Big Rock shortage riles Edmonton beer drinkers

Drinkers of Alberta's biggest independent beer brand say they are not happy about a shortage of their favourite brew.

Over the past several weeks, the province's biggest liquor store chain has cut back its supply of Big Rock in Edmonton.

Liquor Depot, which also owns Liquor Barn outlets, operates around 50 stores in Edmonton.

CBC News called all 50 and found that half of them either had no Big Rock at all or had fewer than six cases of each Big Rock line in stock.

Some clerks told CBC their stores are discontinuing the brand altogether. There was a handful of Liquor Depot and Liquor Barn stores that told CBC News they are still carrying a regular selection of the company's beer.

Aisling Tomei, spokeswoman for Big Rock, told CBC that Liquor Depot has limited its selection to just two of the 10 ales and lagers in its regular Big Rock line: Traditional and Grasshopper.

Tomei wouldn't comment further on Liquor Depot's actions but did say that if Big Rock consumers are not happy, they should complain directly to the liquor stores.

Craft breweries forced to cut prices

Loyal Big Rock drinker Stephen Charchuk told CBC his search for his favourite beer has been difficult.

"[I'm] a little bit ticked off. More than a little bit ticked off," he said about the lack of Big Rock in the city's liquor stores. "Two weeks ago … we went to a couple of liquor stores down in the west end, and we searched up and down Whyte Avenue. Nothing, absolutely nothing. And those are, like, the two hot spots of Edmonton."

Charchuk said he is considering writing a letter of complaint to Liquor Depot.

Jason Foster, Edmonton beer writer and columnist for CBC Radio's afternoon show Radio Active suspects price may be the issue.

Foster said in order to get their beer sold in large liquor chains, small breweries frequently have to cut their prices and offer deals.

It's bad news for any of the smaller craft breweries, Foster said.

"It's a very competitive, very cutthroat industry, the beer industry," Foster said.

"With those two or three really large players, they eat up most of the oxygen. And so, that means the little players have to really claw to try and get their little corners of the consumer commitment and, in particular, shelf space."

He said one possible outcome is that consumers may eventually see less selection on the shelves as big liquor stores favour beer from cheaper, foreign-owned breweries.

Liquor Depot's management has not responded to CBC's repeated requests for an interview.