Local brewing company announces Sask.-designed cans

Local beer and local artwork could soon find their way into your fridge.

Rebellion Brewing officially announced Tuesday that its beers are available in cans. Although the announcement came this week, the cans were quietly launched in December.

Rebellion Brewing president Mark Heise said there was a huge demand to make the company’s beer available in cans, with about 5,000 cans a week already being sold across Saskatchewan.

“Things like drinking-and-driving and the responsible consumption of alcohol and all that sort of stuff, more people are consuming the alcohol at home or at the lake and cans are just so much more convenient and easy for them to do that.”

The cans feature locally made artwork by Adrienne Ray and Brennen Garreck from Regina’s Golden Spider Tattoo.

“We want to try and embrace that whole local thing as much as possible,” Heise said. “We’ve got great talent here and that’s kind of what we do at Rebellion.”

Ray said she was happy to help when Heise asked her if she would like to design the art for the cans.

“The whole idea is super fun and every time Mark comes up with a new idea and sends it through to us, it’s like Christmas,” she said.

Ray said her design of a tractor set against a praire landscape used on Rebellion’s lentil beer cans was inspired by her childhood in Crane Valley, Sask., located about 72 kilometres south of Moose Jaw.

“I’m very passionate about being from Saskatchewan, I’m proud of where I’m from and I love to convey that in my art whenever I can.”

Garreck created a Japanese-style fox for Rebellion’s amber ale can. He said he modified the traditional tattoo design for the project.

“Usually they have a skull on their head but to make it a little more beer-ish I put a hops up there with the prairie lily at the bottom.”

The beers are available through private liquor retailers across the province including stores in Regina, Moose Jaw, Tisdale, Assiniboia and North Battleford.

Heise said Rebellion doesn’t sell through the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority because they like to make and maintain relationships with the people selling their beer.

Rebellion’s lentil, amber and India pale ale are currently available in cans. An oatmeal stout can will be coming out in the coming weeks with a brand new beer called Blast Off coming in a month or two. Variety and summer packs will also be available.