MKT - my thoughts after first visit

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I went to MKT yesterday evening. I am hopeful for that place. It was pretty dead when I went so I couldn’t get a feel for the type of crowd it is going to draw on a regular basis.

That is an important point - the "regulars" that begin going to this place are going to end up influencing the direction MKT ultimately takes. The individual largely responsible for the beer selections came out to the patio and chatted with me for a while.

MKT is going to sell macro and is fairly staunchly entrenched against becoming a beer snob bar. I am all for that. Just as long as they continue to cater to beer geeks without the snobbery. The menu had a good beer selection but I still only could see a handful that I hadn’t tried. Very good beers available though. Charlevoic Imperial Milk Stout and Yellow Dragon are on rotation right now.

The individual I was speaking with said that they are willing to get together something of a "reserve list" of more rare and interesting bottles that I think the RB crowd would be all over. This is going to be built over time and probably only if the "right crowd" goes to MKT and demonstrates the profitability of our little niche market.

Sounds like they may be on the pre-order for Westy 12 and it was mentioned to me that they are considering putting some age on them and not just blowing them out. Also, there were hints that cask beer is on their radar but not right away. Seems to me they realize they need to go acquire the proper knowledge to do it right first. These are positive signs to me.

The staff were really friendly and tried to be really helpful. I gave them every benefit of the doubt because this was the first real shift for all of them outside of training. Even on Day 1 the effort was clear that they are trying to serve beer in glasses and the right glasses. Their rotating tap lines come out in a MKT branded tulip similar in shape to the Duvel which is a pretty decent all around glass.

My Yellow Dragon IPA didn’t come in the intended tulip (I didn’t mention it, but the beer guy noticed) and, as a result, they promo’d the whole beer off the tab.

The only thing that worries me is that it is part of the Century Hospitality Group. I don’t want to see it gravitate to their other establishments. All in all, I think if we take some bad with the good this will prove to be a greatace for great beer. We just can’t let the Whyte Ave douchebag crowd take over and turn it into a "Fresh Food and Meat Market"

As an opening night, I thought it went quite well, too. Was about half full when I got there around 6, and by 7.30 it was close to capacity, I reckon. I couldn’t see a free table or stool anywhere. I did get questioned by Lindsay about the tap list, and told him that there was a maximum of 16 to 20, including the rotations, that I would drink when visiting. He agreed and did want more micro’s to be shown, but he’s only in charge of about half of the list. He’s a bit of a beer geek like the rest of us, and will definitely make sure MKT brings in good beers, and he’s very aware of what is coming into the province, bottle & keg wise. The only draw back for me is the high prices when coupled with small servings...but that seems to be happening to most bars in Edmonton now.

Overall, an enjoyable night.

Agreed! Suffice to say we are going to have access to great beer ,but as is always true in Edmonton, expensive beer.

Thank god for Thursday’s, eh?

No kidding. Although Lindsay did tell me that a choice few beers will be excluded from the $4 pricing because their cost on it is higher than that. I deem that fair as long as they are still on some kind of special price.

The Maredsous 8 Brune at $23 or so seems steep for a 750ml. What would that run at Sherbs?

Majority of bottles appear to be marked up by 300% over wholesale prices. The draught’s that are higher in price should be offered at around $6 on Thursday’s. Otherwise, they’re just gonna sit there, go stale and eventually be pulled because they are a none seller.

I think the Maredsous 750mL bottles are around $11 retail price. And probably around 7 for cost. So basically, yeah thats a 300% markup

Originally posted by gramity
No kidding. Although Lindsay did tell me that a choice few beers will be excluded from the $4 pricing because their cost on it is higher than that. I deem that fair as long as they are still on some kind of special price.

The Maredsous 8 Brune at $23 or so seems steep for a 750ml. What would that run at Sherbs?

I am not a fan based on what I saw. Trendy and expensive, reminds me of the Calgary Craft Beer Market.

Guys most retailers mark up beer 20% and the occasional item is marked up 25% so your math is a little wrong. The wholesale delivered for Maredsous is $8.67 for the brune.

Bars and restaurants work on a basic 200% margin on beer. For people in Calgary that is what makes Kawa cool the higher the wholesale price the lower the margin. There are your facts.

Mike, what the hell are you on about....posting drunk yet again? A wholesale of $8.67 to a retail in a bar of $23.00 is a 265% mark up. This is totally unacceptable; there is absolutely no need to gouge a customer of this mark up. Your "world Class’ milk stout was selling for $8.50 a 14oz shot.....I bet your making a shit load from this aren’t you? ......Nope, didn’t think so. Stop sticking up for you customers and start thinking of your poor sap of a consumer!!!

Oops, my apologies, after wholesale to retail it’s only a 212% mark up.....still unacceptable..........especially when MKT get their beer directly from a liquor store within their group!!!!!