Beer Now Available In Grocery Stores

New Brunswickers can now buy beer and coolers at 66 grocery stores throughout the province.

NB Liquor says it wanted to give customers increased convenience and shopping options.

The new “beverage portfolio” includes local craft beer from seven breweries: Graystone, Grimross, Maybee, Picaroons, Pumphouse, Trailway and Petit-Sault.

“That’s in addition to our domestic mainstreams, our domestic premiums, some imported beer, as well as some coolers,” said Thomas Tremblay, a spokesperson for NB Liquor.

Craft beer was not included on the list when the liquor agency first announced its plans this spring.

Tremblay said they wanted to ensure brewers were prepared and had the production, capacity and sales volumes to keep up with the demand.

“After issuing some product calls, we realized that they’re ready and we can do this,” he said.

The new products will be available in the same 66 Loblaw and Sobeys stores which currently sell wine and cider.

Beer is available in four- and six-pack formats, as well as single cans. You will still have to go to a corporate or agency store for larger sizes, Tremblay said.

“It’s just a convenience thing. You’re doing your groceries, let’s just pick up a single or a six-pack for the night,” he said.

Tremblay said they may look at expanding to include more stores after the one-year trial run is complete.

“We’re always going to keep those options open,” he said.

Tremblay noted grocery stores are the ones pricing the products, adding their shelf price does not include tax like in corporate stores.