When the pandemic first hit, Analog Brewing owners Adam Corsault and Bryan Launier didn’t know what to expect. Their staff had to think quickly and decided to can beer, which was never part of the plan. Analog wanted to get their product into more restaurants and bars and earlier this year, the brewery decided to make four small batches of experimental brews that would be served in restaurants.

Instead of selling this special beer in kegs, they canned it and sold limited-edition gift sets. The beer sold out quickly, a relief to Corsault and Launiuer.

“We’re finding our niche and finding ways to adapt and make it work,” Launier said.

Before the pandemic, Analog’s tasting room brought in a quarter of the company’s revenue. COVID-19 forced that room to close and all the revenue disappeared.

The good news for Albertans as well as the brewing industry in Alberta, is demand has been strong, just not as profitable as recent years.

“There were about four months in the summer where we were running as we anticipated we would be,” Corsault said. “The only difference was every drop went into cans. The pandemic, for us, has been quite a roller-coaster.”

The only challenge with cans, is they – along with the production of labels – are costly.

Sectors of the industry catering to consumers who want a take-home product will fare much better. The ‘ready-to-drink’ category is expected to enjoy a 43 percent increase in sales in 2020.

Launier says he has a post-pandemic plan, which he’s been forced to think about a lot these last nine months.

“We’re going to open the taproom and see our friends that we haven’t seen in ages and I’m going to hug the heck out of them.”