Watch above: Saskatoon is hosting its first outdoor beer festival this weekend to support local craft breweries. Besides beverages, the event is also raising money for a good cause. Jacqueline Wilson reports.
SASKATOON – Saskatoon hosted its first outdoor beer festival to support local craft beer culture and raise money for cystic fibrosis. Beer enthusiasts came together in Rotary Park for Saskatoon’s first outdoor beer festival. The community showed support for the growing local craft beer culture in the province and raised money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
“We went to Ontario and got the idea from a beer festival there and decided to bring it here to Saskatoon. Right? Why not!” says Lindsay Ogresko, YXE Beer Festival organizer.
READ MORE: Saskatoon craft beer makers buzzing over regulation tweaks
The festival took place on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. There were local food trucks, live music, and over thirty drink vendors.
“It’s amazing. I’m a big fan of craft breweries myself. Typically when I go purchase beer I’ll pick up an extra six of just different flavors and different types. It’s really exciting to have it all centralize right here in Rotary Park,” says Bret Browatzke, an event attendee.
With over nine craft breweries in Saskatchewan and more popping up all the time, the movement doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
“Well the craft beer industry in Saskatoon is growing tremendously. Before there was basically only Saskatoon Brewery, Paddock Wood and then we came along,” says Kelita Deptuck, bar manager at Prairie Sun Brewery.
“Now 9 Mile is opening. We’re all working as a community, working together and growing the industry.”
This year the Saskatchewan government plans to have a third-party review its policies regarding the province’s craft alcohol industry. The decision is mainly due to the growth the industry has seen in recent years.
“The SLGA rules and regulations, that’s been a challenge. Certainly for Paddock Wood because we were the first micro brewery,” says Andrew Sharpe, with Paddock Wood Brewery.
“There was a good deal of lobbying to get assistance from the province. It’s become a little bit easier for micro breweries to function properly.”
Roughly 2,000 people were in attendance on Friday and organizers expected even more Saturday, which gives them reason to start planning for next year.
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