A year in Alberta's hot political topic: beer

Of all the touchy political subjects concerning the current state of Alberta's economy, beer seems like the most unlikely issue.

Yet within just one year, the Alberta government made two changes to the beer markup schedule, andtwo court injunctions were filed by out-of-province brewers against Alberta. The changes also sparked an argument between two premiers.

Meanwhile, many Alberta craft brewers rejoiced.

Let's top you off by taking itback to the beginning.

Edmonton AM6:09Breakdown of Alberta's beer regulations

One year, two tax changes, two lawsuits and still no resolution. Alberta's beer regulations have been anything but smooth.

When the NDP government announced their budget in October 2015, they announced they'd be hiking the tax on liquor by five per cent, or up to$1.25 per litre.

Not all breweries were affected Alberta brewers producingless than 200,000 hectolitres per yearwere charged a graduated markup that ranged from 10 cents to 55 cents a litreas were similarly-sized breweries in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, which were covered under theNew West Parternship.

The decision was praised by the owner of Calgary's Tool Shed Brewing Co. because it also created a new tax regime for breweries that raisedtaxes incrementally as production totals rise, making it easier for new, small breweries to get in the game.

Alberta Small Import Agencies, however, said the beer tax threatened to put several small importing companies out of business.

That's when brewers to the east began to get involved, withOntario-based Muskoka Brewery saying new taxes would forceit to pull its beer from Alberta shelves.Quebec'sDieuduCielalso temporarily halted imports into Alberta.

In January 2016, Toronto-based Steam Whistle was granted a temporary courtinjunction that suspendedthe markup, after arguing the new rules unfairly favoured Alberta beer.

Fast forward to July 2016 when the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission took another stab at the matter,announcingthat all breweries, regardless of location, would have a $1.25 per litre markup applied to their products.

Premiers bickered.

The Wildrose Party chimed in.

Later that month, the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program was announced. The programprovides a monthly grant to smaller Alberta breweries that produce and sell up to 300,000 hectolitres of beer each year.

That made micro-brewers in Alberta happy, but left brewers in B.C. and Saskatchewan, who had previously been given a break as part of theNew WestPartnership,out in the cold.

In October 2016, Saskatoon-based Great Western Brewing Company became the second brewer tofilea court challenge to to Alberta's beer markupcalling it unconstitutional.

So where has this left Albertan beer-drinkers?

The good news: Alberta currently has more small breweries than ever before.

The bad news: Albertans are now paying between $1.50 and $3.00 more for most craft beers that coming in from out of province.

To be continued ...