The new Canadian Craft Brewers Association launched a new seal at its conference in October: it looks like a hop, and features the words Independent Craft Brewery/Microbrasserie Indépendante. It will appear on the cans and bottles of breweries that are verified not to be part of “Big Beer,” helping consumers to identify local and independent breweries, in an era when Big Beer is snapping up their ownership. “A lot of the foreign-owned domestic breweries buy local breweries, and people don’t know that,” CCBA’s Ken Beattile told the Georgia Straight  at the Vancouver CCBA conference last month.

Artisan Distillers Canada has been considering offering something similar to our members and their spirits, demonstrating that they meet our Artisan Distillery & Product Qualifications. This would demonstrate that your distillery is locally owned and ferments and distills its own spirits.