One pub owner said there were only 300 kegs left in B.C. two weeks ago, though another says a late shipment has arrived in time to keep the taps flowing
A global Guinness shortage may put a damper on Monday’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
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“There is a shortage in British Columbia,” confirmed Seán Heather, owner of the Irish Heather in Gastown. “It’s a disaster.”
There will be plenty of Guinness at the Irish Heather, but if you’re hoping to get a pint at his pub on Monday, you are out of luck. Tables are fully booked. “We’ll be full to the gunnels,” said Heather.
“This has happened before, so weeks before I’m always checking with my distributor to get a sense of availability,” said Heather.
Two weeks ago, when he learned there were only 300 kegs left in B.C. for distribution, he ordered enough to get him through. He alerted other pub owners, but for some it was too late.
“I told everyone I know,” said Heather, adding that there are pubs that do not have enough on tap to serve revellers on Monday.
Brian Gobeil, manager of the Blarney Stone, disputed the notion of a shortage. In an email, Gobeil said that a shipment came in late, but still in time to keep taps flowing at Vancouver’s Irish Pubs.
“We have more than enough,” said Gobeil.
Heather said he expects to sell at least 1,000 pints of Guinness on Monday, along with other traditional fare, like Irish stew and soda bread.
There are 90 pints in a keg, which means Heather will go through somewhere between 11-12 kegs on Monday.
A new factory in Kildare, Ireland, is expected to ease the shortage — but not in time for this St. Patrick’s Day.
While some pubs may sell alternatives, such as Murphy’s Irish Stout, for some, it’s not the same.
“Guinness is tied to our identity,” said Heather.
Heather has weathered more than one storm as a pub owner in Vancouver, including the infamous St. Patrick’s Day order from health authorities in 2020 when COVID first appeared. Pubs were ordered to close at 8 p.m., with little advance notice, leaving him with plenty of Guinness and 30 litres of Irish stew.
“My kids were eating Irish stew for months,” he said.
St. Patrick’s Day is not celebrated with green beer in Ireland, but is a national holiday more like Thanksgiving, said Heather.
“For us abroad, for people that are melancholy and missing home, they go to where they can be with other Irish people.”
The Lower Mainland has about 20,000 Irish people, thanks to a popular working holiday visa program. “You can’t go anywhere in this city without hearing an Irish accent,” said Heather.
As for how he’ll celebrate, Heather plans to enjoy himself on Tuesday, when the whole party is over. On Monday, he’ll be busy serving the Guinness.