One little wish for 2012

If I had one little wish for 2012 (on the beer front), it would be this:

I wish I could go to a store that isn't the lcbo or the beer store and buy local craft beer.

I'd like to be able to buy some delicious local craft beer, like Spearhead or Lone Pine IPA from a central location in Toronto for home consumption, and not have to either:

a) have to trek all the way out to the brewery itself, or

b) wait for them to be able to make enough to make it econimically feasible to send their stuff to the lcbo or the beer store.

To be honest, there's so much interesting stuff going on in Ontario that I don't have access to, that's it's starting to get a little bit frustrating. Let's make it easier for these craft brewers to make money and to survive. Let's give them the breathing room to improve, make more beer, and be creative. Let's stop placing other countries' beers over our own. These things will only happen by making the product available to the consumer.

I'm hoping that this year, with the review of the liquor laws, we at least allow that to happen. Perhaps a "wine rack" equivalent for beer, owned by Ontario's craft brewers? That's what I want - and what I think Ontario's burgeoning craft beer scene needs to be sustainable and to thrive. With the way things are now, we can only get the big sellers from the craft brewers, and to be honest, the big sellers aren't necessarily the most interesting to those who really love craft beer. The little guy needs a leg up. And I want the good stuff.