Our province and country is so rich in the natural resources and technical know-how required to make craft beer and cider, but what is it? While there is no official definition, craft is generally understood to mean that the producer is often independently-owned, local, and typically small in size.
Craft breweries may make styles that run the gamut from lagers, pilsners, and kolschs to pale ales, IPAs, sours, and more! Some beers may be more seasonal than others, making certain styles of beer, such as porters and stouts, more readily available during different parts of the year, like fall and winter.
Likewise, with large-scale, multinational or “macro” brewers, they offer a variety of beer styles and they have operations in Canada that produce beer under various household brands.
Ciders have different flavour profiles depending on the apples used. There are dry and sweet styles, and some ciders are flavoured with other fruits, as well. Local craft ciders are made with Ontario-grown apples.
Ready-to-Drink products include pre-made cocktails, coolers, seltzers, and more. They’re one of our fastest-growing categories at the LCBO – approximately 90% of the products sold at the LCBO are made in Canada. Of those, about 80% are made right here in Ontario, making it easier than ever to support local.