Craft beer in crisis: How to support your local brewery during the COVID-19 outbreak

With each day as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak worsens, restrictions on our day-to-day life become more and more intrusive. For small businesses like craft breweries, these measures have resulted in closures, lay-offs and fears of bankruptcy.

There is the very real possibility that your favourite local craft brewery may not survive COVID-19.

The industry is facing unprecedented uncertainty. Leases and bank loans still need to be paid, and while the federal government has made promises to help out small businesses, massive multi-billion dollar programs obviously take time to roll out.

We can all help support our favourite local craft breweries and by stocking up and helping them keep their cash flow going. Lord knows we could all use a drink.

Here’s a few easy ways to help ensure your local craft brewery makes it through these troubling times.

 

Delivery

If you are in self-imposed isolation, fear not! Breweries all over the province are now delivering beer right to your front door! You don’t even have to change out of your pajamas. Here’s our handy (and constantly updated) list of Ontario breweries that are offering beer delivery or streamlined pickup options.

Gift cards

Even if your local craft brewery is fully shut, consider picking up a gift card from their online store. Even though you might not be able to buy any beer or food right now, when this whole thing blows over, we’re all going to party like it’s 1999 and that gift card is going to come handy.

Merch

If your local craft brewery doesn’t offer gift cards, grab a t-shirt or a hat from the online store. Any financial support will help keep their cash flow going and help ensure they make it through this crisis.

—with files from Rob Mangelsdorf

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