TORONTO – Ontario’s craft brewers are lifting their steins Thursday.
In a move some are hailing as good for the local economy (and many more are calling good for people who like beer), the provincial government announced it will extend the Ontario Microbrewery Strategy for two more years.
Under the government’s extension, the Ontario Craft Brewers will receive $1.2 million in funding annually until 2016.
The money will go toward helping the association cover the costs of marketing and promotional activities, in order to raise the awareness of locally-made beer.
The craft beer industry isn’t the biggest industry in the province, employing 650 people in 47 microbreweries (according to government data), but provincial officials say it’s an important one.
The number of spin-off jobs that the industry creates is estimated to be around 3,600.
Small breweries account for nearly 30 per cent of Ontario’s brewery industry, and are worth over $400 million annually, according to the Ontario Craft Brewers – an association of about 30 small breweries across the province.
Last year, provincial brews led LCBO sales in all categories and saw a 45 per cent jump in sales.
John Hay, president of Ontario Craft Brewers, welcomed the government’s announcement, saying it will help bring more attention to the craft ales, stouts and lagers brewed in Ontario. “Ontario has tremendous brewing talent,” he added.
The province’s craft breweries are also the largest purchaser of locally-grown hops (one of the four main ingredients that make up the beverage of choice for so many Canadians).
The news comes as Toronto prepares for the annual Toronto’s Festival of Beer, taking place from July 26 to 28 at Exhibition Place. The festival will feature local craft breweries including Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co., Lake of Bays Brewing, Nickel Brook Brewery and Toronto’s own Mill Street Brewery.
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