Stone/Sierra Nevada ever been at the LCBO?

spinrsx · Post by **spinrsx** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:29 pm

2 of the more widely available craft brewers in the states, have either of them ever been at the LCBO?

iguenard · Post by **iguenard** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:36 pm

With Sierra Nevada's new NC brewery, I wouldnt be surprised to see these come in at a given point in time (in the next few years).

Stone though, not certain. They did private orders in Quebec last year... have grown quite a bit... are following Brooklyn into the european market...

Maybe their market research has us not "ready" for their beers. Maybe the success of Founders and Green Flash (and soon Goose Island) can convince them otherwise.

heebes · Post by **heebes** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:49 pm

there was a rumour Sierra Nevada was on its way but...i believe its false. i think it was that NAC was the importer, theyve since announced their portfolio is done.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 4:49 pm

Not in my drinking lifetime. In the past (IIRC) Sierra requires refrigerated shipping/storage which the LCBO cannot/will not guarantee.

I think Stone just doesn't have any interest in dealing with the quirks of the 'BO.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 4:54 pm

Stone being Cali-based, I believe we on Ontario are a little out of their geographical range - not by much, it does get to Buffalo. But they can sell everything they brew without the persnickety LCBO to deal with, and all the red tape and un-businesslike posturing our darling province likes to subject its suppliers to (it's a bit of a reputation.)

I would LOVE Stone Beer in Ontario. On the other hand, we are getting Founders and Dupont, and some great BC and QC beers, and ever more outstanding new Ontario beers... the situation is shaping up, Stone may become more interested in this thriving market, or not - it's a win for us either way and I really wish them well at Stone, they deserve their success massively.

grub · Post by **grub** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:03 pm

stone has shipped to ON before - through keep6. they said it was a one-time deal, but who knows if their minds will change with time, especially with more and more world-class breweries shipping up here. It's a hassle dealing with the LCBO, but it's always a big purchase for anyone willing to fight the red tape.

mintjellie · Post by **mintjellie** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:11 pm

You'll never see Sierra Nevada in Ontario because the LCBO wont guarantee proper shipping and storage conditions.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:27 pm

mintjellie wrote:You'll never see Sierra Nevada in Ontario because the LCBO wont guarantee proper shipping and storage conditions.

Oft cited reason. But have you never seen Sierra Nevada pale ales and stuff stored 'incorrectly' in the USA? It's not all of it refrigerated all the time, is it?

I know I've seen SN Celebration on the warm shelves ar Wegmans, and all kinds of stuff room-temp at Premier. Not that it stopped me, stuff's a bargain and it is always delicious.

andrewrg · Post by **andrewrg** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:56 pm

I thought it was mostly about warehousing and shipping conditions rather than in-store?

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:03 pm

andrewrg wrote:I thought it was mostly about warehousing and shipping conditions rather than in-store?

Not sure - I understood it was all three, ie. refrigerated at all phases.

It would make sense if SN at least insisted on refrigerated shipping and warehousing, which avoids high-temperature baking.

Doesn't stop the Elsie from sticking an IPA in a hot store window, but you have a fighting chance.

mixedup · Post by **mixedup** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:44 pm

Can someone explain to me how Beer Bistro has Sierra Nevada available? I recall seeing Torpedo on their bottle list....with no representative/agent/distribution, how is this being imported?

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:18 pm

:
stone has shipped to ON before - through keep6. they said it was a one-time deal, but who knows if their minds will change with time, especially with more and more world-class breweries shipping up here. It's a hassle dealing with the LCBO, but it's always a big purchase for anyone willing to fight the red tape.

Yes I remember well the Stone tasting they threw at Volo a few years back. It was on Super Bowl Sunday, the year the Saints won.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:39 pm

mixedup wrote:Can someone explain to me how Beer Bistro has Sierra Nevada available? I recall seeing Torpedo on their bottle list....with no representative/agent/distribution, how is this being imported?

Private order. And I know of at least one individual who has gotten SN beer via LCBO private order.

Which means that the oft-repeated claim that SN won't ship to Ontario "because the LCBO wont guarantee proper shipping and storage conditions" isn't true.

Now that they're canning, I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see SN on the shelves at the LCBO at some point in the next couple of years.

phirleh · Post by **phirleh** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:10 pm

heebes wrote:there was a rumour Sierra Nevada was on its way but...i believe its false. i think it was that NAC was the importer, theyve since announced their portfolio is done.

I had heard this too.

mixedup · Post by **mixedup** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:56 pm

GregClow wrote:
mixedup wrote:Can someone explain to me how Beer Bistro has Sierra Nevada available? I recall seeing Torpedo on their bottle list....with no representative/agent/distribution, how is this being imported?
Private order. And I know of at least one individual who has gotten SN beer via LCBO private order.

Which means that the oft-repeated claim that SN won't ship to Ontario "because the LCBO wont guarantee proper shipping and storage conditions" isn't true.

Now that they're canning, I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see SN on the shelves at the LCBO at some point in the next couple of years.

Makes me wonder where BB get their Cantillon....it's not from Keep6, who are the designated representative (well, HMH Negotiants are technically). So if you try to private order that, you need to go through Keep 6, who are only importing for bars & restaurants to my knowledge.

The whole private order process is bizarre...I've never had any luck. Which is why it's nice to be offered consignment sales as that seems to be pretty much the only way to get stuff that doesn't land at the LCBO (aside from Quebec, Buffalo, etc).

Somebody put through a private order for SN...if you need additional cases to fill the order, I'll take one (Torpedo isn't bad at all).