I'm thinking about boycotting Big Rock beer

Archie McLean has an article in today's Edmonton Journal detailing the financial situation of Alberta's main political parties. I wasn't surprised to read that the Tories now have over 4 million in their party coffers and the NDP and Liberals are both in the red. But, I was surprised to read that Calgary-based Big Rock breweries is one of the PC Party's biggest donors. I'm curious to know precisely what their lobbying efforts are achieving? Moreover, next time I'm at the liquor store, I will think twice before I pick up a case of Warthog or Grasshopper. I just don't think I will be able to drink Big Rock beer anymore without it  leaving a sour taste in my mouth. Hopefully Edmonton's Alley Kat Brewing Company and Calgary's Wild Rose Brewery (both delicious alternatives) are sticking to beer-making, and not hobnobbing with the PC Party brass.

Comments

[MR]

I don't know what interest Big Rock would have in supporting the PCs. I may just boycott Big Rock too, I like those other two brands of made-in-Alberta beer better anyways.

[Simon Kiss]

Ed McNally, the owner of Big Rock, is a long-time right winger. He was a big backer of the Reform Party.

[jk]

I have to get a plug in for my current favourite AB beer: Roughneck Ale. Awesome stuff, and brewed in Calmar of all places!

Although with a name like that, I'm wondering if the ownership will be sufficiently close to correct end of the ideological spectrum that you would consider drinking it...

I'm joking. DOWN WITH BIG ROCK (except for Grasshopper).

[daveberta]

I had this exact same dilemma during my legal love-in with my good friend Ed Stelmach back in January. It's good beer, but they would be indirectly paying the other guy's legal fees... dilemma...

[Roger]

I've heard, very urban legend of course, that the Alberta tax laws that benefit micro breweries are more or less written for Big Rock. Something about the amount of beer produced just nicely qualifies as micro.
My source? Um, drunk guy drinking either Trad or Grasshopper at the Dog, very reliable I know.

[eh]

That's interesting, Roger. I would hardly call Big Rock a microbrewery, considering their beer is available for purchase across Canada. I might have to look in to this further...

[Anonymous]

Here's the big rock benefit:

http://www.aglc.gov.ab.ca/pdf/liquor/liquor_markup_review_report.pdf

[Wilco]

There's a pretty good chance that Big Rock is the biggest Canadian brewery (as in owned by Canadians). Labatts and Molsons are long gone and Sleemans (who had also been going around buying up smaller labels) is now "partnered" with Sapporro. Moosehead might have the title, or one of the Quebec lines, but I think I'd bet Big Rock.

[Feynman & Coulter's Love Child]

Big Ed's support for righteous conservative causes is what attracted me to his beer in the first place.

I'm saddened to learn he's supporting a bunch of socialist liberals like the Stelmach Tories.

[Shannon]

Most micro-brewers could tell you that throughout the early-mid 90s a bunch of liquor laws changed with respect to micro-breweries, and those in the biz call them the "Big Rock Laws."
They have been huge right-wingers since forever - sponsored the first "unite the right" conference wayyyy back in Calgary.

Another big donor is Liquor Depot. And Molson's and Labatt's. I avoid the latter folks based on their beer, but the former based on principle. One should really be shopping at a locally owned bottle shop or sniffy wine store (depending on your choice of potable) anyway, I suppose.

And by the way, if you are on the southside - at or around 99 St and about 65 ave (look it up), you can buy Alley Kat straight from the brewery. They are progressives and should be supported. They also make damn good beer.