Brewing beer for breast cancer research

Rebellion Brewing is making a new beer for a worthy cause.

The company released a pink beer that’s raising money for breast cancer.

Jamie Singer, the president of the company, said they want to do their part to fight cancer – one brew at a time.

“This is a great way to give back to a worthwhile cause so hopefully we can get rid of this ugly disease,” said Singer.

The rosy beer is inspired by the pink lady gin cocktail. It was crafted with oats, juniper berries, lemon zest and blackcurrants that were locally grown.

“The colouring from the blackcurrants really brings out the colour in the beer,” Singer said.

Melissa Rathgaber was at the launch of the new beer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December while she was six months pregnant.

“It was absolutely grueling. I went through two chemos and surgery while I was pregnant,” she said.

She took a break from treatment after giving birth to her new baby boy, Hudson, before continuing with chemotherapy and radiation.  

“It’s been a really, really tough year,” Rathgaber said.

The breast cancer survivor said it was family and friends who helped her during her fight.

“The support that everyone in the community shows towards breast cancer, towards any initiative, towards finding a cure for cancer is amazing,” she said.

In 2015, the brewery made their first pink beer for the cause. Shantelle Arsenault, a breast cancer survivor, was at the launch of that beer.

She was diagnosed with cancer on St. Patrick’s Day in 2015.

“It was shocking to say the least,” she said. “The diagnosis came with a lot of disbelief, shock and fear obviously for cancer.”

She went through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and is now in remission. She hopes the beer will drum up attention to the cause.

“All these events that raise money for that are so key to finding the cure,” she said.

The beer is expected to bring in $1,500 for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.