Made in Saskatchewan: Great Western Brewing expands to double production

Saskatoon’s Great Western Brewing is raising a glass to nearly a century of beer-making history, and to the workers who kept it alive.

Beer has been brewed on the company’s 2nd Avenue site since 1927, when the original facility first opened its doors. After decades under various ownerships, the Carling O’Keefe Brewery nearly shut down in 1927.

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But 16 employees refused to let it happen. They risked their homes, pooled their savings, and formed what would become Great Western Brewing Company, preserving large-scale beer production in Saskatchewan.

Now, 97 years later, the company is celebrating another milestone.

Beer has been brewed on the company’s 2nd Avenue site since 1927. (Great Western Brewing Facebook)

President and CEO Michael Brennan said Great Western has officially completed an 11,000-square-foot expansion that includes a state-of-the-art brew house, the brewery’s first major equipment upgrade since 1954.

“We’ve added 11,000 sq ft and we’re putting in a brand-new brew house,” Brennan said. “The one thing we’ve got to make sure is our beers stay exactly how they are today.”

The new system will double production capacity, allowing the brewery to meet growing demand. Brennan said it’s a step toward the future, without changing what’s made the brand successful for decades.

“We’ll be able to double what we currently produce,” Brennan said. “We just need more people drinking good beer made right here in Saskatoon, (in a brewery) owned by Canadians.”

Great Western is known for its award-winning lineup, including Original 16, Great Western Pilsner, and Great Western Light. The latter was voted the world’s best light beer in 2014 and Canada’s best light beer in 2020.

Brennan said the expansion is a tribute to the brewery’s founders, whose decisions in 1927 ensured Saskatchewan remained a brewing province.

“Those original 16 guys risked their homes to keep bringing life to this province, and we owe them a great debt of gratitude,” Brennan said. “Thanks to those guys, we have a brewery here that competes against the biggest brewers in the world, and in my opinion, with a little bit better beer.”

The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to mark the new addition. One final piece of equipment is expected to arrive soon, after which the new system will be commissioned and tested.

“You can’t just start brewing beer,” Brennan said with a laugh. “You’ve got to start with water, make sure there are no leaky pipes and everything is flowing the way you like.”

If it all goes to plan, the first batches from the new brew house will roll out in early 2026. Brennan said as the company modernizes, its focus remains on the same values that built it: hard work, quality and Saskatchewan pride.

“We’re making sure we’re in business for the next 97 years,” Brennan said.

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