HALIFAX – The Halifax Cider and Beerfest has attracted huge crowds of people sampling hundreds of locally made craft beers, ciders, seltzers, and other alcoholic beverages. The well-attended event comes almost a month after nine Canadian Premiers signed off on removing interprovincial barriers on alcohol sales. In July, a deal was announced that saw provincial rules changed to allow brewers and distilleries to sell alcohol directly to consumers, regardless of provincial jurisdiction. “It’s always good to have new sales channels,” said Andrew Tanner, who is the founder and co-owner of Saltbox Brewing, which is based in Mahone Bay, N.S. But Tanner does not expect the new rules to change interprovincial barriers, to boost sales for smaller microbreweries like his. “I think the reality is, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) doesn’t have any extra shelf space to give to Nova Scotia products,” said Tanner. The financial pressure points on the microbrewing industry are mounting. Beer cans are now more expensive than ever because of the 50 per cent U.S. tariff on aluminum. “Everything is going up and all the input costs are going up,” said Tanner. “That’s just more pain that we have to absorb or pass on to the consumers.” As gas and diesel prices skyrocket, shipping costs have also escalated. In April, Prime Minister Mark Carney paused the fuel excise tax through Sept. 7. The tax is 10 cents on gas and four cents on diesel. Extending the exemption longer would go a long way towards improving some brewery’s bottom line. “For a brewery our size, it’s a substantial amount of money that we will save,” said Danny O’Hearn, who co-owns Nine Locks Brewery in Dartmouth, N.S., and added, events like the Halifax Cider and Beerfest allow independent microbrewery operators to promote their product and attract new customers. “People can come here, they can try what they like, and maybe we get some new customers out of that,” he said. The event in downtown Halifax is well-attended, with thousands trying the beer, ciders and seltzers for the first time. “This is a great way to see what else is out there,” said customer Gracie Critchley. Organizers added that those who attended got to participate in a massive “buy local” showcase of Nova Scotia-made alcohol products. “I consider this one large demo, and people get to try it before they buy it,” said Nancy Hartnett, who owns the Chill Street Beverage Company, that specializes in alcohol-free craft beverages.
