TheStar.com: What's your view of The Beer Store?

[Dean042]

Brewer's Retail is a 100% foreign-owned monopoly. It keeps prices high and is operated by unionized workers who don't care if customers find prices too high. Beer should be sold in corner stores, but I don't think Ontarians will see it anytime soon. Marché Gravelle in Aylmer, Quebec sells the same beer as across the river in Ontario but significantly cheaper. They sell what people want, what they actually drink. It's cold, cheap and convenient. We've been getting hosed for years in Ontario...

[PyroChemicals2]

The solution is that Canadians stop buying at liquor board stores. Of course, since Canadians are a bunch of tools who allow themselves to get mercilessly ripped off (No, not all of that money is going to building hospitals... in fact, MOST of it is being pissed away), this will never happen, and the liquor boards will keep personally profiting billions.

[riotuesday]

This is insane! The LCBO was created and is based off of an antiquated law that was meant to appease the 51% of Ontarians that wanted complete abstinence. " Let's keep it public; "more selection" This is all just "Socialist" union propoganda. The "bad type" of socialist. The LCBO is a monopoly. OPSEU monopolizes the wokforce at the LCBO. It doesn't get any worse. The Ontario prohibition referendum of 1924 should be repeated with a 3rd option for private sale of alchohol in Ontario.

[ralphyization]

What people do NOT realize, is that if the beer store folded tomorrow, and convenience and grocery stores were selling it, there would DEFINITELY be LESS selection. Do you really think the major chain stores would carry 468 brand/size combinations? not likely. The price would only RISE, because our cost of distribution remains relatively low. example, in a city with 4 beer stores, now , there are 200 places to deliver to. The buck gets passed.

[iLuvBarRefaeli]

Beer should be in corner stores its pathetic that its not

[railroadtie69]

beer is overpriced in ontario so I would rather drink american beer

[railroadtie69]

I would rather drink amercan beer than pay for our government's bullshit... The need to stop the monopoly bullshit and allow competition like in the states

[Bottomless80Depths]

In Manitoba you can buy beer until 2am, same with Quebec, no? I live in Scarborough, Ontario where beer stores are few and far between. We were in Niagara Falls once partying and got lost finding the beer store so we crossed to the USA, went to Wilson Farms at 11:30pm and got 30 a pack for $15! I did hear they banned 40oz's of malt liquor in Manitoba cause the chugs couldn't control themselves :\

[Pimblit]

And also, you have been arguing with a child, technically.

[mpkennedy08]

ontario beer is too expensive,

join the petition on facebook

ontario beer is too expensive

[matttbay]

I have to agree. Steam Whistle is a great tasting beer.

[MFairbanks88]

Only in Canada would the comments argue about beer instead of about whether the Beer Store should have a monopoly on selling beer in Ontario.

[marmoc50]

so easily distracted which is exactly what the monopoly wants! support derek this august long weekend he's setting up booths in toronto to get signatures for his petition to end the beer store/lcbo.

[ralphyization]

@MFairbanks88 It's the most efficient way, to deliver the most brands, and still recycle about 98 % of the containers. If it goes to convenience stores, you will get about 4 or 5 brands at a higher price, my friend. The cost of beer comes PRIMARILY from TAXES, not the distribution system. If you want a micro-brew, like Steamwhistle, for example, you will NOT get it at a Macs. Pros and cons, both sides, for sure, but think first....

[decibel333]

Budweiser is King of Crap... whether it be American or (Budvar) Czech... as far as Canadian beers go, "Canadian" is near to the worse of the lot, so don't judge them all by that 4 day-brewed rat piss. Try some microbrewed stuff like Steam Whistle or Cameron's and see what good Canadian beer is really like!

[gilraen789]

If it isn't Czech it ain't worth heck!

[cooldude3001]

Budweiser Is The Best

[Pimblit]

American beer is like piss water. Canadian beer isn't the cream of the crop but it isn't bad at all. The best beer is probably British, whether it be English, Scottish, Irish or even Welsh beer. I think the reason behind the quality of beer is because British breweries are in many cases almost ancient. Canadian beer is better than American beer because Canada was under British rule for so much longer than America and was in turn influenced by British style.

[OPE08]

Being that you can't get real beer easily, or afford the tax on it when it is available, how would you know? Despite the massive destruction done to the American Brewing scene due to the Volstead Act, it has come back in a HUGE way since the 1970's. Canada would have to try dammned hard to top Stone Breweries, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Anderson Valley, Walker/Firestone, even the half dozen world class breweries in San Diego county alone!

ALL breweries mentioned above are Californian...

[Pimblit]

Wow, mellow out. You haven't considered my financial status, so I can get beer easily, and the tax isn't affecting my family very much. And also, America is the least adored country in the entire world. You may think it is Iraq or Afghanistan, but everyone in Canada knows that the U.S.A. blows donkey bits. Peace out, my love.

[beast6228]

Canada's workforce is mainly supported by American companies, so the USA hardly blows anything. By the way, did you know there are more people in the state of California than in your entire country? (330 million to Canada's low population of only 33 million.)

[Pimblit]

And I've never heard of any of the Californian ones. Canada doesn't need to try at all.

[OPE08]

Wow, after a year I had forgotten this conversation!

You've never heard of the brewers I've mentioned, yet you claim "American beers are watered down"? If you are serious about beer I'd suggest you seek out the quality stuff. It is perhaps not unfair to judge America by Bud/Miller/Coors, but we are leading the world in the re-birth of the brewing art, and I am proud to live in the State that is the runaway winner amongst the world beers.

Have you had any of the beers from ratebeers top 100??

[Pimblit]

Listen, American fellow. It seems that Americans have an incessant need to be the best at everything; simultaneously, it seems the only commodity Americans can properly produce, is that of war. I'm just saying, apart from public opinion, which is usually below any real standard, because the public is uninformed as a whole, especially the public of America.

[OPE08]

And based on nothing more than our conversation I would say that I have just been trying to have a chat while you have been acting like a complete jerk the whole time.

You are a piss-poor example of the superiority of the Canadian if you ask me. Tho I am positive that not all Canadians act like ranting little spoiled children when somebody challenges them on their lack of knowledge...

My last comment was directed at socijaldemokrata.

[Pimblit]

I suppose most Americans can spell "though," as well. I am a superior example of the superior Canadian. I have knowledge, far beyond what you could ever possibly merit from the piss-poor excuse for primary education available in America.

[Pimblit]

Additionally, I don't care what your opinion is. I really don't. As to Canada's population, as aforementioned by another person, we seem to have far less people, pollution, consumerism, and a far better reputation than that of America. I'm done with this now, I won't comment anymore because Americans like you are stupid. You give your whole country a bad name, whereas many Americans are not bad at all. I hope you're never near my damned igloo...

[ryan84160]

@OPE08 This guy is a complete fucking moron. Although not well known, the U.S produces more world class craft beer that any other country in the world. And the supposedly "great Canadian" beer he drinks is probably just the same type of yellow piss water that is produced by the major breweries in the US.

[socijaldemokrata]

@Pimblit

I too prefer the English brands but I have to admit that Central/Eastern Europe (primarily Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) brews the best beer in the world. Russia has a couple of good brands, as do Serbia and Croatia.

Canadian: Steam Whistle by far my favourite.

American: I have never, ever, had an American beer that I liked. Their "King of Beers" isn't even American. So much for their beer tradition.

[Pimblit]

THANK YOU! American beers seem watered-down. European beer is better, for sure. German beer is absolutely wonderful, I can't say much of anything for Slavic brews, though, I've never had any.

[OPE08]

Interesting, what American Beers have you ever tried?

German beers continue to disappoint me, I keep expecting them to be amazing and they are all so common. I think the "Beer purity law" really ruined them, it kept them from innovation.

Bud is an American beer, they stole the name and slogan bud Bud in an American Light Lager and Budvar is a premium lager, altho they have more than just that one.

[railroadtie69]

@OPE08 I'm a fan of Rolling Rock and Leinenkugel dark creamy ale brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

[OPE08]

@railroadtie69 - I've had rolling rock, I can't get past that odd corn flavor, its one of ALOT of beers out there that supposedly was much better a few decades ago before being bought out.

Leinenkugels isnt available in the West as far as I have ever seen, altho' I think they have become "distribution partners" with AB/InBev so I bet we'll see them everywhere soon enough.

[ryan84160]

@OPE08 Because when it was bought out the recipe was changed. The big breweries use a lot of shitty adjuncts such as corn and rice instead of all barley malt because it is much cheaper.

[ryan84160]

@socijaldemokrata Then you are just an Idiot. The US produces WAY WAY WAY more world class beers than we do.

[zev007]

I'm sorry, but Canadian tastes like shit. Sure American beers taste like shit too, but it's still too expensive here...

[carmie1818]

You get what you pay for. Canadian beer tastes better, then less expensive beers south of the border.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Like what? Molson, Labatt, Kokanee, Rickards? These are all shit.

[carmie1818]

@ryan84160 like Steamwhistle, Moosehead, Sleeman, Mill St.....and some Labatt beers are actually pretty good too.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Steamwhistle is decent for a Pilsner and Mill St makes some good beers, but everything else you've mentioned is not quality beer.

Where do you get off bashing all american beer when yo drink some pretty shitty beers yourself? Judging all American beer by coors/bud would be like going to Belgium drinking a stella and concluding that Belgian beers are all tastless mass produced fizzy water.

[carmie1818]

@ryan84160 Hahaha...only in Canada will 2 complete strangers argue over beer....first off, my initial point was directed towards commercial beers, which are readily available to all consumers...and yes, I know full well the United States is home to some amazing micro-breweries which produce some excellent beer, but just like everything else when comparing our 2 countries, they should have more b/c of their larger population...and I like Stella on tap, don't bash another mans taste-buds.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Stella is actually probably one of the best mass produced lagers, but thats not saying all that much. I was I was really trying to say that you would be a complete fucking moron to judge Belgian beer off of Stella. If you compare it to Westmalle, Chimay, Brasserie des Roc, La choueffe it is like night and day. Its also night and day if you try to compare bud/miler/coors to Stone,Dog Fish head,New Belgium or any other good american craft beer.

[carmie1818]

@ryan84160 are any of those 3 American beers you mentioned available in Canada?

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 They are all available in other provinces. The only one available in Ontario is dog fish head I believe at the LCBO, but I think it would be something you would have to ask to get shipped to your LCBO unless you live in a large city. This is why need to get rid of the beer store, it is so hard to get your hands on good beers. Or at the very least they should have a separate beer store owned by the Ontario craft brewers association that specializes in craft beers.

[carmie1818]

@ryan84160 I live in Ontario, so I guess I'm limited to dog fish head...and good point re the beer store...its existence is likely the main reason why there isn't more micro-breweries in our country.

cheers.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Most Americans drink shitty mass produced beer, but the exact same is true of Canada. There is a small (although growing at a fast rate)portion of people in both counties that are drinking incredibly well crafted beers.

[ryan84160]

@carmie1818 Dont get me wrong,we produce so excellent craft beer in Canada.However, when it comes to quantity and variation of world class beers US> Canada hands down.