Craving a cold one but the fridge is bare?

Well, if you’ve got the time — as in two hours — they’ve got the beer delivery.

The Beer Store — owned by 30 brewers in Ontario — will announce Tuesday it’s going into the home delivery business, The Toronto Sun has learned.

Under a trial project, drinkers can go to beerxpress.ca or use The Beer Store app to order suds from four outlets in Scarborough and 11 locations in Ottawa.

In Toronto, delivery will be restricted to the east end: An area bounded by Hwy. 401, Lake Ontario, Victoria Park Ave. — with a jog along Danforth Ave. to Coxwell Ave. — and Morningside Ave. Most of Ottawa, including the capital city’s downtown, is covered.

All will be revealed at two separate press conferences in the test markets on Tuesday but the move came about as the result of customer demand.

“Our customers said, ‘Hey, we’d love you to create a facility where we could order beer online and have it delivered to our door.’ So we did,” said Andrea Randolph, vice-president of retail for The Beer Store.

“We’re really, really excited that we have this new development and obviously we’re hoping our customers are similarly excited. It’s part of our commitment to modernize and enhance our customer experience.”

Delivery comes with a charge of $9.75 in Scarborough and $8.00 in Ottawa. People have to place an order of at least $20 and no more than $500.

The Beer Store is relying on independent drivers to make deliveries and those accepting beer at the door must prove they’re of the legal drinking age.

“And also, if [that person is] deemed to be intoxicated that order will also not be completed,” said Randolph.

Randolph added it could be six months before The Beer Store considers expanding the delivery program to other cities in the province.

There are 450 outlets of The Beer Store, which will celebrate its 90th year this fall.

Randolph said four of the Ottawa stores involved in the pilot project will remain open for home delivery on Saturday — Canada Day — for the country’s 150th birthday celebrations.

But you’ll still have to return those empties.

Beer delivery for Dummies:

Now that The Beer Store is offering two-hour, same-day delivery service in Toronto’s east end and Ottawa, here’s a how-to-order guide.

Enter your postal code into beerxpress.ca to see if you’re in the delivery coverage area. Browse through more than 800 kinds of beer from 200 breweries and place your order using a home delivery button. Make your payment with a credit card or VISA debit. There is a $20 minimum and $500 maximum for orders and an additional delivery charge: $9.75 in Toronto and $8.00 in Ottawa. You’ll receive an e-mail saying your order’s been received with a tracking number. Whoever makes the order must have photo I.D. to prove they’re of legal drinking age. Those deemed intoxicated will not be given the order. You still have to return your empty bottles.

— Jane Stevenson