The Art of Craft Ales in Nokomis, SK

Nokomis brewery’s commitment to quality, consistency and showcasing what Saskatchewan has to offer

Often, the road less travelled is the one that takes you on a grand adventure. Just ask Jeff Allpot and Kara Uzelman, the founders of Nokomis Craft Ales, who celebrated its tenth anniversary in August.

“Making beer had been a hobby for about a decade,” explains Jeff. “We were living in British Columbia and witnessed the craft beer boom. There weren’t many craft breweries in Saskatchewan ten years ago and we saw an opportunity. We didn’t have a lot of capital and thought there would be an advantage to setting up in Nokomis as it is a great spot that is centrally located with affordable housing and commercial real estate.”

Without the brewing and brewery vocational programs available today, Jeff had to educate himself about production and running a business as they were getting Nokomis Craft Ales off the ground. It launched as a one-man operation in a garage-sized facility, selling beer at farmers’ markets and establishing a few tap accounts.

During its first year in business, Nokomis Craft Ales produced about 20,000 litres of beer. Within four years, the facility expanded and a canning line was added. A second expansion increased the production capacity and provided much-needed warehousing as well as a grain bin. Current production is now at 250,000 litres and their classic and contemporary beers are available in bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout Saskatchewan and beyond.

“We are always trying to brew the best beer we can,” states Jeff. “My focus has always been on all the details that make one beer stand out from the rest, rather than always trying to give the consumer something new and exciting. We brew a lot of seasonal beers, but we have a core lineup that we’re always trying to improve on. I think that’s why people have supported us over the years – because when they pick up Nokomis, they know it’s a sign of quality and consistency.”

“We’re traditionalists in a way. You can get a variety of beers from the same basic ingredients, malt, hops, yeast and water, and we use fermentation and conditioning as a driver for the flavours. We like to showcase what we grow in our province. Our malt comes from Biggar. If we use fruit, we choose Saskatchewan-grown fruit. Our Long Lake Lager showcases 100% Saskatchewan ingredients, with hops from Moosomin.”

Jeff supports the province’s craft brewery industry and collaborates with other local breweries to work with regulators, grow the industry and promote Saskatchewan. Until recently, he held a position on the board of the Saskatchewan Craft Brewers Association (SCBA) and, this year, Nokomis Craft Ales hosted the SCBA “Collaboration Brew” to generate revenue for the grassroots, non-profit organization.

In 2023, Nokomis Craft Ales merged with Pile O’ Bones Brewing of Regina to help them navigate the rising costs of raw materials and find efficiencies on the back end of packaging, sales, marketing and distribution. Collaboration has made both brewers stronger and enables them to maintain competitive pricing.

While Jeff is kept more than busy as the founder and CEO of Nokomis Craft Ales, Kara is a dedicated artist. A graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, she has exhibited her sculptures, ceramics and installations at the MacKenzie Art Gallery and the Remai Modern, in addition to other national and international galleries. Both she and Jeff champion Saskatchewan’s arts and culture scene. In addition to sponsoring The Salt Shaker Festival in Manitou each July, Nokomis Craft Ales partners with cultural organizations in Regina and Saskatoon.

Although Nokomis Craft Ales is primarily a production facility that supplies liquor stores, bars and restaurants, it also boasts a taproom and a welcoming outdoor space, open noon until 6:00 pm Thursday through Sunday during the summer, and a small retail store that sells their brews, clothing and branded merchandise. “We are a destination brewery. People visit from across the province and country. They will leave the main highway to visit our town.”

Whether you make it down Highway 20 to Nokomis this fall or enjoy a Nokomis Craft Ale a little closer to home, you may want to mark a reminder in your calendar to buy tickets to their 11th-anniversary soiree next summer. You can look forward to a farm-to-table meal prepared by Hillside Food: Kitchen & Farm of Duval, Saskatchewan and a local musical act. It is, without a doubt, worth the road trip.