Welcome to the last Beer Report for 2016.
There was two big stories this week that will positively effect the industry in 2017.
Atlantic Bottle Wash, a Burnside-based company, received $250,00 this week from ACOA. André Anglehart, president of Atlantic Bottle Wash, says it is part of an $800,000 investment that the company is making in bottle washing. They will be allowed to clean and resell 4.2 million 341-ml beer bottles a year to craft brewers saving brewers such as Propeller, Garrison and Boxing Rock saving them over $400,000. The company hopes to get more equipment to allow them to clean and provide other bottle sizes like the popular 500 ml and 650 ml bottles to craft brewers in the future.
Premier Stephen McNeil announced this week that Nova Scotia's Liberal government is changing the fee structure it currently levies on craft breweries. The Retail Sales Markup Allocation (RSMA) that is charged to craft brewers will change from $0.50 per litre on their beer to five per cent of wholesale costs of sales made directly. The Craft Brewers of Nova Scotia (CBANS) have been lobbying for this change for some time to bring the sector inline with both the wine and spirits industry in the province.
The change for craft brewers will take effect April 1, 2017 and will reduce the amount craft brewers pay by about $800,000 per year which will go into reinvesting in their breweries.
Gahan House in Halifax released Santa's Little Helper, their Christmas ale aged in a red wine barrel on mulling spices. They serve it with a complimentary gingerbread cookie. Perfect for the holiday's.
Good Robot Brewing announced some new beers coming in 2017. They will be releasing Sickbot Epidemic ESB on January 5th in collaboration with Sickboy Podcast. 220 Volts (working name) tripel in collaboration with North Brewing that was brewed at both facilities with slight tweaks and to be released in February for their back-to-back Battery Park and Good Robot taproom takeovers. Lastly, a yet-to-be-named barleywine which they say will take some time to mellow out.
At the Good Robot staff's request they will be open every day through the holidays, consider it a safe space if needed. On January 1st they will be celebrating a No Frills New Year's - nothing but beer and glasses to serve them in, plus finger foods from Rinaldo's.
Saltbox Brewery now has Batch 56 on tap in Mahone Bay. The beer is a crisp light bodied lager that is mildly malty, with a hint of fruit hop character and has an ABV of 5.4%.
Sober Island Brewing's Christmas came early with the arrival of its tanks from Big Spruce and DME. Owner Becky Atkinson says they are hoping to start brewing by mid February on the new gear.
Annapolis Cider Company introduced Old-Fashioned Gravenstein. This cider is made exclusively from 100% hand-picked local Gravenstein apples, a traditional heirloom variety. Harvested early and pressed shortly after it is picked, this dry fermented Gravenstein cider is carefully blended with freshly pressed Gravenstein juice and is finished off with a slight effervescence. This elegant pale-hued cider with crisp apple flavour and fresh apple aroma, is 7.4% alcohol and $19.95, including a refillable bottle.
A few other items of note.
End of the Line Pub in Bridgetown is hosting a Roof Hound Brewing Take Over & Mixings with Still Fired Distillery on Thursday, December 29 from 7 PM - 10 PM. Les Barr will take over the taps along with mixing from Still Fired Distillery and also have sample trays and food pairings available. There will also be music by Tide and Timber.
Bad Apple Brewhouse turns 3 years old on December 31st. They will be celebrating and invite everyone to drop in from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Halifax Seaport Beerfest has a special deal on now until December 24th. Get 2017 Seaport Beerfest now and save nearly $10 off the price of regular admission. The link to buy tickets is here.
Have a great holiday season, remember to plan ahead if you plan to enjoy a beer and make sure your holiday is happy. The Maritime Beer Report returns January 6th 2017.
