And here is the text version: Dewey’s to offer local brew
Amber’s Brewing ale available Thursday, Friday only
Arah Slack, News Writer
Beer connoisseurs at the University of Alberta will now be able to find two new local microbrews from Amber’s Brewing Co on tap at Dewey’s lounge. Beer taps at the student coffee house can pour draught from this Edmonton-based brewing company, which was founded by U of A alumnus Jim Gibbon and brewmaster Joe Parrel.
“I wanted a brewery that was all about Edmonton,” Gibbons said of his decision to approach Dewey’s manager Katherine Xue about bringing Amber’s to campus.
“We want to have a lifelong relationship with the U of A. I’ve spent over half my life there.”
With so many years spent roaming the grounds of campus, it’s no wonder that their signature Bub’s Lunch Pail Ale is named after a comic called Bub Slug that was printed in the Gateway in 1976.
This quintessentially Edmonton character and campus heritage expresses why Gibbons wanted to start his brewery here. Xue is also looking forward to the relationship as she aims to offer unique products, like Amber’s, and other student-oriented incentives at Dewey’s.
But despite the excitement of the company’s homecoming, both parties agreed upon the challenges of expanding a microbrew business to campus, where Dewey’s has weathered some business concerns of its own.
Two of Amber’s craft beers, Bub’s Pail Ale and Sap Vampire Maple Lager, are on the new second bar Xue has opened in Dewey’s, located in the area previously known as the Powerplant. The second bar will only be open on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Additionally, the mezzanine portion in the Powerplant area of Dewey’s is about to be annexed by the University for storage, and Xue is concerned about the business loss from suddenly losing a 100 person capacity of seating.
“In order for a local beer to be popular, we really need the seating space, as well as student interest,” she noted.
While Gibbons would like to see the bar open more often, Dewey’s has neither the staff nor the business potential to maintain service.
The two draughts, however, are a unique addition, and Xue says she wants to provide students with something special at a lesser cost than the imported beers. The real test will be to see how much the campus population consistently likes the beers, and if it will persuade them to frequent the bar at those chosen times.
Gibbons is excited nonetheless to see Amber’s brews on campus.
“They’ve given us a shot, and now it’s up to us to do a great job.”
