Left Field Brewery found itself in the awkward position of having to pour beer from other craft breweries at a dim sum festival it was co-hosting on Sunday.

That’s because the east-end brewery, which already sells to over 60 bars and restaurants in Toronto, was made aware last week of a little known policy that forbids breweries that contract out the production of their brew — and who do not sell at the LCBO or Beer Store — from pouring at special events.

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario rules only allow so-called special occasion permit (SOP) holders, such as weddings and receptions, but also popular gatherings like Toronto’s Festival of Beer, to get their liquor from the LCBO, the Beer Store or a retail store of a licensed brewery.

Left Field’s co-owner, Mandie Murphy, said the news was a huge disappointment to her and her husband and business partner, Mark. Special events serve as an important marketing tool for small breweries, such as theirs, that cannot afford big advertising campaigns.

The brewery had poured beer at events throughout last summer, without ever being taken to task by the AGCO.

“We weren’t doing anything wrong on purpose, and we certainly don’t want to do anything illegal and contrary to the act,” she said.

“We have no choice but to sort of raise the issue, because this type of sale from breweries directly to special occasion permit holders has been happening for as long as we’ve ever been aware in Ontario.”

She’s hoping for a quick policy change to avoid having to pull Left Field’s booth from upcoming events this summer. The brewery will eventually have its own bricks-and-mortar facility to produce its beer and comply with the current AGCO policy, but it won’t be open until early 2015, said Murphy.

Their product is made under contract by two licensed breweries, Grand River Brewing and Barley Days Brewery. They are asking for the AGCO to at least permit either one or both of those breweries to provide Left Field beer at special events.

AGCO spokesman Jeff Keay declined to discuss specific licensed breweries, saying “(a contract brewery’s) only avenue for providing beer to an SOP holder is either through the Beer Store or at the LCBO. And contract brewers know that.”

Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the Ministry of the Attorney General, which is responsible for the AGCO, said the SOP program “helps ensure that the sale and service of beverage alcohol at special events is conducted in a safe, socially responsible manner.”

Murphy said the couple was not aware of the policy, and believes many other contract breweries may also be in the dark. She said Left Field doesn’t produce nearly enough beer to sell at the LCBO, and the listing fee to sell at the Beer Store is too high for her small company, she said.

She also believes her contract brewery is the first to be contacted about the policy by the AGCO, but Keay said that would be inaccurate. He said the AGCO is not suddenly “cracking down” on contract breweries.

On Friday, the Murphys posted a letter to customers on their website, urging them to write to Premier Kathleen Wynne and Economic Development Minister Eric Hoskins to demand change.

Liquor rules are already expected to be a focus in the provincial election campaign, with calls for alcohol to be made more widely available, including in convenience stores.

Les Murray, president of Beerlicious Inc., which organizes Toronto’s Festival of Beer, said in a statement Saturday that the AGCO had not contacted him about the participation of contract breweries.

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“At this time, we fully intend to continue to pour contract brewed beer as we have always done,” he said.

Troy Burtch, co-founder and director of partnerships at Toronto Beer Week, said organizers will likely have to re-evaluate the participation of contract breweries at its kick-off event in September.