The suds are flowing from the Real Canadian Superstore

Windsorites can now add another item to their shopping carts during their grocery runs: beer.

Premier Kathleen Wynne and Minister of Finance Charles Sousa announced Dec. 15 that 58 grocery locations across Ontario would sell beer. According to a news release sent by the Ontario government, this is part one of a four-part plan where eventually, 450 grocery stores across Ontario will sell beer. Most of the locations are in the Greater Toronto Area, but Windsorites have one location where they can purchase their beer, bread and clothes: The Real Canadian Superstore on Walker Road.

According to John Carvalho, the manager of the Superstore, there are more than 30 brands of beer sold, all provided as either six-packs of tallboys or four-packs of beer, as per the regulations outlined by the Ontario government. Although there are only 30 beer varieties now, Carvalho said his goal is to have between 200 and 250 different types of beer by the end of February 2016.

Carvalho said there are many advantages to selling beer in the Superstore and he has been waiting for this for quite some time.

“It’s convenient,” said Carvalho. “You’re in the store, you’re coming in here to pick up hot dogs to take to your friend’s house, you grab a six-pack to go.”

The Ontario government news release said there are a few specifications surrounding styles and quantities sold. One guideline is at least 20 per cent of a grocery store’s beer shelves must contain small brewers’ products. Carvalho said his goal is for small brewers’ products to make up for 50 per cent of his beer stock.

“Myself, I enjoy beer. Whether it be a Labatt’s product, a Molson product, a Carling O’Keefe product, I’ve sampled all of them, I do enjoy them,” said Carvalho. “The craft beers are unique and it’s a different flavour. They all have their own little taste to them and they’re a pleasure to drink.”

Although the Superstore doesn’t currently have any local beer on its shelves, Carvalho said when he does have local product on the shelves, it should help the unemployment rate and give local breweries greater exposure to those who may not be from Windsor.

That would be the case with Bryan Datoc, a co-owner of Craft Heads Brewing Company. Datoc said the company does well at its location in downtown Windsor, but there are some set-backs.

There are many people, whether in Windsor or outside of it, who are unable to access Craft Heads and so Datoc said by selling the beer in the Superstore, it will be more accessible and convenient.

“Right now, it’s kind of hard for people say in the east end or out in the county to come down and make the trip out to downtown Windsor. Having to find parking and then having a few beers and risking driving home,” said Datoc. “So it’s (the beer) something that they’re able to take home from the grocery store then drink it and their own leisure at home.”

Datoc said Craft Heads is working with Lonsberry, a new brewery that will be opening up in Harrow later in 2016, to bottle their beer. Datoc said once Lonsberry begins bottling, the hope is to have some of the many Craft Heads products in the Superstore by summer 2016, if approved.

For micro-breweries interested in seeing their products on the Superstore shelves, Carvalho said there is a process. Brewers can either call the Superstore administrative office directly or speak to Carvalho himself who will then get them in contact with the proper personnel to get the process started.

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