Quebec, along with many other brewers, have been hit hard by the pandemic. In addition to the now-closed restaurants and bars for distribution, small brewers have few options when it comes to selling their craft beer.

The province feels it’s more important than ever for distribution regulations to change.

Crown corporations — the SAQ and SQDC — can deliver wine and cannabis by mail, but microbrewers cannot sell their ales and stouts online and cannot even sell to local grocers and corner stores.

Jérôme Catelli Denys, owner of Le Cheval Blanc, said the first step is to allow delivery.

“The city is dead,” said Denys. “So we’re really having a hard time — even when we were open this summer, we were losing money.”

The uptick in Quebec breweries has risen over the years, but right now only 60 percent are over five years old out of the 250 microbreweries that exist. Quebec’s association of microbreweries argues brew pubs should be able to sell directly to stores and offer home delivery.

MNA Vincent Marissal said it doesn’t make sense that customers can’t go on a brewer’s website and order beer and the province’s microbreweries are suffering and it’s time for the Legault government to help.

“However, we have found a new legislative vehicle that will be announced shortly to help the industry,” said Amélie Paquet, a spokesperson for the public security minister.

Pascal Fex, owns Saint-Graal, a craft brewery in Sainte-Thérèse, said help can’t come any sooner and he wants it to be in the form of legislative change.

“We are not asking for any subsidy, only regulatory relief to help us get through the crisis and revive our industry.” said Fex.

Photo credit: Demi-Jean