Canalta Centre general Manager Tammy Sweeney, left, and Jen Schmunk of Grit City distillery share a laugh and a libation at Wednesday's announcement that two local craft breweries and Schmunk's Grit City Distillery will be available to patrons of the event centre this fall.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
Medicine Hat News
Locally produced beer and spirits will be on home ice this year at the Canalta Centre, which on Wednesday announced the produce from two local breweries and fledgling distillery in Medicine Hat will be available from concessions.
That comes after a three-year contract with Molsons to supply the 6,200-seat hockey rink and concert venue’s concession was renegotiated to make sales from craft breweries possible. Exclusivity provisions now allow suite and club sales of Hell’s Basement and Medicine Hat Brewing Company products.
Locally produced spirits from Grit City Distillery, which plans to open next month, will be available throughout the building.
“They didn’t exist three years ago,” joked centre general manager Tammy Sweeney. “Our guests have asked for it and we’ve renegotiated our contract with Molsons, who have been very good and understand the importance of local community.”
The two breweries have been involved in sales during outdoor events.
“It’s a big win,” said Kaiden Vancuran, general manager of Medicine Hat Brewing Company, which is located on 23rd Street NW, on a main route to the Canalta Centre. “We’re just down the road, so it sort of makes sense.”
Hell’s Basement general manager Mike Patriquin said the two-year-old business is still growing and has stable sales in city liquor stores, but the Canalta contract will provide a boost.
“It’s a growth opportunity within the city,” he said.
The regular bar and lounge, as well as hawkers, will still deal exclusively with Molson products under the new agreement. Offerings from the two breweries will be available in the Co-op Club zone, which will be open to all patrons this season, as well as in luxury suites.
Liquor is apart from exclusivity clauses in the beer contract, meaning that Grit City products will be available at vendors throughout the building, but not until later in October when the first production is expected.
The enterprise is setting up shop in the 600 block of S. Railway Street. Depending on licensing approval, it could be available in mid-October.
Initially they will produce vodka, gin and some liqueurs for sale. Whiskey and rum won’t be ready for several years due the aging requirements.
Jen Schmunk and her husband Andy are setting up the new business from scratch that will at first sell directly to consumers.
A contract to supply a large venue is “super huge” to the business plan of the new business, said Schmunk.
“It’s a relief,” said Schmunk. “And to be in the Canalta Centre provides a lot of exposure to our customers.”
Sweeney said it is hard to determine how much local procurement is done for concessions at the facility, but they increasingly use local produce as well as have a local supplier for buns.
“Whenever we can we try to use local organizations,” she said.
