B.C. NDP to launch liquor review
B.C. Attorney General David Eby is making good on his promise to create a liquor industry advisory panel to review the province’s current liquor legislation and policies.
As we first reported last month, Eby said he is looking at possibly instituting a wholesale pricing scheme for restaurants, bars and pubs, as they are currently forced to purchase alcohol at retail prices, as well as other changes to the province’s liquor laws.
“I think the opportunity now is to take some of the unintended consequences of some of the policies that were rolled out [by the B.C. Liberals] and clean those up in consultation with industry and then move on to opportunities that weren’t addressed by the previous government,” he said. “There is some work that needs to be done in re-establishing the relationship between government and industry and retail to make sure that we’re all on the same page about how to improve.”
The province announced last week that it has retained wine industry Mark Hicken as a liquor policy advisor “to liaise with industry stakeholders and provide recommendations to government on ways to support B.C.’s industry.”
Hicken will oversee the creation of a B.C. beer, wine, and spirits panel to review current policies and provide feedback and recommendations.
Eby said the panel would likely convene in early 2018.
Strathcona celebrates 1st birthday
Strathcona Beer Company will celebrate their one-year anniversary this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 17 and 18) with a weekend-long open house and special edition beer launch.
“This has been a year of learning, improving and being humbled by the incredible growth we have experienced to date,” says Strathcona Beer Company President, Tim Knight. “We look forward to our second year in business and what we will be able to accomplish together as a team and community.”
Strathcona Beer Company’s Primo Double IPA will be available exclusively for tasting and purchase in the brewery’s tasting room (895 East Hastings St.) starting on Friday, Nov. 17. The official anniversary party for customers will take place that night, from 6pm to 11pm, with music by DJ Flipout. Strathcona will also be giving brewery tours all weekend long, and will be releasing a new pop-up art installation in the tasting room from the New York street artist Craig “KR” Costello.
Phillips advent calendar returns
After a one-year hiatus, Phillips Brewing and Malting Co.’s Snowcase craft beer advent calendar is back, so you can countdown to Christmas with 24 different Phillips rarities and one-offs.
Phillips will also be hosting a daily tasting blog at SnowcaseCalendar.com, complete with beer backstories, tasting notes, and a place for discussing each beer of the day, beginning Dec. 1.
The Snowcase is available now across Western Canada. Visit SnowcaseCalendar.com/find to find a liquor store near you that’s carrying it.
