Friends don't let friends drive drunk. And friends don't let friends have their favorite beer flow from a foreign made tap either! As we continue to come at the Buy American issue from just about every conceivable angle, another easily overlooked category is the beer tap industry.

According to Kerry Carlson, President of "What's On Tap?" of Bellingham, WA, the beer tap industry is being taken over by the Chinese. As Mr. Carlson rightly points out, this does seem to contradict the mentality of the micro-brew crowd. After all, isn't at least part of the mindset behind the micro-brew the idea that you are spending and keeping your money in your community, or that you are supporting the local brands? Then why would anyone of that mindset want their beer to flow from a Chinese-made tap?

Just as many consumer patriots aren't shy about approaching customer service desks to ask for American-made apparel, micro-brew fans shouldn't be shy about approaching micro-brew managers about the source of their taps.

To see a wide variety of American made taps, go to www.pubtaps.com. It doesn't matter if you don't happen to personally know anyone who owns a micro-brewery. Next time you dine where micro-brews are served, ask the manager of the establishment if they are buying American in this area. If they aren't, www.pubtaps.com is easy to remember and pass along.

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