The Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) is a

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. An industry tra ...

representing 83 small, independent

breweries A brewery or brewing company is a business that makes and sells beer. The place at which beer is commercially made is either called a brewery or a beerhouse, where distinct sets of brewing equipment are called plant. The commercial brewing of bee ...

in the

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

province of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Origins

The OCB was founded in 2003 as the Ontario Small Brewers Association to work collectively on marketing and communications programs to promote local breweries and the

craft beer Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries. They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis o ...

being brewed in Ontario. The OCB is funded by member dues and grants provided by the

Government of Ontario The government of Ontario (french: Gouvernement de l'Ontario) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Ontario. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor� ...

. The association adopted the name Ontario Craft Brewers and launched their first marketing campaign under that brand in the spring of 2005.

Craft brewing methods

As proponents of the North American craft beer movement, the Ontario Craft Brewers have published a formal OCB Brewing Philosophy mandating members to employ traditional brewing methods, including brewing in small batches, the use of natural quality ingredients, fermentation to final gravity without dilution, and the avoidance of preservatives or additives.

Market position

Since the OCB formed and launched its marketing campaigns, there has been a reported growth in the sales of craft beer within the Ontario market. Craft breweries controlled less than 5 percent of the provincial beer market in 2008. Over 89 per cent of beer in Ontario was sold by

The Beer Store Brewers Retail Inc., doing business as The Beer Store, is a privately-owned chain of retail outlets selling beer and other malt beverages in the province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1927, it was owned at its inception by a consortium of Ont ...

(TBS), which is owned by AB InBev, Molson Coors, and Sapporo. The remainder of beer in the province is sold by the

Liquor Control Board of Ontario The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) is a Crown corporation that retails and distributes alcoholic beverages throughout the Canadian province of Ontario. It is accountable to the Legislative Assembly through the minister of finance. It wa ...

(LCBO), a provincial

crown corporation A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a government entity which is established or nationalised by the ''national government'' or ''provincial government'' by an executive order or an act of legislation in order to earn profit for the governmen ...

solely responsible for the sale of liquor and spirits in Ontario, and by licensed bars, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Retailing

Beer retail changes

The Ontario craft brewing industry expansion was supported by changes to the retailing landscape brought in by the Government of Ontario, including beer sold in grocery stores, a new Beer Framework and governance structure for the Beer Store, co-shipping among craft breweries, and a minimum of 20% shelf space allocation in TBS and grocery stores.

Beer in grocery stores

Starting in mid-December 2015, Ontarians were able to purchase beer in grocery stores, with 58 outlets, comprising grocery store chains and independents, initially licensed across the province. Major Canadian retailer

Loblaws Loblaws Inc. is a Canadian supermarket chain with stores located in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Loblaws is a subsidiary of Loblaw Companies Limited, C ...

led the way by hosting a media launch event in Toronto with the

Premier of Ontario The premier of Ontario (french: premier ministre de l'Ontario) is the head of government of Ontario. Under the Westminster system, the premier governs with the Confidence and supply, confidence of a majority the elected Legislative Assembly of On ...

and

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

, and a commitment to stock approximately 50 per cent local, Ontario craft beer. In its first week, Loblaws' sales exceeded expectations, and the company announced plans to expand beer sales.

Ontario Craft Beer Week

In June 2010, the Ontario Craft Brewers initiated the first annual Ontario Craft Beer Week, a festival featuring events taking place at OCB breweries, as well as various bars and restaurants around the province.

References

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External links

Ontario Craft Brewers

Alcohol in Ontario Beer in Canada Beer organizations Trade associations based in Ontario