Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 21/12/2016 (1372 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A promised $5 million fund to support the burgeoning craft beer business in Manitoba appears to be the latest casualty of a new era of austerity at Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

The Crown corporation sent an email to craft breweries Wednesday informing them that the program, which was scheduled to have been launched several months ago, is dead.

"As you may be aware, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries has reviewed the previously announced Manitoba Craft Liquor Opportunity Fund," the email reads, in part. "We do understand the importance of capital funding to small business and the local craft brewing industry in particular, both to get your business off the ground and to ensure continued growth. However these types of programs are outside our core mandate and expertise and therefore we will not be proceeding with the program."

Originally announced last January by the previous NDP government, the fund was to provide up to $250,000 to individual breweries in low-interest loans for the purchase of equipment.

Industry members had been in discussions recently with MLL officials who assured them the program would be up and running by now.

"Many of us are quite disheartened," said a partner in one of several recently opened Winnipeg craft breweries, including Barn Hammer, Torque, Little Brown Jug and Peg Beer. Farmery and Half Pints recently opened tap rooms and about six more breweries are scheduled to open in 2017.

Wednesday's news follows MLL's announcement in September that it would not proceed with its renovation of the Medical Arts Building on Kennedy Street as its new headquarters and the subsequent departure of CEO John Stinson in October.

One industry official said while the already-opened establishments are disappointed and will be forced to get more creative with their financing, the news may make it harder for some of the new ones to open.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca