A Quick Guide to Craft Beer in Saskatchewan

Local crops, local fruit and a multi-million-dollar industry. The craft beer industry in Saskatchewan is brewing up a lot of interested customers. That’s because craft beer drinkers in the province (and around the world) have adventurous palates and are always looking for a new taste when it comes to home-grown barley beverages.

Since 2013, Saskatchewan’s craft brewing scene has really boomed and there’s no end in sight in the creation of options for tasty beers. It’s about time, considering farmers in Saskatchewan grow some of the best barley (and lentils) in the world.

There are nearly two dozen independent breweries scattered around Saskatchewan (check them out here on Mysask411 and learn more with the Craft Brewers Association). They aim to blend traditional beer with new and innovative approaches and flavours.

With so many options to choose from, where do you start and how do you pick what you like?

Step One

Find a brewery using the Mysask411 app. Then stop by a brewery taproom and order a flight of beer. A flight is a sampling of 4 to 6 beers in 6 ounce glasses. It’s the perfect way to get an overview of a wide selection of beers to see what you enjoy most.

Step Two

Purchase a growler of your favourite beer to take home with you (plus you’ll be supporting local!) A growler is a glass jug that acts as a take-out container for your beer. The beer usually stays fresh for up to a week. It’s the perfect item to bring over to a friend’s house while watching the Rider game or for any backyard get-together. Some craft beer aficionados even collect growlers.

Step Three

Most breweries offer a set of regular beers as well as a selection of seasonal brews available at certain times and in certain quantities, like Bushwakker Brewpub’s First Firkin Friday. A small keg of a special ale is piped – by a piper from the Regina Police Service Pipes & Drums no less –  through the pub and it’s tapped by a guest volunteer. Check back often as the resident brewmasters at every brewery love concocting something new and creative to share with their customers.

Highlight on 3 Saskatchewan Breweries

1. Black Bridge Brewery, Swift Current

Based out of Swift Current, the Black Bridge brand is named after an iconic iron bridge only a few kilometres south of the city. Black Bridge makes the list as they currently craft my favourite stout in the province. Their flagship Milk Stout is the beer I often carry in my backpack when out camping and hiking on adventures in Saskatchewan. A good stout goes a long way.

2. High Key Brewing Co., Saskatoon
High Key Brewing, founded by Madeline Conn, is one of the province’s newest breweries having opened their taproom in Saskatoon in early January 2018. Prior to that, they sold their beer locally at the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market and at restaurants around the city. They also partner with local artists to create beautiful wraps on their growlers. A portion of every purchase is donated back to the Saskatoon Nature Society to support conservation and education. Bonus: their taproom is pet friendly.

3. Rebellion Brewing, Regina

Rebellion’s outdoor patio off Dewdney in Regina is a great place to hang out with friends, family and co-workers. Their flashy red picnic tables have Monopoly board games drawn on them with Saskatchewan-specific locations. Plus, they release a tasty seasonal red ale called the The Cat’s Got the Cream. A portion of each sale of the beer goes to the Regina Cat Rescue.

Looking for the brewery nearest you? Search directions and contact information on Mysask411.