Despite a challenging summer, some of N.L.'s craft breweries are expanding

Newfoundland and Labrador's craft brewers faced a tough summer with the lack of tourists visiting communities,and staycationsthat didn't quite make up the lost revenue.

But some have came up with other ways to increase revenue lost at bars, restaurants and their own tap rooms this year.

Port Rexton Brewing, Quidi Vidi Brewing Companyand Secret Cove Brewing Company are well into expansions they hope will boost sales down the line as winter months leadto a slowdown in business.

Jason Hynes, co-owner of the Secret Cove Brewing CompanyinPort au Port East, said his business changed its model early in the pandemic, not knowing the kind of year that laidahead.

"When the pandemic started at the end of March we made the decision to purchase canning lines. We kind of got geared up. We anticipated a lot of change," Hynes said.

"Typically we are a tap room-driven type of business, and that all changed this summer. We didn't have our normal summer, but given the circumstances it was still pretty good."

Secret Cove remained closed to the public for a large portion of the pandemic, offering curbside pickup to customers while keeping its tap room shut.Hynes saidpackaging and shipping his company'sproducts helped make up for lost business, and earlier in November the brewery made its first shipment to the east coast of the island.

"It generated a lot more work. It was a big pivot for us we had to do a shift for the business. We sat down, my wife and I, and we did a big evaluation and said, 'What do we have to do to keep things going?'" said Hynes.

"There was a lot of uncertainty when it all started. We're busier now than we've ever been, believe it or not."

Expansions across the province

Sonja Mills, co-owner of Port Rexton Brewing, began expanding her business well ahead of the pandemic two years ago, in fact but the pandemic slowed things down as the expansion reached its final stages.

A new building will now house the company's entire brewing operation. Mills said she hopes it will be open by the holiday season.

"We did the first test batch last week, and we're going to kind of wait to see how that turns out," she said.

Mills expects to be in full operation by the end of 2020.

In October, theprovincial government announced breweries would be able to keep a few extra dollars on beer sold in stores, retail locations and tap rooms as part of a new program to help those businesses retain more money for reinvestment.

Mills said the announcement came at the perfect time.

"In our case it helps us get our expansion to the end, and hopefully the other breweries will get opportunities to expand as well," Mills told CBC Radio's Weekend AM.

Mills said staycations were good for her business in August, and canned sales are holding steady, but sales at bars and restaurants have dropped.

Quidi Vidi Brewery owner Justinsaid his business has also seen numbers drop at venues, but canned business is keeping the numbers flat.

Quidi Vidiis also in the middle of an expansion a large warehouse on Harbour View Avenue in St. John's to house and distribute beer that will also double as a retail shop.

The new warehouse started operating in March, said Fong, and he hopes the shop front will be open by mid-December.

"That's just going to be a big craft beershop and we're hoping to carry all the beer from across Newfoundland," he said.

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