Len Owens, the owner of the Golden Kiwi in Cambridge, has added a variation on the theme. With the help of a web developer (Gord Brydon) who is a regular at the pub, he has launched afreehouse.org.
It seems to be a chance for Len to vent some of the frustrations he has experienced as a publican in Ontario and it serves to outline the fact that Ontario is, in effect, a tiedhouse system. Len has long been a supporter of good beer and always has a great selection of craft and imported beer on tap. He has often told me that he has beers on tap that he likes and represent quality.
The website is a reaction to the contracts, deals and kickbacks that seem to dominate the pub trade in Ontario. He understands that restaurant groups and franchisees willingly enter into these agreements with big brewers and he is looking to find a way to differentiate ‘freehouses’ from those that have their tap lineup dictated to them.
As a craft brewer, I share the frustrations that Len deals with. Cambridge is dominated by chains that are locked into contracts with either the big brewers or restaurant supply groups that represent the big brewers. It is not unrealistic to say that we are competing for space on less than 5% of the taps in this city. I love how Applebee’s – the ‘neighbourhood pub’ has a deal with Molson’s that prohibits anybody’s taps but theirs (according to the regional VP I spoke with).
Len tells me his intention is to get a discussion going on why our system is the way it is and what is reality versus myth. He wasn’t surprised to read in the Star that most Ontarians think the Beer Store is owned and operated by government. He hopes to develop a listing of freehouses by city and has created a registry for you to list pubs and opinions you support. (This also gives Len and Gord a chance to check out some interesting pubs in Ontario – a journey I will jump in on whenever possible
). The logo on the site is something he wants to develop as signage for bars.As I listened to some of their ideas, I brought up some of the stories from the brewery side of the game and they are encouraging me to post some of them so you will probably hear from me as well from time to time. I hope a site devoted to exposing some of the ‘grey’ area’s of beer distribution can be successful, positive and useful. A number of pubs have already signed up and hopefully others will join in. Feel free to contribute.
