Hello CCBA Members,
I’d like to introduce myself as the newly elected Chair of the CCBA Board of Directors. I’m Ken Beattie, Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild for the past 13 years, and I’ve been proud to work in the beer industry since 1987.
It’s an honour to step into this role following Blair Berdusco of Alberta, whose leadership over the past four years has helped shape the strong foundation we’re building on today. I look forward to working with our newly elected board to deliver meaningful results and real value for all members.
Having served on the CCBA board since its inception in 2018, I’m energized by the opportunity ahead. Together, we represent nearly 1,200 independent craft breweries across Canada, and we are now stronger than ever.
As of April 15, we became a truly unified national voice with the successful merger with the Coalition of Canadian Independent Craft Brewers. This milestone capped off a highly productive month, including a key advocacy win: securing the federal government’s two-year extension of the excise exemption on the first 15,000 hL of production. This delivers meaningful savings—over $2,000 for some of our smaller members and up to $90,000 for larger regional breweries.
But we’re not stopping there. Our goal is clear: to permanently modernize the excise framework for all breweries up to 500,000 hL of annual production. We will continue to press this case with government.
At the same time, the CCBA board is developing CCBA’s first-ever board-driven strategic plan. This spring, we are bringing together the insights gathered through national brewer and industry supplier focus groups, along with one-on-one conversations with government to define clear priorities, strengthen our value proposition, and ensure that our efforts are aligned with what matters most to you. This plan will guide our advocacy, programs, and financial sustainability in the years ahead to ensure we are focused, accountable, and delivering value and impact as your national association.
I also want to thank the many breweries and industry suppliers who participated in the national focus groups led by Level5. Your input is already playing a critical role in shaping this strategic plan and will directly influence the priorities we set moving forward.
So, what comes next?
Our success depends on your engagement. As members of your provincial associations, you are automatically part of the CCBA. I encourage you to stay involved, share your perspectives, and participate in shaping our direction as we build and implement this strategic plan.
In the near term, I urge you to support the Canada Beer Cup, the only national beer competition in Canada. Entries opened May 5, and all proceeds go directly toward advancing the work you’ve told us matters most.
I also encourage you to adopt the CCBA Independent Craft Seal on your packaging. Across the country, we continue to face competition from foreign-owned brands presenting themselves as “craft.” This seal clearly signals to consumers that your beer is independently owned and Canadian-made, supporting local jobs, communities, and reinvestment at home. There is significant opportunity to grow recognition of this seal nationwide, and it will be a key part of our communications strategy.
Thank you in advance for your continued support. This is just a snapshot of what the board and our leadership team, led by our Executive Director, Christine Comeau, have planned to include the important strategic planning work now underway.
Don’t sit on the sidelines, our strength lies in our collective voice and shared experience.
Ken Beattie
Chair of the CCBA Board of Director