There are two taps at the Western Tap, but they're both just for show. Despite the name, the beer here comes strictly in bottles and cans, from domestic favorites Budweiser and Miller Lite to popular imports Heineken and Amstel Light. Why mess around with microbrews and fancy-pants imports? In the time you'd spend contemplating one of those pretentiously named ales, you can slug down several servings of suds here. While selection is slim, so are the prices ($2 domestics, $3 imports), and you can use the cash you save to—you guessed it—buy more beer.
For what appears to be ages, drinking more beer has been the essence of the Western Tap. Any moment, Barney Gumble might walk in and sit beside you at the bar. In the twinkle of the tinsel-and-Christmas-light decor, with Milwaukee's Best girlie posters from 1986 hanging on the walls, you can knock a few back without hassle. If you're lucky, you’ll overhear regulars deep in discussion, perhaps pondering the perplexing differences between near and farsightedness. The jukebox offers a vintage and eclectic mix for your listening pleasure, from Neil Young to Rod Stewart to some Polish duo with excellent mustaches. A pool table is in the back if you need a distraction, but why lose focus? This is a place for drinking (a lot) and talking (perhaps incoherently). This is a place for the Barney in us all. Order another bottle of Bud and enjoy.
Centerstage Reviewer: A.J. Weiss
