Great Western Brewing Company
Independent regional brewer in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The Great Western Brewing Company, an independent brewery based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, ranks among the larger regional brewers in Western Canada, with the capacity to produce more than 300,000 hectolitres each year. Its roots go back to 1927, when it first opened as the Hub City Brewing Company. The name changed to the Western Canada Brewing Company in 1930, then to Drewery's Limited in 1932. In 1956, O'Keefe Brewing (later Carling O'Keefe) bought the plant, and it operated under that banner until 1989, when Carling O'Keefe merged with Molson. The new company, keeping the Molson name, planned to shut down the brewery and lay off over 40 workers. Instead, a group of sixteen employees and managers bought the brewery from Molson in 1989, and the Great Western Brewing Company was formed in 1990. It has remained independent ever since.
The brewery makes a range of beers and hard seltzers. Its product lines include Original 16, Great Western, and Brewhouse. Specific offerings include Original 16 Canadian Pale Ale (5.0% alc./vol.), Original 16 Canadian Copper Ale (5.2% alc./vol.), Original 16 Prairie White Belgian-style Wheat (4.8% alc./vol.), Original 16 Canadian Ultra Lager (2.5% alc./vol.), and Original 16 Hard Seltzer in Lemon Saskatoon Berry, Peach, Cranberry, and Mixed Berry (all 4.8% alc./vol.). Under the Great Western brand are Pilsner (5.0% alc./vol.), Lager (5.0% alc./vol.), Light (4.0% alc./vol.), Classic (5.0% alc./vol.), and Radler (2.8% alc./vol.), as well as 'Bertan (5.0% alc./vol.). The Brewhouse line includes Pilsner (5.0% alc./vol.), Light (4.0% alc./vol.), Ultra (4.0% alc./vol.), Ice (6.0% alc./vol.), and Radler (2.8% alc./vol.). The company also produces Gold (6.3% alc./vol.) and Olympia (5.0% alc./vol.), and it is the authorized brewer and distributor of Olympia Beer for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Several of its products have earned international recognition at competitions such as the World Beer Awards, Canadian Brewing Awards, and Monde Selection’s World Quality Selections. Award-winning brews include Original 16 Canadian Pale Ale, Original 16 Canadian Copper Ale, Original 16 Prairie White Belgian-style Wheat, Great Western Light, Great Western Pilsner, Brewhouse Pilsner, and Brewhouse Light.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan / Canada
- Founded
- 1927 (as Hub City Brewing Company)
- Industry
- Alcoholic beverage
- Products
- Beer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The brewery's history extends back to 1927, when it was established as the Hub City Brewing Company. In 1930 the plant was renamed the Western Canada Brewing Company, and in 1932 it was changed again to Drewery's Limited. In 1956, the brewery was acquired by O'Keefe Brewing (which would later become Carling O'Keefe) and was operated under that name until 1989, when Carling O'Keefe agreed to a merger with Molson. Plans were initiated by the merged company (which kept the Molson name) to close the brewery and terminate over 40 employees.
In 1989, a group of sixteen employees and management succeeded in purchasing the brewery from Molson, at which point The Great Western Brewing Company was formed in 1990. The brewery has operated independently since that time. The brewery building on 2nd Ave. in Saskatoon was designed by David Webster and built in 1927.
Reader's Guide
The Great Western Brewing Company represents a notable survival story in Canadian brewing, having been saved from closure by its own employees and management in 1989. Its history traces back to 1927, passing through several name changes and corporate owners before becoming an independent entity in 1990. The brewery produces a wide range of beers and hard seltzers under three main brands: Original 16, Great Western, and Brewhouse. Several of its products have been recognized internationally at competitions including the World Beer Awards, Canadian Brewing Awards, and Monde Selection’s World Quality Selections. The company also serves as the authorized brewer and distributor of Olympia Beer for the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. With annual production capabilities exceeding 300,000 hectolitres, it ranks among the larger regional brewers in Western Canada. Its product lineup includes styles ranging from pale ale and pilsner to light beer, radler, and hard seltzer, reflecting a broad market approach.
Did You Know?
- The brewery was originally established in 1927 as the Hub City Brewing Company.
- In 1989, sixteen employees and management purchased the brewery from Molson to prevent its closure.
- The Great Western Brewing Company is the authorized brewer and distributor of Olympia Beer for four Canadian provinces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Great Western Brewing Company?
It is an independent, locally owned brewery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that has been brewing beer in Western Canada since 1927. Today it operates as one of the larger regional producers on the western side of the country.
What are Great Western Brewing Company's main beer brands?
The brewery's core lineup includes Original 16, Great Western, and Brewhouse. These three labels are the ones most fans and locals reach for when they think of the Saskatoon brewer.
How did Great Western Brewing Company become an independent brewery?
After Carling O'Keefe merged with Molson in 1989, a group of 16 employees and management bought the plant out of the Molson portfolio. That employee-led buyout preserved the brewery as a locally owned, independent operation rather than letting it fold into a national giant.
What was Great Western Brewing Company called before its current name?
The facility opened in 1927 as Hub City Brewing Company, shifted to Western Canada Brewing Company in 1930, and became Drewery's Limited by 1932. It then spent decades under the O'Keefe and Carling O'Keefe banners before settling on its present Great Western identity around 1990.
How large is Great Western Brewing Company in terms of production?
The Saskatoon plant is capable of producing more than 300,000 hectolitres of beer per year. That scale places it among the bigger independent brewing operations in Western Canada.
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