P.E.I. microbreweries able to produce stronger beer

New rules to the liquor control act are coming into effect within days that will allow P.E.I. brew pubs and microbreweries to produce stronger beer for their customers.

The Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission had limited these businesses to brew beer with no higher than 6.5 per cent alcohol content. But beer products from other provinces and countries with higher alcohol content could be sold.

The change, set to take place Saturday, is good news said Prince Edward Island Brewing Company's Jeff Squires.

The chief executive officer said the beer his company produces currently ranges from 4.5 per cent alcohol content to 6.5 per cent. The new rule will permit his brewery to make beer with stronger alcohol content and it is a rule he plans to take advantage of over the next year.

"We were a jurisdiction that was not allowed to produce any products above 6.5, which would have been different than every place else," said Squires.

"When you look across Canada and North America right now, beer producers are producing beers anywhere from the low two's up to 11 or 12 per cent. It will just allow the playing field for Prince Edward Island producers, to level it out."

The P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission said the change would allow the local brew pubs and microbreweries to be equal to other provinces. Officials with the commission said consumers are demanding more and more choices of craft beer.