With Canada Day recently behind us, it’s a fitting time to reflect on what it means to be Canadian.
Across the country, we’ve seen Canadians making a conscious effort to support local businesses, buy Canadian-made products, and strengthen the communities we call home. Our independent craft breweries embody that spirit every day. We create jobs, support local agriculture, contribute to tourism, and bring people together over exceptional beer brewed with passion and pride.
That’s why I encourage every eligible independent brewery to proudly display the Independent Craft Brewery Seal of Authenticity™. The Seal gives consumers confidence that they are choosing a genuinely independent Canadian craft brewery and makes it easier than ever for them to support local when making purchasing decisions. On the CCBA website, click on the #ShowTheSeal tab to find Seal subscribers across Canada.
As we celebrate Canadian craft beer, I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the more than 300 breweries from coast to coast to coast that entered this year’s Canada Beer Cup. With nearly 1,900 entries, our fifth anniversary competition is officially the largest in Canada Beer Cup history. Your enthusiasm and commitment continue to make this Canada’s premier national craft beer competition.
While the judging is an exciting milestone, I hope many of you will also join us in Calgary this October.
There are three great reasons to make the trip:
- Celebrate together at the Canada Beer Cup Gala on October 8, where we’ll recognize Canada’s best craft beer and reconnect with friends and colleagues from across the country: Buy Gala Tickets
- Stay for the Alberta Small Brewers Association Conference on October 9, an excellent opportunity to learn, share ideas, and discuss the future of our industry: Buy Conference Tickets
- Cap off the week at the “Taste the Gold” celebration at Tool Shed Brewing on October 10, where attendees can sample award-winning beers from across Canada: Tickets Available Soon
The Canada Beer Cup has always been about more than medals. Every brewery will receive detailed tasting notes from our judges, providing valuable feedback that can help refine recipes, strengthen quality, and improve their craft. As Canada’s only national not-for-profit beer competition, every entry also helps support the CCBA’s federal advocacy efforts. Your participation helps ensure we continue advocating for policies that allow independent craft breweries to grow, compete, and thrive.
A sincere thank you also goes to all of our Canada Beer Cup sponsors, whose support makes this competition possible. I’d like to give special recognition to Federated Insurance, our Platinum Sponsor, for their outstanding commitment to Canadian craft brewing. We are grateful for the partnership of every sponsor that helps bring the Canada Beer Cup to life.
Behind the scenes, it has also been a busy and productive spring for the CCBA.
Following the formal adoption of our new Board governance structure in April, the Board has been working diligently to develop a new strategic plan that will guide the CCBA over the coming years.
This work has been informed by focus group research with both brewery members and supplier members, giving us valuable insight into the priorities and services that matter most. We have also been meeting directly with government officials to better understand shared priorities and identify the most effective path forward for advancing the interests of independent craft breweries.
We’ll be sharing highlights of the completed strategic plan in the coming months, but several priorities are already emerging clearly:
- Strengthening our federal advocacy efforts.
- Delivering better industry data and meaningful reports to support business decisions.
- Continuing to grow and enhance the Canada Beer Cup competition.
There is plenty to look forward to this fall, and I’m excited about what lies ahead for the CCBA and our industry.
Wherever you are across Canada, I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful summer, the sun is shining, the patios are busy, and the beer is pouring.
Cheers,
Christine Comeau
Executive Director
Canadian Craft Brewers Association