPA. Didn't see any on the 'wall of beer' while waiting in line, asked the guy at cash if they had it, and he says never heard of it. Tries to find it on computer, says doesn't see anything. Asks the store manager beside him, he says never heard of it. After another minute or so of searching, the manager says 'isn't that whats on the skid in the back corner?' and employee goes back and comes back with a 6-pack for me.

And Paddock Wood is paying that store a listing fee to carry their product. Even knowing the product was supposed to be there, I almost left without it.

You should forward that information to Paddock Wood.

I had a similar experience with Trois Pistoles when they first got the product. And considering that its owned by Sleeman, you'd figure they would know something about it. These people are clueless when it comes less popular beers. One logical pre-requisite of being able to work at a Beer Store or the BO should be to know something about product that you're selling. At the very minimum, what you have and what you don't have (and how to package it correctly!!!).

[Gedge]

Getting the Paddock Wood here has been really frustrating. I've managed to get a six of the IPA once. I've yet to find the pilsner.

[TJ]

A sneak peak at the mediocrity that is to come:


(Click to see a larger image.)

[Streets]

Thank god, I was having trouble finding the right package size of Corona at other stores.