Nova Scotia craft brewers raise a glass to savings and growth in 2017

Nova Scotia's craft brewers believe 2017 could be the year for theirsuds.

Good news announcements for the industry accumulated in 2016, setting local businesses up for growth.

From changed markup metrics for government feeson brewers' direct sales, to plans by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp.to install fridges for local craft brews, to anindustrial bottle-washing facility in Dartmouth, those in the business say they feel the love.

• Nova Scotia reduces markup fee on province's craft brewers
• Nova Scotia craft brewers secure access to washed beer bottles

Growing in numbers

There are now 30 to 40 craft breweries in the province, meaning it can boast more craft breweries per capita than any other province.

Rebecca Atkinson owns Sober Island Brewing Company in Sheet Harbour,one of the province's newer and smallerbreweries.

Atkinson claimsthe only oyster stout in the province one she's been developing on a small $15,000 system.

But as she transitions to what she's calling phase two of her business plan, she has just completed a renovation on her parents' neighbourhood pub and shelled out about $160,000 for abigger brewing system that will help her expand.

"It's a great industry to be in and we're in it at the right time," she said.

The timing is good because of the cost savings on the horizon for the province's breweries.

Right time for brewers

The change in the retail sales markup allocation will reduce the fee brewers pay the government by almost half in most caseswhen it rolls out in April.

And the bottle washing facility, if brewers chose to use it, could save about 10 centsper bottle.

Brian Titus, owner of the Garrison Brewing Company, saidthe markup change in particular is something that will benefit everyone.

"The nice thing about it is that it affects every [brewer]literally across the province," he said.

"It doesn't matter how small or big or new or old you are, it will have an immediate effect on your cash flow."

A rising tide

Peter Burbridge has two stakes in craft brewing. One in his own brewery, North Brewing Company, and one in the Dartmouth brew pub Battery Park, which serves many local craft beers.

But he doesn't see it as a conflict and says there is room for everyone who wants to brew craft beer.

"It's not saturated yet," he said. "It's a good time to be in the brewing industryand agood time to be a craft beer drinker in the province, too."

Currently Nova Scotia craft brewers have about sevenper centof the beer market in the province.

Burbridge saidhe hopes it will catch up to provinces like B.C., where craft breweries have approximately12 per cent of the market.