NOTE: This appears in Halifax Magazine and is written and compiled by Kim Hart Macneill. You can find the original and updated article here.
In the past few days, we’ve seen everything change fast, including our local beer industry.
First, organizers cancelled the Nova Scotia Craft Beer Festival. Then growlers disappeared. On Sunday, tables moved two metres apart and some breweries offered beer to-go only. As of March 18, retail alcohol sales are restricted to 10 am – 7pm Monday – Saturday at breweries, private stores, and NSLC locations (closed Sundays). As of March 19, bars and restaurants are closed.
Breweries are getting crafty with online sales, home delivery, and curb-side pick up, but this means a lot less beer in glasses. That means staff members may be out of a pay cheque and brewery owners are still on the hook for a loan, utility, and rent payments with no money coming through the doors.
Many are family-run operations, so in some cases it means whole households without an income. At the moment, the proposed federal support programs only apply to businesses open more than two years. That leaves a lot of people out in the cold.
I love this industry deeply and I want to see it survive and thrive. In that spirit, here’s a list of Nova Scotia craft breweries who sell gift cards online/over the phone. Pre-pay your future bar tab and help them weather the storm.
I’ll update this list as I hear from others. The situation is changing rapidly, so if you spot information you believe is out of date, please let us know.
2 Crows: Open 10am-7pm Monday – Saturday for to-go beers only. Click and collect, and free next day HRM delivery over $50. Gift certificates on line, delivery, curb side pick up.
Backstage Brewing: Call 902-755-9371 to purchase a gift card over the phone. Growler fills Wed-Sat from 12-6. Bottles coming soon.
Big Spruce: Order 12 packs on their website. Online orders for home delivery across Nova Scotia. Contactless pick up at the brewery. Check Instagram for updates.
Boxing Rock Brewing: Order gift certificates or beer for home delivery online. There are time cut-offs for Halifax delivery. You can also get BR from Local Source Market via their curb side grocery pick up.
Breton Brewing: Next day delivery on weekdays, free within 30km of the brewery. Pick orders can be placed on line.
Brightwood Brewery: Flat rate delivery $4 within HRM. No minimum orders. Order online before 2pm for same day delivery on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. On line ordering for pick up at the brewery.
Chain Yard Urban Cidery: Province wide delivery and gift cards available on the website. Check Instagram for info.
The Church Brewing: Pick up available at the brewery plus take out. HRM deliveries start March 26. Order a day in advance. Any change in hours will be posted on Facebook. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates.
Garrison Brewing: Delivery available via phone. Free with $30 order, $5 for orders under $30. Delivery in the greater Halifax Dartmouth area. Call in or online orders can be picked up at retail locations.
Good Robot Brewing: Cans, growlers, swaps, and new growlers for home delivery. Same-day cut off is 7pm.
Harbour Brewing: Open 11am-5pm. Will deliver locally. Call 902.410.8910
Heritage Brewing: Posting daily hours for pick up on Instagram. Delivery available. See details on Instagram.
Hill Top Hops: Filling growlers to go Wednesday-Friday,2pm-6pm; Saturday 12pm-6pm. Pay via debit, credit card, and EMT. More info call 902.757.3510.
Horton Ridge Malt: Can pick up at the brewery, available 10am-5pm.
Lake City Cider: Order Canada Post delivery online or call 902.466.7818 for pick up pre orders and HRM.
Lunns Mill Beer Co.: Order gift certificates on line. Delivery to Annapolis and King’s County, including growlers (new glass only) and kegs. Posting latest info on Facebook.
Maritime Express Cider: Free delivery between Windsor and Berwick on orders over $50.
Meander River: Call 902-757-3484 to arrange credit card payment or email money transfer for gift certificates. Home delivery to Windsor, West Hants, Halifax, Dartmouth, and environs on Saturday if you order by noon Friday. You can also order lavender from the farm.
New Scotland Brewing: Can pick up available. Free online delivery and gift cards available.
Nine Locks Brewing: Offering curb side drop off in the parking lot and free home delivery on orders of $65 or more, in Halifax, Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, Bedford and Lower Sackville. Check Instagram for latest info.
North Brewing: Order on line for contactless pick up at Portland St. location or get home delivery on orders over $30.
Off Track Brewing: Limited hours for bottle pick up. Deliveries in Sackville and Bedford. Check social media for updates.
Propeller Brewing: You can buy a gift card over the phone with credit card. Staff will put it in an envelope for pick up when the time is right. Phone in delivery orders available in Greater HRM and pick up orders at the brewery. Check Instagram for details.
Roofhound Brewing: Home delivery Wednesdays from Digby to Halifax, Fridays from Digby to Yarmouth, Saturdays from Digby to Kentville. Contact brewery via Instagram or Facebook to arrange delivery.
Route 19: Free home delivery in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, and nearby. Text 902.258.5374 or email orders@route19brewing.com
See Level Brewing/Millstone Harvest Brewing: Will take phone orders and do home deliveries in Port Williams. Pick ups at Millstone location only. Call 902.582.2337 for details.
Schoolhouse Brewery: Drive thru contactless pick up available noon-6pm Tuesday through Saturday. Call 902.472.4677. More details on Instagram.
Shipwright Brewing Company: Crowler sales for limited hours. Only one customer permitted in store at one time.
Sober Island Brewing: Delivery along the Eastern Shore from Sherbrooke to Musquodoboit Harbour on Wednesday and Saturday. Pick up at the brewery Thursday and Friday 1pm to 4pm. If you live in Halifax, contact Rebecca. Lots of details on Instagram.
Sourwood Cider: Pick up at the Cornwallis St. location only. Very limited hours. Online ordering available as of March 20. Check Instagram for updates.
Spindrift Brewing: Open Monday to Saturday, 11am-6pm. Online ordering for home delivery in HRM.
Stillwell Brewing: Free, no contact next day delivery in HRM. Four bottle minimum. Use code WILDTIME2020. Gift cards available on line too. Check Instagram for more.
Tanner and Co: Order gift certificates on line. Delivery Lunenburg to Hubbards. Pick up in store. More info here.
Tatamagouche Brewing: Buy beer on line and have it shipped across Canada. Brewery pick up available for limited hours. Pick up Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm. $1 off growler fills Tuesdays.
Tidehouse Brewing – Temporarily closed but planning to come back kicking periodically with delivery can releases. Buy gift cards on line and watch Instagram updates.
Trider’s Craft Beer: Call 902.614.8983 or email the brewery and they’ll find a way to sell you a gift card. Drive thru pick-up options and home delivery on a case by case basis, Tuesday-Saturday 1pm-6pm. Email contact@triderscraftbeer.com or call for details.
Truro Brewing Company: Nova Scotia’s newest brewery will be open for pick ups Tuesday-Saturday, 2pm-7pm. You can buy online gift certificates.We will be closing March 27, 7pm
Tusket Falls Brewing: Brewery pick up orders on line. Scheduled deliveries from Tusket to HRM. Email info@tusketfallsbrewing.com.
Uncle Leo’s Brewery: Email whiffens@eastlink.ca or call 902.382.2739 to arrange delivery within Pictou County Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Unfiltered Brewing: Can pick up available Monday to Saturday, 10am-7pm. Online orders placed by noon get same day delivery.
