Toronto, Ontario – Marking Ontario Craft Beer Week, the governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $1 million in 20 projects that will help craft breweries in the province better market their products locally and internationally, expand their operations and contribute even more to the economy.
Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the federal and provincial governments are providing support for technology solutions and marketing plans that will help craft breweries to expand markets and grow their businesses.
“Ontario’s craft breweries have consistently shown their ability to create and deliver premium craft beers and our Government is proud to support their continued innovation and growth,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This investment will help them expand operations and develop new markets for their high quality products here at home and abroad.”
“Craft breweries are thriving in Ontario and this investment will help these companies expand their consumer base, hire more employees and continue to grow,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Our government is committed to supporting Ontario’s craft breweries by expanding their market opportunities and improving customer convenience and choice by allowing them to sell their craft beers in retail stores across Ontario.”
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ontario Craft Beer Week. During that time our industry has grown to over 275 small independent breweries, but one thing has remained the same – our commitment to locally-made, high quality craft beer, using all natural ingredients,” said Scott Simmons, President of Ontario Craft Brewers. “This week is a celebration of our thriving local industry and allows communities and consumers alike to experience the premium quality and culture of Ontario craft beer.”
Craft beer is a fast-expanding industry in the province. The Ontario Craft Brewers association estimates the sector employs over 2,000 people in direct brewery jobs and thousands more in indirect jobs in industries such as tourism, food service, agriculture, and packaging and distribution, contributing over $1 billion towards Ontario’s economy annually.
Since first being introduced to the market in 1984, locally brewed Ontario craft beer has steadily gained popularity to become one of LCBO’s fastest-growing categories. Currently, there are approximately 184 craft breweries selling their product via the LCBO network, which generated almost $120 million in sales last year.
Today, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced an investment of more than $1 million towards 20 projects for Ontario Craft Breweries through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Investments include:
| Development | Municipality | Project | Total Funding |
| Shacklands Brewing Co. Ltd. | City of Toronto | Completed a marketing research study and marketing plan. | $2,275 |
| Partake Brewing | Town of Whitby | Conduct marketing activities and produce launch samples to help increase domestic market share. | $38,710 |
| Eastbound Brewing Company Inc. | City of Toronto | Develop a marketing campaign and sampling program to showcase new flavours of beer. | $13,828 |
| Collective Arts Brewing Limited | City of Hamilton | Purchase and install a centrifuge system, including water plan commissions and piping to replace its current filtration system. | $75,000 |
| Old Credit Brewing Co. Ltd. | City of Mississauga | Purchased and installed a canning line and compressor equipment to provide a new product to meet consumer demand. | $52,791 |
| Partake Brewing | City of Mississauga | Conduct formulation development, product testing, scale-up trials and purchase/install new packaging to help bring to market four new non-alcoholic beer products. | $52,500 |
| Left Field Brewery Inc. | City of Toronto | Purchase and install equipment and a depalletizer to produce a new line of sour beers and help meet market demand. | $75,000 |
| Old Flame Brewing Co. | Township of Scugog | Purchase a canning line and develop a new seasonal product that showcases locally sourced ingredients to help meet market demand. | $74,156 |
| Elora Brewing Company | Township of Centre Wellington | Purchased and installed new equipment to help support the development of a new product and make improvements to the production facility. | $62,903 |
| Brimstone Brewery Company Inc. | Town of Fort Erie | Purchase and install new equipment to help increase business growth and improve profitability. | $28,607 |
| Ashton Brewing Company | City of Ottawa | Purchase and install a new canning line to help support the development of a new product and increase business growth. | $49,776 |
| Cowbell Brewing Co. | Township of North Huron | Purchase and install a production system to create an on-site research and development system for a new product and be flexible to changing market demands. | $75,000 |
| Eastbound Brewing Company Inc. | City of Toronto | Purchase and install a pilot brewhouse to try new formulations before going to full-scale production and meet changing market demands. | 29,119 |
| Saulter Street Brewery | City of Toronto | Purchase and install an automated canning line and meet existing market demands from the LCBO and grocery stores. | $28,619 |
| Brock Street Brewing Company Ltd | Town of Whitby | Purchased and installed a pilot brew system to create seasonal brews faster to address changing market demand. | $75,000 |
| Four Fathers Brewing Company Ltd. | City of Cambridge | Purchased and installed a brew clean system to manage its wastewater stream. | $9,599 |
| Amsterdam Brewing Co. Limited | City of Toronto | Purchase and install a wet grist milling system to help improve labour productivity and product quality while also reducing waste. | $148,750 |
| Brock Street Brewing Company Limited | Town of Whitby | Purchase and install a new automated clean system to help reduce water consumption and help decrease the use of chemicals for the cleaning process. | $75,000 |
| Great Lakes Brewery | City of Toronto | Purchase and install a new centrifuge separator system to reduce waste while growing beer production. | $75,000 |
| Brock Street Brewing Company Ltd. | Town of Whitby | Purchase and install a self-cleaning centrifuge system. | 53,361 |
