Regina’s first microbrewery still delayed

REGINA – Blue skies and warm temperatures – the ideal weather for sitting on a patio and enjoying a cold drink.  It’s exactly the scene the owner’s of Regina’s first microbrewery are trying to take advantage of.

“The craft beer market has really taken off everywhere else in North America. It hasn’t seemed to have hit home in Saskatchewan yet. We’re hoping to be trailblazers in that market,” said Byron Wiebe, owner and manager of District Brewing Company.

When things finally get brewing, it’s expected to be a world-class operation. The equipment is from PEI, the bottles from Illinois, the casks from China – the logo from Italy, but the thing holding up the process is right here at home.

“Just a tonne of red tape. There’s no other microbreweries in the city at all; There’s just one other microbrewery in the province, so a lot of people are really unaware of what we’re trying to accomplish here,” said Wiebe.

District Brewing was slated to start producing in March, but last month, was caught in the middle of an ownership dispute between the City of Regina and the Optimist Gymnastics Association of Regina. They were also issued a stop work order. Now, they’re still waiting for the proper approvals in order to start production.  Their new landlord says it’s doing everything it can to get rid of the red tape.

“There were some changes made to the building that were not authorized and that’s when it came to council. And I think the brewery would understand they can’t make modifications to a building without the proper permit,” said Mayor Michael Fougere, adding he expects the permits to be issued by the end of the week.

Wiebe and his partners have been eager to comply, but are frustrated with how long the process is taking.

“Just redoing our plans and all of that takes a lot of time and then they have to review everything every time we re-submit. Bureaucracy just takes some time, I guess,” he said.

Call it a cautionary ‘ale.’

“What’s extremely important when someone’s getting into business, regardless of where it may be, is having a good understanding of what the processes are that have to be followed in terms of business permits and fire and safety and all of those types of things,” said Regina Chamber of Commerce CEO, John Hopkins.

Wiebe says he hopes their product will be ready by the end of July. District Brewing already has agreements with 50 bars and restaurants in the city, as well as the SLGA.