Breweries closing and/or restructuring and/or bought out

[Cass]

I feel similar things about the Goose Island Toronto location.

I never wish ill on anyone, but GI Toronto feels like their Instagram closing post could be anytime now. Whenever I've been it's always dead, and the Bier Markt side doesn't seem to have any of the corporate business that it enjoyed pre-Covid.

[MatttthewGeorge]

Instead of starting a new thread for each brewery we hear in the news closing or otherwise that don't already have a thread dedicated to them, I thought I'd just start up a general one.

MacLean’s Ales Closes Brewery & Moves Production to The Collingwood Brewery
https://www.canadianbeernews.com/2023/1 ... d-brewery/
I'm going to guess this is Step One in Collingwood just buying out MacLean's. I can confirm that with this announcement Charles has retired.

Can't remember if this was posted else where, but I was wrong about Collingwood buying out MacLean's, as MacLean's moved into Thornbury in November: https://macleansbeer.com/macleans-ales- ... ury-craft/

[Craig]

I feel similar things about the Goose Island Toronto location.

I never wish ill on anyone, but GI Toronto feels like their Instagram closing post could be anytime now. Whenever I've been it's always dead, and the Bier Markt side doesn't seem to have any of the corporate business that it enjoyed pre-Covid.

I've always thought GI deserved a little better than they got in Toronto. They made good beer in a good space but the reaction from locals was muted at best. But like I was saying before, if they'd showed up 10 years earlier I think they would have had lines out the door. At the same time, I don't know if they ever really made an attempt to have meaningful distribution in the province. Have they even listed beers other than Bourbon County in the LCBO? Checking the site I see their generic IPA listed, but availability is pretty darn limited. Nicely priced at 2.90 though!

[sofakingdrunk]

I feel similar things about the Goose Island Toronto location.

I never wish ill on anyone, but GI Toronto feels like their Instagram closing post could be anytime now. Whenever I've been it's always dead, and the Bier Markt side doesn't seem to have any of the corporate business that it enjoyed pre-Covid.

I've always thought GI deserved a little better than they got in Toronto. They made good beer in a good space but the reaction from locals was muted at best. But like I was saying before, if they'd showed up 10 years earlier I think they would have had lines out the door. At the same time, I don't know if they ever really made an attempt to have meaningful distribution in the province. Have they even listed beers other than Bourbon County in the LCBO? Checking the site I see their generic IPA listed, but availability is pretty darn limited. Nicely priced at 2.90 though!

I used to drink a fair amount of the GI IPA about 8-10 years ago when they first started distributing through the beer store and lcbo.

[midlife crisis]

Yeah, I feel like you used to see those goose-head tap handles in a fair number of places 10 or so years ago, inevitably being the IPA and the Honkers Ale, but far less so now for some reason. Did one of the majors have their distribution? Personally, I felt their core lineup was pretty meh, though there are some nice one-offs from time to time and BCBS is brilliant, obviously.

[S. St. Jeb]

New Ontario in North Bay closed 2024 December 21

Past last call for local craft brewery

"It is with heavy hearts that we are announcing the closure of the Taproom. We moved into 1401 Seymour excited to grow with North Bay but, unfortunately, the debts we accrued over COVID, along with ever-increasing costs in the manufacturing industry have made it impossible for us to continue. As such, our last day of operation will be December 21, 2024 ... We hope everyone can get a pint before we close the curtains."

Except they weren't New Ontario anymore. Apparently they changed their name to Wildwoods Brewing last June.

[Craig]

Yeah, I feel like you used to see those goose-head tap handles in a fair number of places 10 or so years ago, inevitably being the IPA and the Honkers Ale, but far less so now for some reason. Did one of the majors have their distribution? Personally, I felt their core lineup was pretty meh, though there are some nice one-offs from time to time and BCBS is brilliant, obviously.

They're owned by AB InBev.

[midlife crisis]

Right, thanks. So why don't we see them in pubs any more? Or am I just not out and about enough?

[Craig]

The easiest guess is it just wasn't selling. I do remember seeing it on tap a while back now, by you're right it's becoming kinda rare.

[midlife crisis]

Pretty sure I had a few pints here and there if the other choices were Keith's, Stella, Bud and Bud Light. The AB InBev lineup really is awful. At least a Molson pub will have Guinness or Creemore, usually.

[Cass]

Pretty sure I had a few pints here and there if the other choices were Keith's, Stella, Bud and Bud Light. The AB InBev lineup really is awful. At least a Molson pub will have Guinness or Creemore, usually.

I’ve seen Hop Valley and even Trou du Diable L’Apocalypso at Molson pubs in the ‘burbs. They definitely have a better range than AB Inbev pubs big time, considering (as mentioned) that Goose is deprioritized. I’m not sure what AB’s “crafty” beer would be nowadays, if any.

[midlife crisis]

Mill Street Organic?

(Hop Valley is terrible, BTW, in my opinion).

[Tapsucker]

I feel similar things about the Goose Island Toronto location.

I never wish ill on anyone, but GI Toronto feels like their Instagram closing post could be anytime now. Whenever I've been it's always dead, and the Bier Markt side doesn't seem to have any of the corporate business that it enjoyed pre-Covid.

I've always thought GI deserved a little better than they got in Toronto. They made good beer in a good space but the reaction from locals was muted at best. But like I was saying before, if they'd showed up 10 years earlier I think they would have had lines out the door. At the same time, I don't know if they ever really made an attempt to have meaningful distribution in the province. Have they even listed beers other than Bourbon County in the LCBO? Checking the site I see their generic IPA listed, but availability is pretty darn limited. Nicely priced at 2.90 though!

I think I went only once. I didn't really like it. Too loud and very much a corporate chain bar vibe. If I'm in that area I prefer to pop into C'est What.

[Craig]

Pretty sure I had a few pints here and there if the other choices were Keith's, Stella, Bud and Bud Light. The AB InBev lineup really is awful. At least a Molson pub will have Guinness or Creemore, usually.

I’ve seen Hop Valley and even Trou du Diable L’Apocalypso at Molson pubs in the ‘burbs. They definitely have a better range than AB Inbev pubs big time, considering (as mentioned) that Goose is deprioritized. I’m not sure what AB’s “crafty” beer would be nowadays, if any.

Usually mill Street stuff or Landshark. I feel like I still see Blue Moon sometimes, though I know InBev sold them off a couple of years back.

[midlife crisis]

Good god, if Landshark is your "craft" beer you are in pretty rough shape, IMO. I thought Blue Moon was Molson-Coors?