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Good morning!



With the beautiful sunshine we've been having lately, it already feels like patio season. Unfortunately, I don't know when we'll be able to go for a brew at any of our favourite establishments.



I wondered how our local breweries are faring in this economy. So I spoke with all three of them to find out how they've had to pivot their operations. They've been fielding lots of questions about whether they will be making hand sanitizer, like some other distilleries and breweries have begun to do.



I also spoke with Claude Bilodeau over at Black Velvet Distillery about how they have added a hand sanitizer production line to support local first-responders and healthcare providers.



I hope you enjoy this Feature Friday edition. As always, if you have any feedback and/or story suggestions, you can reply to this email. If you are a new subscriber and want to catch up on past editions, click here.



Thanks for reading and if you like what you see, please share with a friend!

Stay safe. Be kind. Wash your hands. Shop local. <3



- Melissa Share Tweet Forward Brewing up a (hand sanitizer) solution Black Velvet Hand Sanitizer produced in Lethbridge. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer is in hot demand. Stores can’t keep it in stock, if they manage to receive any at all. And those that do, tend to limit purchases and keep them behind the counter to prevent theft.



For our first responders, healthcare providers, and those working with at-risk individuals, it’s essential to have access to hand sanitizer to protect themselves and those they are trying to help. In Lethbridge, the Black Velvet Distilling Company has been able to adjust operations to help fill the void.



While continuing its Canadian whisky production, they’ve been able to add a line to produce 80 percent alcohol hand sanitizer – 160-proof in liquor terms. It’s now being supplied within Lethbridge and outlying communities as far as Medicine Hat. “There are so many requests, but for now we’re keeping it local and if it grows beyond there, I guess we’ll see what happens as time evolves,” said Claude Bilodeau, Black Velvet’s vice-president and general manager. Claude Bilodeau, Black Velvet’s vice-president and general manager Some local breweries have investigated the possibility of converting to produce hand sanitizer. But they have hit a financial roadblock when they learned some significant renovations would be needed, including an adequate fire suppression system.



Because the Black Velvet Distillery is a “fairly large distillery”, they are set up to deal with high proof alcohol every day of the week. “So, there weren’t significant changes that had to be made,” explained Bilodeau. “The biggest challenge to getting to where we are was getting the approval by Health Canada to be able to produce the product legally. I think there are many out there who have jumped to the rescue without those approvals and we wanted to ensure that everything was in place.”



Health Canada has a rigorous application process – you must provide the formula you are proposing to make, the process you plan on using to make it, and ensure your facility meets the quality standards of Health Canada. “They have a lot to check on to ensure that you are qualified to produce,” said Bilodeau.



Currently the Black Velvet Distillery produces about 7,200 x 375mL bottles (or 300 cases) each day, as well as about 50 x 20L pails per day. The work is done primarily by hand, and with social distancing requirements in place on the assembly line it can take a little longer. “There’s nothing more important than the safety of our employees,” said Bilodeau. “They are all extremely proud to be doing this for the community.” The hand sanitizer production line at Black Velvet Distillery.



The Black Velvet Distillery has been in operation since the 1970s. In October 2019, it was acquired by Heaven Hill Brands, a family-owned and operated company based in Bardstown, KY. The Lethbridge Black Velvet Distillery is one of five they are utilizing to produce hand sanitizer for their respective communities. To date, the five facilities have produced a total of 150,000L of hand sanitizer.



In addition, Heaven Hill Brands pledged $400,000 across five charities to support the communities in which they operate. The United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta received a portion. “Their philanthropic commitment to the areas where they operate never ceases to amaze us,” said Bilodeau.



As Black Velvet produces the hand sanitizer, they are dividing it up “as fairly as possible” throughout the community, said Bilodeau. They are currently supplying an extensive list of organizations, including City of Lethbridge first responders, Lethbridge Family Services, and several seniors’ facilities. If you are a healthcare facility or work with at-risk individuals, you can email At a time when many businesses are being forced to lay off employees, the Black Velvet Distillery is able to step up and provide jobs on the hand sanitizer line to family members of employees who have been affected. “Everybody in this building knows how fortunate we are to continue to be employed,” said Bilodeau. “We’re all extremely proud to be part of the Heaven Hill family and to be able to support our community with the full support of our parent company.”The Black Velvet Distillery has been in operation since the 1970s. In October 2019, it was acquired by Heaven Hill Brands, a family-owned and operated company based in Bardstown, KY. The Lethbridge Black Velvet Distillery is one of five they are utilizing to produce hand sanitizer for their respective communities. To date, the five facilities have produced a total of 150,000L of hand sanitizer.In addition, Heaven Hill Brands pledged $400,000 across five charities to support the communities in which they operate. The United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta received a portion. “Their philanthropic commitment to the areas where they operate never ceases to amaze us,” said Bilodeau.As Black Velvet produces the hand sanitizer, they are dividing it up “as fairly as possible” throughout the community, said Bilodeau. They are currently supplying an extensive list of organizations, including City of Lethbridge first responders, Lethbridge Family Services, and several seniors’ facilities. If you are a healthcare facility or work with at-risk individuals, you can email cbilodeau@heavenhill.com to be added to the list.

Local breweries trying to stay afloat Lethbridge’s three local breweries, like many other small businesses, have been hit hard by the pandemic. Not only have they had to close their tasting rooms and/or restaurants, but they have the added disadvantage of losing sales to bars and restaurants that would normally supply their product to patrons. They’ve been fielding questions from the public about when they are switching to hand sanitizer production. The reality for them is, it’s not so easy.



The Coulee Brew Co. was working with local partners and Economic Development Lethbridge to try to make hand sanitizer production a reality. “As soon as we heard about the possibility of producing sanitizer to help the pandemic, especially locally, we began applications with both the health organization and excise,” said a Coulee Brew Co. spokesperson. “But unfortunately, the level of capital required to bring the building up to the correct fire code as per the city, with whom we have also spoken, is substantial even with financial support from our government.”



The renovations would require a minimum $90,000-$100,000 investment. “We are very disappointed that the 100K capital required for the level of hazard inhibited us from contributing back,” she said. “Covid-19 has placed a huge strain on our business as it has to several others. Unfortunately, our entire restaurant and operations are closed as we have insufficient staff to run the kitchen for take out also.” They are hoping to open the kitchen again in May. Kris Fischer and Kel Baird, co-owners of Theoretically Brewing Co. The Theoretically Brewing Company has also been looking into pivoting operations to produce hand sanitizer. But they don’t have easy access to base materials in Lethbridge and they would also have to find a way to afford and install a new fire suppression system. “Which, without any government aid, we simply can't afford at this time,” said Kel Baird, managing owner & co-founder.



The Canadian government has announced a program for small business owners to access $40,000 interest free loans, but for some, the eligibility requirements of having a payroll between $50,000 - $1 million are “really restrictive,” said Baird. “A lot of businesses our size operate with several part-time staff, and as ownership we haven't taken a paycheck yet while our business has been growing.”



While they regularly employ four people part-time, Baird said they are just under $50,000 in payroll so the company has no access to any government aid. “If our ownership had been drawing their salaries instead of reinvesting in the growth of the company, we would be able to apply. It’s really frustrating that we haven't been able to access any assistance at all in this time.”



They have staff members ready and willing to work. But they can't bring them back as sales have dropped 90 percent and the company always pays a living wage. “Our landlord is amazing and has worked with us to reduce rent which is awesome,” said Baird, however she would like to see the federal government put a moratorium on loan payments for small businesses. Currently her bank continues to withdraw full loan payments despite repeated requests to stall principal.



Their business location is closed to the public as they only have one remaining staff member working. But the community “has been amazing” at supporting their new online order system, said Baird. “We have been receiving orders regularly which is amazing, but our business is still down 85-90 percent compared to this time last year,” she explained. “Alberta has been the most competitive market for beer in all of Canada since 1994 when we privatized alcohol sales. It's a tricky market even in boom times; it's a real roller coaster for local companies in these extreme circumstances.”







“Thanks to everyone who has been ordering online through our website it is literally the only thing keeping us afloat right now,” said Baird. “Please continue to support local shops.” Theoretically Brewing will deliver anywhere within 100km of Lethbridge directly to your door. Beer, kegs and gift certificates can be ordered at https://theorybrew.square.site “Thanks to everyone who has been ordering online through our website it is literally the only thing keeping us afloat right now,” said Baird. “Please continue to support local shops.”

Spectrum Ale Works is the newest brewery on the block. They opened on the north side just last summer. Co-owner Darrel Harris said business is still quite busy, but profit margins are still down about 60 percent. They had to close their taproom for consumption, however they are classified as a Class D liquor store, so they are still open with limited hours for takeout can sales and growler fills.



Due to COVID-19, they have stepped up sanitization of growlers brought in by the public to use stronger brewery chemicals. Unlike the other breweries, Harris said he has no plans to turn to hand sanitizer production. “It’s a completely different industry,” he said. “There’s a huge amount of paperwork and hassle. It’s well beyond my area of expertise and it’s expensive.”



Spectrum Ale Works will be teaming up with an out-of-town brewery, a friend of Harris’, who has made the switch to produce hand sanitizer. Within the next week or two, Spectrum Ale Works will be selling bottles from the storefront, he said. Until then, they are open Tuesday-Saturday from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and are available for pickup or delivery options. Their website is is the newest brewery on the block. They opened on the north side just last summer. Co-owner Darrel Harris said business is still quite busy, but profit margins are still down about 60 percent. They had to close their taproom for consumption, however they are classified as a Class D liquor store, so they are still open with limited hours for takeout can sales and growler fills.Due to COVID-19, they have stepped up sanitization of growlers brought in by the public to use stronger brewery chemicals. Unlike the other breweries, Harris said he has no plans to turn to hand sanitizer production. “It’s a completely different industry,” he said. “There’s a huge amount of paperwork and hassle. It’s well beyond my area of expertise and it’s expensive.”Spectrum Ale Works will be teaming up with an out-of-town brewery, a friend of Harris’, who has made the switch to produce hand sanitizer. Within the next week or two, Spectrum Ale Works will be selling bottles from the storefront, he said. Until then, they are open Tuesday-Saturday from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and are available for pickup or delivery options. Their website is https://spectrumaleworks.com/

What makes an effective hand sanitizer? It’s been a challenge to find hand sanitizer on store shelves, and some have taken to making their own. The internet is full of homemade recipes. Ingredients such as aloe vera gel and rubbing alcohol have been snapped up.



Health Canada warns against making homemade sanitizer as the concentration of alcohol may not be enough to kill the coronavirus. Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is still the best way to prevent the spread of infection. When that is not an option, use effective Health Canada-approved hand sanitizer that has an alcohol concentration of at least 60%.



If you’re unsure whether a hand sanitizer meets Health Canada approval, visit this website and search by name, Natural Product Number (NPN) or Drug Identification Number (DIN). Thanks for reading! Check your inbox on Tuesday for the next edition of Spark YQL !