All The Best: Craft Banter

Stephen Andrade, Super Script Safety, joins us to discuss OHS and safety priorities in a brewery.    Join Stephen at the 2023 Alberta Craft Brewers Convention, along with other great speakers. Not just for breweries, but for all small manufacturers, the 2023 ACBC has more than 18 speakers, up to 70 exhibitors, the Alberta Beer Awards and more!

Blair Berdusco, ASBA Executive Director, Brad Goddard, Vice President of Business Development, Innovation, & Government Relations and Stavros Carlos, ACDA Executive Director discuss how breweries and distilleries can engage with candidates in the 2023 Alberta provincial election.  We also discuss the key policy points ASBA and ACDA have been, and will continue to, advocate on during and after the election.    Any questions, please reach out to your association.

Guest host Mark Kondrat (Let's Meet For a Beer Podcast) chats with Brewers Association Chief Economist Bart Watson.  Following up on Barts presentation at the Alberta Craft Brewing Convention, Mark and Bart get into the statistics of beer. How are the markets affecting beer? What impact does inflation have? How do we address the declining beer market?  Listen to learn more.    For the entire, unedited interview, head to the Let's Meet For a Beer Podcast website.

2022 Unity Brew brewed at Medicine Hat Brew Co, a Dry Hopped Lager using Krispy yeast from Escarpment Labs.  Available October 14 at the start of Alberta Beer Week.  Thank you to our other sponsors: Alberta Barley Rahr/BSG Canada Malting Red Shed Malt Origin Malt Hogarth Malt Hops Connect Canada Summit Labels Vessel Packaging Kegshare Connect Logistics Evans Hunt   Brad Goddard, Director of Government Relations at Big Rock Brewery discusses some significant changes AGLC made to handbooks in July 2022.  AGLC has made some updates to their handbooks.   Liqour Licensee Handbook: https://aglc.ca/sites/aglc.ca/files/2022-07/22-07-28_LH-Handbook.pdf 7.6.2 Exclusivity Agreement (“EA”) means a document establishing the terms and conditions under which a licensee agrees to the exclusive use of an agency's or supplier's products during a specified event or at a specified venue. Exclusive use means only the agency's or supplier's products, as approved by AGLC, will be used for that product type during the event or at the venue. (Amended Jul 2022)   Liquor Agency Handbook: https://aglc.ca/sites/aglc.ca/files/2022-07/22-07-28_LA-Handbook.pdf 3.16.2 The following product sample amounts are allowed free of AGLC's markup: a) four - 750 ml or three - 1,140 ml bottles of spirits; b) eight - 750 ml or six - 1,000 ml bottles of wine; c) 36 - 355 ml or 18 – 750 ml containers of beer, refreshment beverages, or ciders (or total volume less than or equal to these sizes); and (Amended Jul 2022) d) one keg of beer.   Effective immediately, a number of changes to the Advertising and Product Promotion sections of the LAH, LLH, LMH and RLSH have been implemented. These changes include:   -providing licensees with more brand‐related educational experiences to aid in providing customer‐centered experiences and increased knowledge of products and brands; LH Handbook 8.2.4 and LA Handbook 5.2.4 -eliminating the term “buy/sell agreements” and replacing it with “promotional agreements”; LH Handbook 8.3.1 8.3.2 and LA Handbook 5.3 -amending online promotion restrictions to permit stakeholders to better connect with customers; LH Handbook 8.1.6 (links to GLCR Section 85) -broadening the list of non‐essential items that may be provided to licensed premises; LH Handbook 8.2.6 ii, iii, iv and v and LA Handbook 5.2.6 -allowing for more flexibility with direct support from agencies for live entertainment; LA Handbook 5.2.9  -increasing the ticket price limit as the cost of tickets for some live events has increased beyond the current price maximum; LA Handbook 5.8.2 -increasing the maximum wholesale cost of clothing items worn by staff during promotions to $100; LA Handbook 5.8.3 and -increasing the on‐pack value from 15% to 20%. LA Handbook 5.9.2 iii

On this episode we chat with Shanleigh Thomson, Regional Sales Manager with Yakima Chief Hops.  We discuss Yakima Chief Hops' vision in sustainability, effects of smoke on crops, use of fresh hops and much more.  You can reach Shanleigh with any questions about our conversation, or your hops needs with the information below. Shanleigh Thomson (she/her) Regional Sales Manager- Western Canada D: 604-363-3447  Shanleigh.Thomson@yakimachief.com May 2022 in Alberta is exciting. May 6/7 - Calgary International Beer Fest May 11 - Industry Social hosted by ASBA and Big Rock Brewery (open to the public) May 14 - Canadian Brewing Awards

On this episode Blair chats with Blaire Gaalaas, President of the Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) about how our recycling system in Alberta works and the scope of their efforts.  https://www.bcmb.ab.ca/selling-distributing-beverages/ https://www.bcmb.ab.ca/uploads/source/Registrants/Requirements/BCMB_Craft_Brewers_Fact_Sheet_FINAL_Dec_9_2021.pdf   We also welcome Natasha Peiskar, President of Pink Boots Canada in a discussion around women in brewing, Women's History Month, DEI efforts and how you can support all of it. National on 10th IG

On this episode we chat with Mike Foniok, Head Brewer and Co-Founder at The Establishment Brewing Company, Ryan Hampton, Head brewer, Production operations manager at The O.T. Brewing Company, and Lisa Watts, Co-founder and CEO of Hub Town Brewing, Brewmaster and "Jill of everything that needs doing around here". Mike, Ryan and Lisa discuss some basics to understanding craft beer and the taproom. No need to feel intimidated or unsure when you go to an Alberta Craft Brewery, we've got you covered.  Blair provides some ideas for you as an individual, or a business, to take more education from Black History Month. By inviting individuals from the Black and BIPOC communities to participate, work and become involved in the craft beer industry, collectively we can take steps forward to diversify the industry. Ultimately, we want to ensure everyone feels welcome in brewing and in breweries, not only through what we say, but demonstrating our commitment to efforts aimed at living our intentions.  Members can ask ASBA for referral to resources or refer to the Canadian Craft Brewers Association website for resources and education to promote your intentions and efforts.     

On this episode we spoke with Kyran Flett, National Sales Manager with Canada Malting and Matt Hammill, Maltster, and Morgan Rattray, Sales Manager, with Red Shed Malting about the 2022 barley market. Learn about what you can expect from your barley and malt products this year and how you can mitigate some uncertainties.    Brewers Association - White Paper-Malting Barley Characteristics for Craft Brewers Preliminary Quality of Western Canadian Barley report 2021-2022   We also take a look back to 2021 and the things we as an Association, and as breweries, worked on and went through.  

On this episode we chat with Brewers Association, Chief Economist Bart Watson and ATB, Vice President and Chief Economist Todd Hirsch.  https://www.brewersassociation.org/author/bart-watson/ https://toddhirsch.com/ We also talk Freshtival with Alberta Hops Producers Association Chair Denise Warner, also with Underground Hops. https://albertahopproducers.com/Events https://craftbeercommonwealth.com/  

In this episode we discuss diversity and inclusivity in Alberta's beer industry with several committee members of the Alberta Small Brewers Association Diversity and Inclusivity Committee.  Pride is currently happening in Calgary and Southern Alberta, but it is not only a week long celebration for many, it is year-round and every day. Businesses, owners and managers need to live the values they portray during Pride celebrations beyond the June to September timeline.  Being visible in your support of the LGBTQ2+ staff and guests in breweries is important and necessary all of the time. The committee members on this episode share their wisdom, experience and guidance for doing a better job.  Diversity in Brewing ASBA members also have access to resources provided through the Canadian Craft Brewers Association.    We also speak with Mammoth AR about the development of the Alberta Beer: All The Best app. Your passport to Alberta craft breweries.  Download it in the App Store and Google Play.  

Blair chats with Evan Singer and Joe Perry from Vessel Packaging and Euan Thomson from Raft Brew Labs about canning lines, sanitization and ensuring the quality behind the label.    Vessel Packaging Raft Brew Labs Each + Every

We respectfully acknowledge that in Alberta we live, work and play on the traditional Treaty 6, Treaty 8 and Treaty 7 territories and respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community. ASBA recognizes Canada's Indigenous Heritage Month and what we can do in the space of Truth and Reconciliation with Red Thunderwoman (Michelle Robinson). (Check out the NativeCalgarian Podcast) In addressing the conversation in the craft beer industry around sexual harassment, we gain some insights to what we can do as individuals and business owners to create safe, inclusive spaces with Tamar Dinner from the Centre for Sexuality and Christin Elawny with Field Law.    Resources mentioned in this episode: Calls For Justice UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Summary of the Final Report of the TRC of Canada Aboriginal Futures Training Centre Centre For Sexuality Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton  

In this second episode of All The Best Craft Banter, we are chatting about our PakTech Recycling Program with Annie Ryan and Gary Pankin from PakTech, Kirk Zembal from Blindman Brewing, and Andrew Bullied from Annex Ale Project. We are also joined by Rheannon Green from Alberta On The Plate to discuss our partnership and to find out more about what they will be up to this year!  

In the premiere episode we chat with the ASBA Member Experience Committee about what ASBA is focused on accomplishing this year to bring value to members and awareness to Alberta's craft beer industry.