The Edmonton location of Beer Revolution officially opens its doors today. I was fortunate to be invited to a “soft launch” on Saturday to get a sneak peak and sample a pint or two. Beer Revolution, for the uninitiated is the Brewster’s Brewpub chain’s foray into craft beer not brewed by them. The first location was in Calgary (you can read my review of it here),and was notable for its model of offering no regular standing beer (except for three house beer). Now they have imported the model to Edmonton, opening a branch in Oliver Square (yes, across the parking lot from the Oliver Square Brewsters).

The room is spacious and accented by stone. While it is one big space, it has the feel of being divided with the bar on the left and restaurant seating on the right. Finishing touches were still be performed (a painter was still working on the foyer logo) and some elements are not quite ready, for example the patio is still a week or so away, but it gives off a professional, elegant feel. My favourite feature is the keg room, which is glassed-in allowing people to see the kegs and tap lines. Some may find this unsightly, but I think it is a constant reminder of what the place is supposed to be about. It is a beer room, and the visible kegs on the other side of the glass are a symbol.

They have 24 taps. Three are house beer: Peach Fuzz, Lucky Penny Lager and Bow Bugger Pale Ale (the pale ale being an original recipe for Revolution, the other two re-named Brewster’s beer). The remaining 21 are rotated constantly. The opening line up included Charlevoix Vache Folle Imperial Milk Stout, Red Racer IPA, Innis & Gunn Whiskey Cask Stout and BrewDog 5 A.M. Saint. It also had beer from Alley Kat, Hog’s Head, Wild Rose, Half Pints and a one-time offering (for Edmonton, anyway) of Village Blonde.

Edmonton replicates the electronic airport-style beer board, indicating date the keg was tapped and its estimated date of departure. They say it will be linked live to their website so you can check availability before you arrive. At the moment the departure date is a manual estimation, but they are working on a system that will measure the volume being dispensed so a “real-time” estimate can be provided.

As I  have mentioned before, the all-rotation model is interesting, ensuring you always can try something new. However, the downside is there is never a “go-to” beer that you can always rely on. Sometimes I am not looking for something new, I just want a quiet pint of something I enjoy and know will always taste good. Plus this model is less than ideal for the breweries, who prefer a dedicated tap to build up consumer awareness and loyalty. Like most things in life, it is a trade-off.

As of today Edmonton is one beer-oriented pub richer. Can’t see anything wrong with that.