In this article, we explore the value of commercial and craft beer in Canada. Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in the country, followed by wine and spirits. The Canadian market is estimated to be worth over $ 8 billion in 2024.

But how much is beer worth to consumers? Le Temps d’une Bière examined 4168 beers across the country’s ten provinces; half of which were from commercial brands and half from craft breweries. For each province, a minimum of 150 beers were sampled, going up to 900 for more complex sales systems such as hybrid state-private vendors for a total of 1869 commercial listings and 2298 craft listings.

Note: only authorized retailers were surveyed. The numbers below do not include beer bought directly at a brewing or ordered at the bar. Prices from Costco were also excluded, due to lack of consistent data, and because Costco does not sell alcohol in all Canadian provinces. For more information on beer prices in Costco, click here.

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How much does commercial beer cost in Canada?

In Canada, the average value of a case of 24 commercial 330-355-ml beers is $45,93 CAD. A case of 12 beers costs $26,87 CAD. The analysis included both cans and bottles.

With an average price of $55.60 per 24-pack, Nova Scotia ranks as the most expensive province for buying beer. Saskatchewan and Newfoundland follow closely, with average prices of $53.72 and $53.35 per 24-pack, respectively.

In contrast, Quebec offers the lowest prices for 12- and 24-pack cases, averaging approximately $21.18 and $37.93, respectively. Does this mean the stronger presence of microbreweries drives prices down? Not necessarily. Quebec also benefits from a broader retail and distribution system, with a greater variety of business models that provide more cost flexibility.

Provinces like British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Alberta display moderate prices, reflecting a balance between local demand, production costs, and taxes. In this context, regulations and monopolies play a decisive role. In Ontario, for example, the LCBO acts as an essential intermediary for microbreweries aiming to access supermarkets and convenience stores. While retailers are free to set their prices above the mandated floor, this system often limits creativity and the diversity of available products. As a result, certain specialty beers, such as IPAs or barrel-aged imperial stouts, are only available at « bottle shops » directly tied to breweries, often at higher prices.

Another critical factor is distribution costs. In Quebec, the density of sales points leads to higher logistical and representation costs. Serving a larger number of retailers involves more complex logistics, driving up overall expenses. Industry insiders foresee that Ontario may soon face a similar situation.

Now that the number of retail outlets has surged, breweries are effectively responsible for building their own distribution and representation networks. A side effect of this expansion is its impact on beer freshness: the more sellers and merchants involved, the harder it is to guarantee the beer’s freshness. As shelves fill with more options, some beers inevitably get left behind.

In Ontario, an often-overlooked aspect is the parallel economy of microbreweries. Many breweries bypass the centralized LCBO system by using direct mail delivery services. These beers, often absent from traditional distribution channels, command higher prices per can but provide an intriguing alternative for consumers seeking quality or originality. On the other hand, Ontario still lacks specialized retailers like those in Quebec, which remain prohibited by law.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning the impact of taxes and regulatory changes. Federal alcohol taxes, temporarily adjusted, will be reinstated after February 15, 2024, which may standardize some price differences between provinces. This increase could also influence breweries’ commercial strategies as they strive to balance expansion with quality maintenance to meet ever-evolving demand.

The variations in beer prices across Canada illustrate a complex reality shaped by regulatory dynamics, logistical choices, differing business models, and consumer preferences. This evolving landscape highlights the tensions between tradition, innovation, and economic constraints.

Prices for major Canadian breweries across the provinces in 2024

Unsurprisingly, established commercial labels such as Budweiser, Coors, Labatt, and Molson show the smallest price variation across the country, even adjusted to the cost of living. However, be sure to check the price list below for the cheapest beers available in each province:

How much does craft beer cost in Canada?

Having examined the prices of commercial brands, Le Temps d’une Bière also looked at the prices of craft beers. Following comments on our article about craft beer prices in Quebec, we received several questions about price differences between Quebec and Ontario.

Following the feedback on our article about craft beer prices in Quebec, we received several questions about price differences between Quebec and Ontario. We therefore compared IPA prices with all other beer styles, as well as with commercial beers, across the entire province. This allowed us to measure the « premium » that beer enthusiasts pay for their IPA—not only compared to other provinces but also in relation to commercial beer within their own province.

The table below shows the average price of a 473-milliliter can at all retailers (both commercial and government-operated), combining different IPA styles.

The final result confirms that Alberta has the most expensive 473-milliliter can of classic IPA in the country, wereas Quebec has the most expensive West Coast and East Coast IPAs. Conversely, neighboring Ontario has the cheapest IPA can (on average). Only Saskatchewan and Newfoundland match Quebec’s prices.

We analyzed the average price of 473 ml cans of craft IPA and compared it to the average price of commercial beer cans (ranging from 340 to 500 ml) in each Canadian province. The goal was to highlight the « premium » that consumers pay for microbrewery beers compared to commercial beers. IPA was chosen for two reasons: it is the beer style for which microbreweries are best known, and its stock is more abundant and better distributed across the province.

A Quebec Craft Beer Exception?

In comparison to Ontario, Quebec craft beer is expensive for three main reasons: the small production volumes that prevent economies of scale, the multiple taxes (excise, stamp tax, provincial tax, and sales tax), and the retailer’s « commission ».

In the National Capital Region, Quebec’s many $8 cans of NEIPA are often compared to Dominion City’s legendary $5.10 Sunsplit IPA. As a result, many Quebecers cross the river to stock up on their favorite brews. But if microbrewery costs are so high, how does Ontario manage to keep retail prices around $4 on average?

An IPA craft beer costs about $1.50 less in Ontario than in Quebec, which is a 30% difference. The price gap between microbreweries and commercial beers is also about a dollar less in Ontario. Even Quebec beers sold at the LCBO, Ontario’s liquor store chain, are roughly a dollar cheaper per unit—examples include Dieu du Ciel!‘s Péché Mortel and Unibroue’s Blanche de Chambly.

Two other factors contribute to the relatively affordable price of craft beers in Ontario. Firstly, many Ontario microbreweries have been acquired by commercial breweries, allowing them to achieve greater economies of scale across the province. The abundance of 4 to 12-unit packs at The Beer Store enhances this perception of lower prices; in Quebec, large formats are much less common.

Secondly, Ontario consumers tend to have more conventional expectations than their Quebec counterparts, according to several Ontario breweries consulted for this article. Is this a counter-effect to Quebec’s strong local culture, or just a different set of preferences? Either way, Ontario microbreweries have fewer retail outlets than Quebec, which may be a contributing factor. This may change entirely once the termination of the Beer Store near monopoly comes to an end, in 2026.

Conclusion

Although the aftermath of the pandemic has been difficult for craft beer, it seems that the beer market continues to grow in the country. While, on the one hand, young adults are less tempted by alcohol given the abundance of recent alternatives, on the other hand, beer consumption across the country is holding steady, albeit with increasingly sluggish growth.

Pierre-Olivier Bussières is the Editor-in-Chief of Hoppy History and Uber Optimized. He is the Sales and Marketing Director at Uberflix Studio. He also writes about travel, geopolitics, and alcohol markets, and has published articles in The Diplomat, Reflets, The Main, Go Nomad, Global Risk Insights, and Diplomatie.

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