A New Brunswick brewer is getting creative with how to support other craft businesses as the pandemic continues to limit regular production and sales across the country.

Fredericton’s Picaroons Brewing Company decided to tap in and not only brew their own beer, but they produced a wide variety of beer, cider and liquor from their neighbours.

“This is great living in a small province, I just contacted all the suppliers and said, ‘I’d like to sell your stuff, send me what you’d like to sell’, and all of this stuff showed up,” says Sean Dunbar, owner of Picaroons Brewing Company. The business is lending a hand and shelf space to other small businesses, along with creating an internal retail channel.

That internal retail channel comes on the heels of ANBL’s rankings deadline. Beginning in July, if local craft producers don’t meet a certain sales mark, they may be dropped from the province’s outlet shelves.

“There will be a lot of producers that will no longer have a spot to sell their product, so we’d like to be that alternative,” says Dunbar.

“If NB Liquor and government doesn’t help our industry, other provinces who do receive help will be dominant in our market,” says Sebastien Roy, President of the New Brunswick Craft Alcohol Producers Association.

The New Brunswick Craft Alcohol Producers Association is scheduled to meet with ANBL later this month.