Craig wrote:It's bloody near impossible to have a special beer list these days. You can either try to import your own, which basically nobody does any more, or you can spend a lot of time on the phone with brewers begging them for kegs of their special stuff, which I think normally comes with lower margins for the brewer. Even then, you're just adding yourself to the list with Volo, Barhop, The Only, Wvrst, and so on, so you're not really setting yourself apart. The sad reality in this sheltered market is it's very hard to differentiate yourself with your beer selection. Blame the 'BO.
Craig wrote:It's bloody near impossible to have a special beer list these days. You can either try to import your own, which basically nobody does any more, or you can spend a lot of time on the phone with brewers begging them for kegs of their special stuff, which I think normally comes with lower margins for the brewer. Even then, you're just adding yourself to the list with Volo, Barhop, The Only, Wvrst, and so on, so you're not really setting yourself apart. The sad reality in this sheltered market is it's very hard to differentiate yourself with your beer selection. Blame the 'BO.
Craig wrote:The sad reality in this sheltered market is it's very hard to differentiate yourself with your beer selection. Blame the 'BO.
ercousin wrote:I think there are still a few ways to differentiate your draft list that people aren't doing.
There are 125 breweries, 38 brew pubs, and 47 contract brewers in this province, yet draft lists at Volo/Bar-Hop etc focus on a subset of about 20-30 of them. You can make arguments that these 20-30 brewers are the "best" ones, but there are still 150 breweries out there that are making beer, there has got to be some gems left to discover. There's a whole smattering of breweries in Ottawa with very little presence in Toronto, Beyond the Pale for example.
It would be cool to see more bars branching out and getting kegs from some of the further out breweries. Like Lansdowne is doing by focusing their draft list on homebrewers that have gone pro. One of the only places in Toronto that carries 5 Paddles, Garden Brewers, etc...
ercousin wrote:I think there are still a few ways to differentiate your draft list that people aren't doing.
There are 125 breweries, 38 brew pubs, and 47 contract brewers in this province, yet draft lists at Volo/Bar-Hop etc focus on a subset of about 20-30 of them. You can make arguments that these 20-30 brewers are the "best" ones, but there are still 150 breweries out there that are making beer, there has got to be some gems left to discover. There's a whole smattering of breweries in Ottawa with very little presence in Toronto, Beyond the Pale for example.
It would be cool to see more bars branching out and getting kegs from some of the further out breweries. Like Lansdowne is doing by focusing their draft list on homebrewers that have gone pro. One of the only places in Toronto that carries 5 Paddles, Garden Brewers, etc...
Craig wrote:ercousin wrote:I think there are still a few ways to differentiate your draft list that people aren't doing.
There are 125 breweries, 38 brew pubs, and 47 contract brewers in this province, yet draft lists at Volo/Bar-Hop etc focus on a subset of about 20-30 of them. You can make arguments that these 20-30 brewers are the "best" ones, but there are still 150 breweries out there that are making beer, there has got to be some gems left to discover. There's a whole smattering of breweries in Ottawa with very little presence in Toronto, Beyond the Pale for example.
It would be cool to see more bars branching out and getting kegs from some of the further out breweries. Like Lansdowne is doing by focusing their draft list on homebrewers that have gone pro. One of the only places in Toronto that carries 5 Paddles, Garden Brewers, etc...
I think it's harder to get kegs here from far-out breweries. Most of them are likely selling out closer to home, especially if you're trying to get out of their core lineup.
groulxsome wrote:Craig wrote:ercousin wrote:I think there are still a few ways to differentiate your draft list that people aren't doing.
There are 125 breweries, 38 brew pubs, and 47 contract brewers in this province, yet draft lists at Volo/Bar-Hop etc focus on a subset of about 20-30 of them. You can make arguments that these 20-30 brewers are the "best" ones, but there are still 150 breweries out there that are making beer, there has got to be some gems left to discover. There's a whole smattering of breweries in Ottawa with very little presence in Toronto, Beyond the Pale for example.
It would be cool to see more bars branching out and getting kegs from some of the further out breweries. Like Lansdowne is doing by focusing their draft list on homebrewers that have gone pro. One of the only places in Toronto that carries 5 Paddles, Garden Brewers, etc...
I think it's harder to get kegs here from far-out breweries. Most of them are likely selling out closer to home, especially if you're trying to get out of their core lineup.
And someone from those breweries has to deliver from whereever to the bar and then get the keg back when it's done. If you're outside Toronto, you need enough accounts to reliably sell and turn kegs to make the trip worth it (if you're even two hours out, getting in and dropping kegs can eat a whole day). It isn't like breweries can be on a truck with other breweries so it's not like a shipment can come down from Ottawa from a few breweries (i.e. Beau's can let BtP piggy back on a truck for a few kegs). If you're a small brewery where your keg stocks (even empty kegs!) is at a premium, making a trip to some of the hardest bars to get into in the city is a big time investment. Especially if your already selling all your beer in your local market.
groulxsome wrote:Craig wrote:ercousin wrote:I think there are still a few ways to differentiate your draft list that people aren't doing.
There are 125 breweries, 38 brew pubs, and 47 contract brewers in this province, yet draft lists at Volo/Bar-Hop etc focus on a subset of about 20-30 of them. You can make arguments that these 20-30 brewers are the "best" ones, but there are still 150 breweries out there that are making beer, there has got to be some gems left to discover. There's a whole smattering of breweries in Ottawa with very little presence in Toronto, Beyond the Pale for example.
It would be cool to see more bars branching out and getting kegs from some of the further out breweries. Like Lansdowne is doing by focusing their draft list on homebrewers that have gone pro. One of the only places in Toronto that carries 5 Paddles, Garden Brewers, etc...
I think it's harder to get kegs here from far-out breweries. Most of them are likely selling out closer to home, especially if you're trying to get out of their core lineup.
And someone from those breweries has to deliver from whereever to the bar and then get the keg back when it's done. If you're outside Toronto, you need enough accounts to reliably sell and turn kegs to make the trip worth it (if you're even two hours out, getting in and dropping kegs can eat a whole day). It isn't like breweries can be on a truck with other breweries so it's not like a shipment can come down from Ottawa from a few breweries (i.e. Beau's can let BtP piggy back on a truck for a few kegs). If you're a small brewery where your keg stocks (even empty kegs!) is at a premium, making a trip to some of the hardest bars to get into in the city is a big time investment. Especially if your already selling all your beer in your local market.
ercousin wrote:Curious, does it have the be the brewery making the delivery?
Could the bar make the pick up? What funny laws we have....
admviolin wrote:ercousin wrote:Curious, does it have the be the brewery making the delivery?
Could the bar make the pick up? What funny laws we have....
I've heard you can't just walk into an LCBO and buy alcohol to stock a bar.
lister wrote:admviolin wrote:ercousin wrote:Curious, does it have the be the brewery making the delivery?
Could the bar make the pick up? What funny laws we have....
I've heard you can't just walk into an LCBO and buy alcohol to stock a bar.
Sure they do. I've seen bar owners and bartenders do that all the time. I've been stuck behind some of them and they huge carts. I've also been screwed out of getting stuff because they've cleared out the shelf.They have to say they're a licensee and give their number.
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