By Discount Liquor

SASKATCHEWAN FOCUS – Saskatoon Businesswoman Brings a New Spin on Craft Beer in Saskatoon

Apr 14, 2023 | 10:11 AM

“The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Pattison Media and this site.”

Madeline Conn was raised in Saskatoon, and in 2012 graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Masters degree in Business, and set off on a journey that would take her south to the heart of Texas.

While in Dallas, she found a new love…no, it wasn’t a guy, it was craft beer. And from the sounds of their website, it was love at first sip.

What she saw in the craft brewing scene were things that spoke to her: supporting the local community, a creative outlet, opportunities to collaborate with other people in the industry and, most of all, the opportunity to create damn good beer.

Upon moving back to Canada, she started coming up with ways to bring that passion and sense of community to Saskatoon. With a strong grasp of the business end, what she needed was someone who had the brewing knowledge. With that in mind, friends of the family introduced her to Daniel Rommens. Daniel was already an established brewer, and had dreams of making beer on a larger scale than he was. The two of them joined forces, combined their knowledge, and in 2018 High Key Brewing was created.

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Originally located at the north end of Quebec Avenue in Saskatoon, they soon found that the location had limitations, and started looking for a second location that would be more suited to what they were trying to do. And then, early in 2022, they found it in the heart of downtown Saskatoon.

On November 8^th, 2022, High Key Brewing officially opened their new tap room in the old Red Lime Harley Davidson building at the corner of 1^st Avenue and 23^rd Street. Featuring a full service kitchen, bright comfortable atmosphere and a three seasons patio, this was the ‘perfect location’ according to Maddy.

“Fortunately, (a new location) came up right at the nick of time,” she said in an interview with CTV Saskatoon. “It was always a little bit of a dream building of mine, I drove past it every day. And I always thought it would be a great setup for a brewery but never thought that it would become available.”

The new tap room is open 6 days a week (closed Monday) for anyone that wants to experience some great food and unique beer.

The Beers

High Key Brewing features four year round brews as well as a number of seasonal offerings that change by season as well as by year.

The best selling of their beers here at Discount Liquor is easily the Johnny Kolsch. This is a light, easy drinking beer that is a hybrid in styles with traditional lagers and the German-style Kolsch. At 5.5%, it is a bright color and low hoppiness for an easy drinking taste.

One of the staff favorites here is the Jolly Roger Red. With the name you immediately think pirates, and you are partially right. High Key brings uses charred oak barrels when fermenting the beer that gives it a rich, sweet flavor. At 6.6%, they may be sneaking a little rum in the beer as well, though confirmation of this would involve walking a plank, so it will remain a wild and unfounded suspicion.

Feeling like something a little more English? Then the London Fog Porter may be more for you. Styled after a traditional English porter, this brew is infused with flavours of vanilla and Earl Grey tea. You didn’t hear this from me, but I think that qualifies this beer for afternoon tea time…

Also on the current menu are the Hibiscus Pink IPA, Wai-iti Gose Sour, Mexican Guava, and a Sour Cherry made with locally grown sour cherries. With a lineup this diverse, High Key is sure to have something for every taste.

Check out their bright new tap room on your next visit to Saskatoon (www.facebook.com/hkbrewco), or come in to Discount Liquor for tastings April 21^st and 22^nd and 15% off all High Key products this month!