2016: OBN’s Year in Review

Take a look back at the year in brewing, cider making and distilling in Ontario for 2016.

The Numbers

In total, we currently track 455 brewers, cider makers, and distillers in Ontario plus 114 ‘Better Beverage Bars’ that excel at serving locally produced beer, cider and spirits. (updated)

Brewers

In 2016, approximately 57 new brewers launched beer in Ontario, compared to 54 in 2015. Openings included 43 brick-and-mortar breweries and 14 contract brewers. There are now 201 brick-and-mortar breweries and 54 contract brewers/brands in total, with approximately 100 known planned breweries slated to open. (updated)

Cider Makers

There are now 47 operating cider makers in Ontario including dedicated cideries and wineries producing cider. 9 new cider makers are known to be in the planning stages. (updated)

Distilleries

During 2016, approximately 5 new distillers launched for a total of 20 operating distillers in Ontario, plus 4 currently operating on a contract basis. 14 new distilleries are planned to open.

Specialty

We now track Specialty beverage alcohol producers including local Mead and Saki makers.

Product Releases

More than 900 individual beer, cider and spirits releases were listed in 2016.

Economy

Sales Figures

The LCBO’s fiscal 2015-2016 financial results displayed a net sales growth of 6.8 per cent, at $5.57 billion. Ontario craft beer sales hit $69 million, up more than 35% over the previous year. Ontario craft cider saw an increase of 54% to $5.1 million. Ontario craft spirits sales were up 63.7% to $3.7 million.

Grocery

Beer celebrated one year of being sold in Ontario grocery stores selling more than 532,000 cases of beer amounting to net sales of approximately $24 million. 450 stores could be selling beer by 2018.

Cider was approved for sale in grocery stores and was available on shelves in June 2016.

Online Shopping

Both the LCBO and the Beer Store launched online stores in 2016. The LCBO’s online store, after launching in July 2016, had reached $1 million in sales by September. The Beer Store’s BeerXpress service, which launched in June 2016, allows for order-ahead service for in store pickup.

Funding

Nearly $2 million was provided to more than twenty Ontario brewers in 2016 from provincial sources.

Policy

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) in July announced new policy updates for improved flexibility for Ontario’s beer, cider, spirits and wine manufacturers operating on-site retail stores allowing a retail store at any production site.

Education

Niagara College unveiled its plans to launch its Distilling Program with a full Teaching Distillery, which is slated to start its first semester, for up to 20 students, in September 2017.

Durham College and Chicago-based Siebel Institute of Technology announced a partnership to bring three distinct brewing education courses to the college’s Oshawa campus.

Challenges

Recalls

Quality challenges were more apparent in 2016 with four public recalls issued by both the LCBO and breweries. These included cans of both Amsterdam’s Sweetwater Squeeze Radler and Brock St’s Blonde Lager experiencing secondary fermentation in-can resulting in exploding cans. Wellington issued a notice that its 2015 vintage Kentucky Cow was souring from a Brett contamination. Side Launch Brewing Corp recalled cans of its Wheat following a souring infection.

Bill 70

In November, members Bill 70 was introduced by Ontario’s Liberal government proposing a new tax structure for distilleries in the province, but not a tiered system that the Ontario Craft Distillers Association had hoped for, or needed.

Agriculture

According to the Ontario Hop Grower’s Association, there are at least 60 dedicated hop farms operating in Ontario. Additionally, ONspecialtycrops, operated by members of Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, noted that they “receive many calls and emails each week from growers interested in producing hops in Ontario.”

Ontario is also home to one dedicated malt house, Barn Owl Malt in Belleville, used by nearly 20 local breweries. It launched in 2015.

Awards Results

Canadian Brewing Awards 2016

Ontario Brewing Awards 2016

Golden Tap Awards 2016

US Open Beer Championship 2016

US Open Cider Championship 2016

Ontario Cider Awards 2016

Canadian Craft Beer Awards 2016

World Beer Awards 2016

Great Ontario-Hopped Craft Beer Competition 2016

Trends

The major 2016 brewing trends in Ontario brewing were primarily Sour/Wild beer and the New England or Vermont-style IPA and the use of local hops, malt, and yeast, particularly fresh or wet-hopped harvest beers.

Two brewing facilities opened in Toronto primarily aimed at providing brewing capacity to contract brewers and additional capacity for existing brewers.

Crowlers – large 1l aluminum cans – are beginning to catch on in Ontario, with five breweries now offering the format (Descendants, Kame & Kettle, Plan B, Redline, Tooth & Nail)

A growing number of cider makers are making use of hops to add depth and complexity to cider.

Local beverages are infiltrating at all levels including the major chains and franchises – almost any pub, restaurant and bar offers at least some craft beer or beverage offerings. Toronto’s CN Tower Horizons Restaurant has gone all-craft beer.

Personal Highlights

Highlights of the year from some of the beverage industry’s best brewers, cider makers, distillers and pros.

For me, for beers and breweries: Left Field Eephus and Bricks & Mortar are my favourites. Pretty much everything I taste from Stone City is damn good too. I was also impressed by Bench first batch release of Citra Grove. The brewer with probably the most determination would be Iain McOustra- for all the stuff he has to go through with Amsterdam expansion. Much respect.

Luc ‘Bim’ Lafontaine, Founder at Godspeed Brewery

The highlight of our year was expanding into our new facility!

Matt Pearson, Co-Founder at Sleeping Giant Brewing

My highlight was definitely getting my own facility. I know that isn’t the most inspirational quote but bricks and mortar are pretty amazing.

Tariq Ahmed, Cider Maker at Revel Cider

A highlight for Steam Whistle Brewing was the release of our Retro Lunch Box with 6 tall cans. We were blown away by the response, selling 80 per cent of the inventory within the first two weeks. As we stay committed to producing a premium beer Canadians can be proud of, we will continue to push the boundaries in creativity combining Canada’s Pilsner with that touch of nostalgia and fun that our customers love and deserve.

Bromlyn Bethune, Sales & Marketing Director at Steam Whistle Brewing

I was going to say something about the exciting growth of our industry and the pleasure it is to still be involved after 34 years. But stop, hold the mash and raise a glass to the newest member of our fraternity. Darren and Antonia Smith , owners of Lake of Bays Brewery gave birth today to their first child and the heir apparent to this Baysville icon.

Dan Unkerskov, Brewmaster at Lake of Bays Brewing

Planning the new Teaching Distillery has been exciting. We will be launching in the fall of 2017 with new Distilling students and craft distilled products. Rolling out the Beer 101 (Beer Lesson in a Can) has been very rewarding. Anytime we can match education with great tasting craft beer I think we have done a good job. Making Cider has turned out to be a wonderful turning point in the evolution of great drinks here at Niagara College. Cider has become so hot in the market place and we are thrilled to be part of the education and centre of excellence for the industry.

Steve Gill, General Manager at Niagara College Teaching Brewery, Winery, Cidery, Distillery

2016 was an exciting year for Cowbell Brewing Co., and one of the most satisfying and dynamic of my young career as a brewer. We planned a carbon-neutral brewery, restaurant, retail space, and event venue on 111 acres of land; then refined, re-planned, and re-fined again. After a year and countless engineering, architecture, landscape, production, and environmental meetings, I am confident that the destination brewery we are building in Blyth is going to be a unique home for us to share memorable beer and Guest experiences with Ontarians and beyond, for years to come.

Stephen Rich, Brewmaster at Cowbell Brewing

Highlight of the year would have to be the big wins Great Lakes Brewery received at the 2016 Golden Tap Awards during Toronto Beer Week. Being named the Best Craft Brewery in Ontario for the third year in a row was great, and Karma Citra IPA winning the Best Seasonal or Specialty Product was terrific, but it was the third award that was really the highlight for me personally – Canuck Pale Ale being named the Best Regularly Produced Beer in Ontario! And while it hasn’t happened yet, the annual Industry Christmas Social I host at Bryden’s on Bloor, is always a highlight.

Troy Burtch, Marketing & Communications Manager at Great Lakes Brewery

Seeing Rwandan brewery-owner-to-be Fina Uwineza learn to tap her first cask – onstage! – at this year’s Beau’s Oktoberfest. She is truly fearless and it shows.

Jen Beauchesne, Beau’s Brewing Co.

Pffft…it’s been a fantastic year and it’ll be tough to narrow it down to just one highlight. But I’ll do my best to keep it short. NO PROMISES!

For me getting to go to Portland, Oregon to visit the Crosby Hop farm with Kevin Sommerville from Scott Labs was an amazing experience. To see hop farms on that scale, was so eye opening. It really made me appreciate the amount of work that goes into just ONE ingredient. Trust me people, y’all should be really happy that they can still get a can of beer for under $5.

Another highlight was going out to the Norman Hardie Winery in Prince Edward County with the teams from Indie Alehouse, Great Lakes Brewing and Amsterdam Brewing. We brewed our 3rd installment of the Niambic project and it was a blast. This has been a brew that we’ve been working on for the past 4 years and it’s finally all coming together. They are all such great guys and it’s wonderful to not only be a part of such a unique brew but also just to hang out and have a few beers with those guys. Man, so much fun.

CBA’s this year out in Richmond, BC was also pretty amazing. Getting to do a collab with team at Fourwinds Brewing was truly a memorable experience. They brew great beer and were just top notch hosts. Everyone should go out and check them out if you get a chance. Add in having Nicklebrook and Great Lakes there too…man, what a day. I really can’t wait to taste that beer and see how it turned out.

And to toot my own horn, just a few things here at Sawdust. First our 1st Annual Funkfest was a huge success. We really didn’t know what to expect in terms of turn out…but the reception was fantastic. We knew the beer was gonna be great, as we have really amazing beer here in Ontario, but we were really blown away by the response to the event. We are so excited about hosting it again this year.

Lastly, our 11.05 collab with Nicklebrook. Not only am I super proud of the beer (again), but we were also able raise $1,200 for the Crafting a Cure event in support of JDRF Canada. This is something a cause that is very close to my heart and I’m just so happy that I could contribute in any way possible.

Like I said…NO PROMISES! I’m sure there were a ton of other things that I missed, but these were the first things that popped in my head. Yeah. I guess it was a very good year. I’m a very lucky man.

Sam Corbeil, Brewmaster at Sawdust City Brewing

(We thank Sam for overshadowing this entire Year in Review with his own thoughts. -OBN)

A highlight for us was reaching 1,000 registrations and 115 suppliers for the 2016 Ontario Craft Brewers Conference (OCBC). OCB’s first conference in 2012 started with 200 registrants and 30 suppliers; this event keeps growing in scope and quality, right along with our industry.

Christine Mulkins & Jenny Mulkins, BOOST PR and Ontario Craft Brewers PR & Events

I’m in Rwanda, which is a bit of a highlight in itself, I’m getting ready to go brew some traditional banana beer! 2016, as our tenth anniversary has been a big one with so many highlights including beers like Batch 5000 and Old Skäl, selling the brewery to our employees, beginning the journey to open a craft brewery in Rwanda, expanding our distribution across Canada, and so many more important initiatives. Getting the cover story of Beer Advocate and Brewers Journal, and being named Design Thinker of the Year, awarded the B-Corp Built To Last award and getting 5 awards at the US National Organic Beer Awards are all great accolades for the work we’ve done. All in all, 2016 is going down as one of the best ever in my books!

Steve Beauchesne, Co-founder of Beau’s All Natural Brewing

55 more brewers graduated. Around 250 different recipes / beers brewed and sold. 3 successful ‘Project Brew’ beer festivals put on by students.

Jon Downing, Brewmaster Professor at Niagara College Teaching Brewery

Dear year in review compilers, we know what went on in 2016. Let’s not spend time rehashing it all, okay?

Stephen Beaumont (via Twitter), Author

Our highlight was without a doubt the launch of our First Barrels Straight Canadian Whisky. We began distilling wheat, rye, and corn in February 2013, and First Barrels is what we have worked towards since the beginning. “Remarkably smooth and complex … this whisky is more than impressive” says Toronto Life. First Barrels is 100% certified organic, was distilled entirely at whisky strength (no neutral spirit) contains no artificial colouring or flavouring.

Charles Benoit, Co-founder at Toronto Distillery Co.

Looking Forward

126 new breweries, cideries and distilleries are set to open in 2017. (updated)

Funk-only – The wild popularity of sour and funky beers has already paved the way for Nickel Brook’s Burlington brewery conversion to the Funk Lab, the recent launch of all-sour Ottawa brewing company Small Pony Barrel Works, and and an all-sour brewery in London reported by beer editor Ben Johnson. Additoinally, Half Hours on Earth Brewery in Seaforth is already focusing majorly on brett and wild-fermented beers.

Brewery + Distillery combos – Already, Windmill Brewery and King’s Lock Craft Distillery share a location in Johnstown, and upstart brewery Lonsbery Farms Brewing Company is going to join established distiller Wolfhead in Amherstburg. Magnotta in Vaughan and Trafalgar in Oakville already have their own line of spirits. In addition, Muskoka Brewery and Barnstormer Brewing are planning to install still and release a line of spirits.

And, the return of the 355ml beer can.

Happy Holidays!