On my CBC column later this afternoon (Friday, January 10, 2014) – CBC Radio One (740 AM, 93.9 FM) at 4:45 – I will be looking at Edmonton’s rapidly expanding market for craft beer bars. These are larger pubs that actively anchor their business around beer, offering dozens of taps and centring their marketing around beer.

With the recent opening of Craft Beer Market (admittedly the motivation for the column), Edmonton now has, by my count, 4 craft beer bars: Beer Revolution, Craft Beer Market, MKT, and Underground. I know there a number of quality beer spots, many of whom have served us loyally for years, including Sugar Bowl, Next Act, Wunderbar Three Boars, etc. I don’t include them in this list because they are smaller, offer an atmosphere distinctly different from the four new entrants and tend to market themselves more wholistically. In contrast the four I identify resemble big U.S. craft beer locations.

A key thing to remember is that 18 months ago, Edmonton had ZERO craft beer bars (of the ilk I am examining). So it has been a rapid growth phase. With Craft’s entry I think it is time to pause and take stock at where we are.

I am not going to score the bars. Nor am I going to rank, order or indicate preference. That is not my job. Instead, I was motivated to do a little number crunching. I analyzed each pub’s tap list and categorized every beer they list. I have put the results in a table which you will find after the jump.

After the table I offer some definitions for the categories I created. The table offers what the bars had on offer on January 8, 2014. I include rotational taps in the calculations, recognizing that by their nature they shift and move. So consider this a snapshot of what the four places have to offer, beer-wise. Including rotationals was a way to both level the playing field for Beer Revolution (who has mostly rotational taps) and to recognize that rotationals are a way to extend the diversity of beer on offer.

The table suggests very clearly that the four places have adopted very different approaches to beer. Which, if we look at it from a consumer perspective is a good thing. Collectively they can fit various palates and tastes.

Here is the table, and after I provide some basic analysis, although I mostly present it to allow consumers to make their own judgments:

Definitions:

Macro Beer: Beer produced by the large multinational corporations on the continent of North America (e.g., Budweiser, Kokanee).

Macro-owned Craft: Beer produced by breweries anchored in a craft tradition currently owned by one of the large multinationals (e.g., Creemore Springs, Unibroue).
Macro-owned Imports: Beer produced outside North America owned by large multinational corporations (e.g., Guinness, Stella Artois).
Alberta Brewers: Beer produced in the province of Alberta.
Canadian Craft: Beer produced in Canada by breweries committed to craft beer principles (broadly defined).
U.S. Craft: U.S. produced craft beer.
Independent Imports: Beer produced outside North America by breweries not connected to the large multinational corporations.

All other definitions should be self-evident. I take responsibility for any classification errors or incorrect judgment calls (although I don’t apologize – you try doing this…).

Analysis

The first warning is to recognize that I have presented raw totals, which biases toward the places with more numerous taps. I refrained from adding percentages to prevent table clutter, but will try to offer a bit of that below.

The first thing I notice is that each place clearly has different priorities. Beer Revolution and Underground have way fewer macro beer, emphasizing Canadian craft more. Craft has the most Alberta beer – almost 20% of their taps compared to just over 10% for Underground and Beer Revolution (if you discount the house beer which are made by its sister company Brewsters) and just over 5% for MKT. MKT leans more toward imports, while Craft has a surprisingly balanced menu of imports, macro, Albertan and Canadian/US craft.

MKT and Craft offer up the highest proportion of lagers and Underground is the most ale heavy. MKT and Craft also offer a high percentage (27% and 18% respectively) of pale lagers – some craft, some not. Those two bars also have a higher number of weizens and wits, often considered more accessible options due to their light body.

Craft and Underground offer high numbers of IPAs, generally a less accessible style, and Underground also loads up on porters and stouts (in part explained by a high number on their rotational list given the season). It also seems having more taps seems to allow for a larger number of Belgian-inspired beer.

I think I will stop there. You can analyze the numbers how ever you please. My main conclusion is that Edmonton has four very different places to go for beer, according to the tap lists. I also think that is true for the atmosphere and food, as well. They each offer a different dining/drinking experience. MKT is younger, Craft more upscale, Revolution more casual and Underground more conducive to conversation. Each place seems to be carving out its own space in what has quickly become a very crowded segment of the market.

I am curious to hear readers’ opinions on the four locations.