The province says that come December, 60 Ontario grocery stores will be selected and authorized to sell beer.

Speaking to reporters at the Mill Street Brew Pub in Toronto Wednesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne said that the province is currently accepting bids from grocery stores who are interested in selling six-packs of beer.

In total, the government will allow beer to be sold in 450 grocery stores across Ontario and the plan is to have up to 150 stores selling beer by May, 2017.

Under the new rules, no grocer can win more than 50 per cent of the authorizations in a given region.

"It is an exciting day for people who love beer in Ontario,” Wynne said. 

"Beer in grocery stores could be seen as a holiday present that many people in Ontario have been waiting for for a long time." 

Expanding beer sales to retail locations beyond The Beer Store and LCBO is part of a new 10-year agreement between the government and Brewers Retail.

Wynne says the new deal aims to increase customer convenience and create a level playing field for local brewers in the province.

The new agreement also stipulates that the price of beer will remain the same wherever it is sold and will allow bars and restaurants to purchase beer at retail prices.

Wynne also announced Wednesday that in an effort to make the system more fair for craft brewers, a minimum of 20 per cent of The Beer Store’s shelf space must now be reserved for small brewers.

"Our Ontario brewers want that fairer playing field and the chance to expand their markets and continue to create good local jobs," Wynne said.