NORTHWEST

Photo by RANDY CARR

Big Dog's Draft House
4543 N. Rancho Drive
645-1404
This flagship of the Big Dog's empire features a restaurant off the main bar area that makes the Draft House a draw for families in the surrounding 'burbs. Of course, more important is the fact that this location recently completed construction of its own microbrewery, which means its award-winning brews such as the Black Lab Stout and -- we're not pulling your tail -- Leglifter Light are now made right on the premises. Ah, there's nothing like local culture when it's served by the pint.
Cheap Buzz: $3.25 microbrew pints; eight microbrews in all, with two more to be added this spring
Recommended or Specialty Drink: Red Rock Cooler (Chambord, vodka, 7-Up, pineapple juice and a splash of sour), $3.75

Cheyenne Saloon
3103 N. Rancho Drive
645-4139
The Cheyenne Saloon has become the valley's headquarters for drunken metalheads (which is pretty much every self-respecting metalhead over the age of 18). And even when it's not hosting eardrum-shattering metal shows, the Cheyenne Saloon is as good a place as any to fill the tank with $5 domestic pitchers.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-7 p.m., $1 drafts, $1 off wells

Cooler Lounge
1905 N. Decatur Blvd.
646-3009
The sticker-plastered Cooler regularly hosts raucous punk bands on weekends, so if you're into feedback and bruises, this is the place to go. On weeknights, the bar draws a quietish crowd of blue-collars and bluehairs who shoot the breeze over darts and pitchers.
Happy Hour: In true punk rock fashion, bartenders run their own specials, which change frequently. Check back often!
Recommended or Specialty Drink: Nuts on Your Chin (vodka, sweet and sour, hazelnut and "some other stuff"), $3.75

Four Kegs
276 N. Jones Blvd.
870-0255
This longtime locals joint has held its own as the northwest has exploded, still offering cheap drinks and, more importantly, that neighborhood bar feel that can be hard to come by in the burgeoning northwest.
Cheap Buzz: $1.75 domestic drafts

Inn Zone
238 S. Rainbow Blvd.
363-2424
This generously sized bar is cluttered with all sorts of props and signs (including the pleasantly jarring: "Children left unattended will be sold as slaves") and has a limited but reasonably priced selection of tap beers. Crowd is low-maintenance and vibe-free.
Cheap Buzz: $2.25 domestic drafts

J.C. Wooloughan
inside the Rampart Casino
221 N. Rampart Blvd.
869-7777
Entrepreneur J.C. Wooloughan -- Irish expat and grad of the Dublin drinking scene -- didn't create just any ol' Irish themed pub, mind you, but one that appropriates as well as imitates. See, the wily Wooloughan brought back a boatload of paraphernalia from his fave Dublin drinking spots: the actual bar as well as scattered signage and props inside his self-named pub hail from rosy-nosed Ireland.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-7 p.m.: All beers, wine and well drinks discounted; also, $3 appetizer menu.

Kerry's Sports Pub
3520 N. Rancho Drive
645-8844
Big screens dominate this sizeable sports bar, where barkeeps serve up 11 different drafts for the friendly clientele. Kerry's features a bevy of big-screens blaring all the games, so you're sure to find something to watch.
Happy Hour: Mon-Thurs. 3-5 p.m.: $1 well drinks and bottles

The Outside Inn
9941 W. Charleston Blvd.
933-1100
Situated just a boulder's roll from Red Rock Canyon, The Outside Inn caters to both grizzled naturalists and Xterra-driving weekenders with eco-friendly drinks like the Lake Placid Iced Tea and the Adirondack Jack.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-6 p.m.: 50 cents off every drink
Recommended or Specialty Drink: The Adirondack Jack, a rustic blend of Yukon Jack, Southern Comfort, Midori, pineapple and cranberry

Ozzie's
5740 W. Charleston Blvd.
880-3738
The sign outside Ozzie's proclaims the ³coldest beer in town,² and it just may be right. In fact, the frozen mugs are so cold that Geanine the bartender actually has to wet them down before filling them up so that the beer doesn't freeze. Of course, if you want a beer slushy, she'll happily pour you one.
Cheap Buzz: $2.25 22-ounce. domestic drafts

Pogo's Tavern
2103 N. Decatur Blvd.
646-9735
This long-lived west side bar is perhaps best known for its weekly live jazz jams, which draws many of the formidable players who once supplied music for Strip production shows -- until they were replaced by canned music. That's had the happy side effect of turning Pogo's into a premier live jazz spot, perfect for people who love the music but don't want a stuffy, wine-and-cheese atmosphere.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 2:30-5:30: $1 drafts, $1.75 well drinks, $.25 off call drinks

R-Bar
6000 W. Charleston Blvd.
259-0120
The luminous electric sign atop the R-Bar may invoke a twinge of nostalgia, but inside it's a pretty typical neighborhood gaming bar complete with crusty locals and all the requisite NASCAR memorabilia.
Cheap Buzz: $1.75 drafts

The Rice Paddy
5183 W. Charleston Blvd.
878-4781
With its leather bar stools, wood-paneled walls and oft-flickering TV sets, the Rice Paddy may very well be the quintessential west side dive bar. In addition to the standard tap fare, Bud and Bud Light, the Rice Paddy also offers Amber Bock -- Michelob's extra-malty attempt at a boutique beer -- for $1.50.
Cheap Buzz: $1.50 drafts, $2.25 wells

Photo by HENRY VARGAS

Steiner's Pub
1750 N. Buffalo Drive
304-8084
This newer, larger incarnation of the respected Steiner's imprint boasts the same cool interior -- chock-full of historic memorabilia -- great beer selection and food as the original. A draw for the intelligent beer drinker, this location also has plasma screen TVs and surround sound, so you don't just watch the game, you live it -- with the help of a hearty beer buzz, of course.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-7 p.m.: $1 pucker shots, $1.75 domestic bottles, $2 domestic pints, $2 Long Islands, $2.25 import micro bottles, $2.50 premium well drinks, $2.75 import micro pints; weekends 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 Absolut Bloody Marys, $2.50 Cuervo margaritas, $4.99 wings, brats and Phillies.

Steiner's Pub
8410 W. Cheyenne Ave.
395-8777
If you want to take crash course in Vegas brewing culture -- and catch a buzz at the same time -- Steiner's is the place. They've got hefeweizens, stouts, bocks and ales from Vegas breweries -- and even some from Pahrump.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-7 p.m.: $1 pucker shots, $1.75 domestic bottles, $2 domestic pints, $2 Long Islands, $2.25 import microbrew bottles, $2.50 premium well drinks, $2.75 import micro pints; weekends 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: $2 domestic drafts, $2.50 Absolut Bloody Marys, $2.50 Cuervo margaritas, $4.99 wings, brats and Phillies.

The Tap House
5598 W. Charleston Blvd.
870-2111
This friendly west side bar and restaurant boasts great wings and pizza, while the full restaurant also features Italian specials like baked ziti and a variety of antipastos. If you see someone whipping out a notepad or a mini-recorder, it ain't the feds; the Tap House is a fave spot of local journos.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-6 p.m.: 50 cents off all drinks.

Tenaya Creek Restaurant & Brewery
3101 N. Tenaya Way
362-7335
Tenaya Creek has quickly made a name for itself with its roster of tasty suds: its stout is like a steak made of beer, faintly chocolatey and thick, while their hefeweizen is light and tangy, perfect for a lunchtime buzz. Er, weekend lunchtime buzz, of course.
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4-7 p.m., 10 p.m.-late, and Sat.-Sun. all day: $2.25 pints, $3.25 22-oz. beers, $3.50 well drinks and house wine.
Recommended or Specialty Drink: Six beers on tap brewed on location

Town Center Lounge
6050 Sky Pointe Drive
396-8200
Town Center serves the good stuff, and at reasonable prices. Guinness on tap goes for $3, as do bottled imports such as Amstel Light. The solid service rounds out this friendly-and well-ventilated-suburban watering hole.
Happy Hour: Daily 2-6 p.m.: Two-for-one well drinks, well wine and all beer