Steelback is now on the outside looking in for the upcoming Tiverton Old Boys and Girls reunion.
Kincardine Council last night officially passed a recommendation from the Tiverton Reunion Committee to award the beer tender to Labatts.
The decision brings to an end weeks of debate as to which beer should be served at the reunion.
Mayor Larry Kraemer made an attempt at a compromise by suggesting that the tender be revoked and all beer brands — including Steelback — be served during the reunion but that was turned down.
Steelback President Ian MacDonald says while he is disappointed by Councils decision he can leave the issue with a clear conscience.
MacDonald says there was a bias thereby compromising the tendering process.
But he says he still believes in the municipal policies and process adding he doesn’t hold any ill will towards the reunion committee.
MacDonald says serving beer in cans — a stipulation made by the committee during the tendering process — is a bad idea.
He says that is a safety concern but is willing to live with it and chalk it up as a learning experience.
Steelback only packages their beer in bottles or kegs.
Committee Chair Debbie Cote says Quik-Way — a convenience store in Tiverton that is an authorized Beer Store outlet — will end up being the biggest beneficiary as they will be handling the beer during the reunion.
She says she is sorry that Steelback did not get the tender but hopes with a local distributor things will balance itself out.
Cote says she along with five others who resigned from the committee last week over the tenders are back or will be back soon.
She says the committee followed the rules and feels that the whole dispute has been blown way out of proportion.