2 posts tagged “beer”
As you noticed this beer was purchased from The Brick, not The Beer Store. If anyone read my To Canada! Beer! post, you'll realize I've skipped going to the LCBO altogether and just buy my beer straight from the source. Buying local and making sure more of my money goes to support the brewer. It's win-win.
I think this quote from That 70's Show pretty much sums up what's great about living in Canada:
Fez: Is there anything about Canada we need to know before we get there?
Hyde: Well, the beer is stronger, and as a result, their women look prettier.
Fez: Then let's haul ass to Canada!
There is one caveat to this land of strong beer though if you're living in the province of Ontario. Unlike what I can only imagine is a magical experience each and every time it takes place, you can't buy beer at a corner or grocery store. You must make the trek (not always in snow) to the imaginatively named The Beer Store. In this monolithic building you can view all the wonderful beers listed on the wall and let the cashier know which lucky bottles you want to take home with you. They also give you $0.10 CDN for each empty bottle you bring back (you've already paid the deposit so it's not really free money, but it still feels like it).
(But what about the LCBO you ask? When they start selling beer in something bigger than a 6-pack or giving me some cash for returning empties I'll start being a frequent visitor.)
Great, so there is this supermarket that stocks every beer from around the world. Why am I gloating about it? I'm not. Did I mention The Beer Store was a monopoly? It is, and even worse it's not a government run monopoly. The Beer Store is run by a group of breweries, although three companies is just barely a group (Labatt 49%, Molson/Coors 49%, and Sleeman (soon to be Sapporo) 2%). Notice a pattern? Not one of the companies is based in Canada anymore. How can we trust non-Canadians with the selling of our beer?
National pride aside, The Beer Store wields it monopolistic sword at the little guys. The Brick brewery was cut down when they tried to sell stubby bottles (the Gnomes of the beer bottle world) back in 2002. The Beer Store threatened to withold long-neck bottles (taking back, empties they control the empty bottle supply as well). What a bunch of assholes. The obviously have never enjoyed beer from a stubby or they wouldn't have tried to stop their sale.
Also without any sizable competition (remember the LCBO doesn't count, 6-packs) I'm forced to size up any new dwelling based on it's proximity to The Beer Store. It would be so much nicer to just be able to walk down to any corner store or pick up a case with groceries. Not in Ontario though. Luckily the Non-Canadian-ness of The Beer Store should force the provincial government to disband the evil empire. In the meantime I'm going to start buying from the LCBO (shudder) and buying direct from The Brick (it's only one block from work, and I pass it every day). And who knows, if I actually start going to the LCBO, I might learn how to appreciate wine. Anything is possible.
To my friends south of the border, buy a case of the good stuff in my honour next time you get groceries. I can't.
