On Rotation set to debut house brews Saturday, March 7

Image credit: On Rotation.

After operating for just over a month with the "soft opening" tag, not to mention having to re-schedule due to a late arriving Old Man Winter, On Rotation is set to celebrate its official Grand Opening on Saturday, March 7, at their taproom and brewery near White Rock Lake.

Doors open at noon, with the big draw expected to be house brews on tap and available to the public for the first time. According to Jacob Sloan, who co-founded the concept with wife Lindsay, a total of four selections will be on the menu:


Cucumber Blonde (4% ABV) - an easy-drinking session beer brewed for optimum refreshment.

Jalapeño Saison (6.1% ABV) - maybe the buzziest of them all, this brew was the talk of local media in the days following Brew Riot last year. Plans are to have "mild" and "spicy" versions of this beer, but Sloan says the first keg out of the brewery comes in about middle of the road.

Raspberry Tart (5% ABV) - another holdover from Brew Riot, the beer formerly known as Project Raspberry actually took home the award for best fruit beer from that annual competition. Built on a wheat-beer base, it's targeted towards those who enjoy sour beers and/or fruit infusions.

Orange Wit (4.8%) - a surprise one-off created just for opening day, Sloan describes this beer as "a citrus-filled witbier that is way better than a mimosa."

Mashing in Cucumber Blonde on the first brew
day, February 8, 2015 (On Rotation).

In addition to the beers above, On Rotation will also tap a few special kegs they've had waiting in the wings. A complete list can be found on Taphunter, but lovers of local brews will want to take note of Martin House Salty Lady, as well as a pair of beers tapped in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day like Peticolas Irish Goodbye and a dry-hopped version of Shannon Irish Red.

As for some of the last minute details they've been working on, Sloan says that in addition to ramping up brewing operations, they've added purse hooks (a feature requested even more than the now-installed TVs), adorned the walls with the work of a local photographer, and spent time acclimating the staff to the overall concept of On Rotation.

That last part has led to what he describes as one of the most exciting times around the bar. Given the limited nature of kegs they acquire and their commitment to constantly rotating stock, rarely will the same beer be tapped right away once a keg blows. This leads to much anticipation among patrons as to what might be destined for the tapwall next, and in that spirit Sloan tells me he's brewing a West Coast IPA and a Cafe au Lait Coffee Milk Stout that will debut in the coming weeks.

Going forward, Sloan says they won't fill growlers with house beers on day one in order to make sure there is enough beer to go around for Saturday attendees. Sunday, though, taps will be open for those wishing to pick up a taste of On Rotation to take home. A similar approach will likely apply to future release days as well. Time is also running out on your chance to get in on an Inner Circle membership (priced at $200), as they plan to cut off sales on March 14. For more information on that, click here to visit the brewery's website.

In the meantime, make plans to head to East Dallas in the coming days to get a taste of the area's newest brewing operation. It's a place the Sloans hope evokes the "tasting room" and "coffee shop" vibe they were aiming for, and that "everyone feels welcome and comfortable when they stop in" to try their beers.