The Bar Towel

Hello, I am trying to find information regarding the laws and prerequisites of starting a Microbrewery in Ontario. I can find LOADS of info that would be helpful if i lived in P.E.I. Any help would be great. Thanks

Welcome to the forum. You can probably start here:

http://agco.on.ca/en/b.alcohol/b6.manufacturers.html

Bonobo wrote:Hello, I am trying to find information regarding the laws and prerequisites of starting a Microbrewery in Ontario. I can find LOADS of info that would be helpful if i lived in P.E.I. Any help would be great. Thanks

Is all that PEI info really prohibitive? When I was there in '99 they only had one brewpub (close to the University).

For starters, I'm pretty sure any microbreweries in Ontario must sign a government-issued writ before operation begins declaring that they will never bottle an IPA. Perry refused to sign and look what happened to him (and his beautiful beer...)

velovampire wrote:For starters, I'm pretty sure any microbreweries in Ontario must sign a government-issued writ before operation begins declaring that they will never bottle an IPA. Perry refused to sign and look what happened to him (and his beautiful beer...)

On the contrary, effective January 2008 ALL new Ontario breweries must make at least three of the following styles: Imperial Stout, Double or Single IPA, Saison, Doppelbock, Belgian Strong ale or a real ESB.

I miss Perry's IPA - Spruce forest, Peeling a grapefruit. What a beer Sgt Majors used to be. Let's not fool ourself something "Major" was lost in translation.

Well thanks for the Information so far. I was also trying to find laws about the actual manufacture of alcohol..eg; premesis restrictions, zoning requirements and any of the usual government snags associated with anything good. ANyone know of a good source (in Ontario) for microbrewery equiptment?

Belgian wrote: On the contrary, effective January 2008 ALL new Ontario breweries must make at least three of the following styles: Imperial Stout, Double or Single IPA, Saison, Doppelbock, Belgian Strong ale or a real ESB.

Is there a different rule driving all the fruit beer to market or is it just an excess supply of jam in Ontario?

Bonobo wrote:Well thanks for the Information so far. I was also trying to find laws about the actual manufacture of alcohol..eg; premesis restrictions, zoning requirements and any of the usual government snags associated with anything good. ANyone know of a good source (in Ontario) for microbrewery equiptment?

I could be wrong, but I think premises restrictions and zoning requirements are in the municipal domain rather than provincial. You might want to check your local municipality's web site for more info.