The Bar Towel

Yes, I'm going out on a limb here. I've been a bartowler for a little time here and love the support this site gives to the beers of Unibroue. You guys are great! I have a question and maybe some of you can help me out with my inquiry.

Why is it that Bar owners need kick backs from small breweries. I mean, If I don't see Creemore on tap I don't even bother going in to an establishment or setting up an appointment. 1 in 5 or 1 in 10. This is getting our of hands. We small breweries do not have the budget to compete with larger breweries. We offer service, beer dinners, staff trainings, promotion nights, flushing our draught lines and even getting pissed up with the rep night (Depending on how my liver feels on sunday). I was in the process of getting a draught account a few weeks ago until the General Manager mentioned "KICKBACKS" we want 1 in 10 and you will support our volume. I gave him two options: 1. I will provide you with support only If our entire brewery can eat here for free once a year and that includes our distributors as well. 2. I need your charity number.

Their are some breweries out there that need a short term fix a "Temporary Bandaid". The more you give the bigger the wound gets. I have so much respect for Creemore.

We are based out of province we don't have this magical trucks that can back up to a pub and say" Here ya go buddy, this ones on me. I'm in the Christmas feeling again, I just love giving away my stuff away. Not happening here. That's why I don't deal with alot of pubs in the first place. Bottles are fine with me. Bistros, cafe and high end restaurants don't even ask since their emphasis is on food and wine. So, If I can't get these volumes from a pub, I'll take elsewhere. For those that really appreciate good beer, honest service and someone who actually cares. No crap here boys. I shoot from the hip and am an honest lad.

It seems so many bar owners need that extra $20 dollars in their pockets. I love my job and find it very amusing and interesting. When selling draught everyone should be making margins. If not why put it on tap?

I have visibility all around the world. There is a draught war in Quebec and some of the stories are just plain disgusting. I don't need to contribute to these matters since I want to be respected by my peers in the industry. Also, I wouldn't be much of a sales rep just giving my stuff away.

Sometimes those who claim to help us are infact hurting us. Take care. Claude.

Claude,

Very interesting post. Wish I could add to the discussion, but I am a punter, not an industry person.

We do love your beer here in T'ranna. Keep it coming.

And as far as pub managers go,...It's a dirty game...Pubs that serve quantity over quality are bound ot be an uphill struggle for you.

And there are very few restaurants that place an emphasis on matching food with beer. Many should, but most don't. Believe me, it's nearly as frustrating to me and my friends as it is for you. We will point out to waiters we think they are offering a lousy selection of beers. But I never seem to get more than a big smile with a subtext of "eff-off, nerd".

But maybe that is a place for you to start!? Small restaurants serving good food. I was at Vij's in Vancouver a few years ago, and they had a lovely 80/ custom made by a local brewery. T'ranna has loads of Indian restaurants which cater to a largely non-Indian clientele -- why not try them?

There are also loads of reasonably fine restaurants in the North Toronto area (Bayview, Mt. Pleasant, Yonge St. and Avenue Road, from Bloor up to York Mills) with good food and lousy beer. Papa Gio's? North 44? Centro? They have great wines but their beer selections must have been done while sleep walking. (Moretti!! Feh...!)

Personally, I would also recommend marketting via the press, particularly Toronto Life, the G&M or the National Post. People in T'ranna are weird, and tend not to buy unless they see something recommended first. (Why? Tight fists? Deference to authority? I dunno.)

I'm certain that I am not the first to think of this nonsense, but you're from out-of-town. So maybe you think I'm smart or something.

Good luck. Looking forward to the Éphémère 8-pack.

-Uncle Bobby.

Uncle Bobby. Thanks for your reply. I, however am based out of Toronto and not out of town.

I am conducting alot of tastings within the LCBO system to get "Unibroue's" name out to the general public. (You would be suprised to see how many people think we are the guys who bought Labatt's).

As for Toronto Life magazine, apparently they want to work with the Biff's (Oliver Bonacini group) and Unibroue to conduct a food pairing with beer. The General Manager at Biff's told me someone from the Toronto Life magazine came in and had the Raftman on tap and loved it. He than suggested food pairings with beer. I will find out soon enough when this will be ocurring.

We at Unibroue based out of Ontario have unique ways of promoting ourselves. We are in the works at conducting something here in Ontario that not even the larger breweries have done yet. This will be a first for Ontario. I'll eventually keep everyone posted.

Cheers! Claude.

I was banished to the States for a while and discovered your beer at the Brickskeller in Washington DC. I bloody love the stuff!!!!!! Having said that, I'd like to recommend you contact the newest chain of Irish pubs in Toronto. These guys run Whelan's Gate, Kitty O'Shea's, the Foggy Dew and, as of tonight at 6PM, the Pour House.

They're all pretty much cookie cutter places but they do pretty good volume. The owner is a friend of mine (his first pub is my local). He's not at all a slime bucket and is very much a professional. I'll start working on him to try it at my local with the promise to switch over which should be enough to get him to try it, given my weekly intake.

If you need a contact name/number, e-mail me.