Great Western Brewing, in Saskatoon, is releasing a beer to celebrate the founding of this unique brewing operation. The beer is called Original 16 and Great Western is calling it a Canadian Pale Ale. It is described as all-barley “double aged” ale. No word on how much hops was used or what the IBUs are.

Their bumpf says after 7 days initial conditioning the beer underwent a 24-day lagering at -1.5 degrees Celsius, resulting in a sparkling clear, clean beer. This is a bit odd for a pale ale, making me suspect it will be something of a lager-ale hybrid in its impression.

The significance of the name – Original 16 – is to commemorate the 16 worker/managers who started the company back in 1990. Many of you may not be aware that Great Western is the old Molson brewing plant in Saskatoon. When Molson announced the plant closure in the late 1980s a group of senior managers from the plant scrambled to buy it out, forming a kind of quasi worker cooperative (although without the deeply rooted democratic structures and ownership). It was and is an inspiring story for Canadian beer fans.

Over the years the brewery has stuck to what it knows – accessible, affordable lagers. So this release is intriguing as it appears to mark a shift, even if temporary. I will pick up a bottle when it is out, although my expectations will be modest. I suspect this won’t be a classic version of a pale ale, but that is not matter. It could be an enjoyable beer.

Speaking of when it is out, the release date is March 20, which is the date back in 1990 that the first bottle of Great Western came off the production line. Another commemoration of their roots. More than twenty years later and they are still proving to the big boys that you can make money brewing beer in Saskatoon.