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What's On Tap

Owner Brad Trapnell Offers Pairing Advice for His Bar's New Menu Items

What’s On Tap in Highland Village has been dubbed the Cheers bar of the neighborhood, and owner Brad Trapnell could not be prouder of the comparison. In six short years, Brad has established a devoted customer base and created successful new partnerships with local restaurants.

“It’s been great,” Brad says. “I consider our business a community-based business.”

Brad’s devotion to community inspired him to reach out this year to Motor City Pizza and Philly Pretzel Factory to see if he could include their foods on his menu.

“The cool thing about it is we are using local partners, and it’s been fantastic,” he says. “We always have a good demand on food. We think we’ve really scored. It’s been highly successful.”

What’s On Tap  offers a selection of more than 36 rotating taps, including local and international beers, two hard ciders, a lower-calorie hard seltzer, mead (honey wine) and four different wines.

“With the exception of two or three super popular beers that always are on tap, we always rotate,” Brad says. “We are real big on offering seasonal options.”

In the spring and summer, What’s On Tap offers more lighter, fruitier options, and in the fall and winter, heartier and heavier beers are on tap, like Octoberfest, stouts and winter ales.

“Our vision is to always have a rotating tap menu,” Brad says. “Probably two-thirds or more are local, but we do have some out-of-state and European beers.”


Brad says even those who think they aren’t beer connoisseurs can find a beer to suit their taste.

“We offer two or three ‘gateway beers.’ These are lighter beers with interesting tastes that pull people into the craft-beer world,” he says.

The most popular beers at What’s On Tap include IPAs, of which there are always five to seven on tap; hazy IPAs, which are fragrant and less bitter; 805 Blonde Ale; and local Velvet Hammer, which has been on tap since the bar opened.

Customers who are unsure what to try first can opt for the Flight Sampler, which includes four 4-ounce beverages.

Brad says growlers also are a big hit among customers who like a to-go option. “A growler is a reusable beer vessel,” he says. “It’s a huge part of our business.”

Customers opt to purchase growlers, he says, because “draft beer is the best quality.” Growlers are not exposed to light and air like packaged beer that is bought at the store. What’s On Tap offers 32- or 64-ounce growlers.

Regardless of your beverage preference, Brad encourages area residents to drop by, have a drink, enjoy some local eats and hang out for awhile. Once spending some time at What’s On Tap, visitors will know why it’s earned its friendly reputation.

“People compare our place to a Cheers-type of bar – where everyone knows your name,” he says.

For more information about What’s On Tap, visit whatsontapbeer.com.

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