"It was amazing. It was like that scene in Indiana Jones where they open the vault on the Holy Grail -- only it was beer," one fan told Westword back in 2003.
Every Saturday from eight to noon, Western Beverage -- then the local distributor for Miller Beer products as well as a number of imports and domestic microbrews -- would open its well-stocked floor to the public, moving goods it couldn't sell to retail or tavern owners for aesthetic or quality-control reasons.
But now the party's over. When one regular headed to the dock on the first Saturday of February to load up for Super Bowl drinking, he found the place deserted, with a sign that said the warehouse would no longer be offering dock sales.
The rest of the story is on the web site, www.westernbev.net. Under the logo that lists the company's founding in 1933 is this message: "Western Beverage is now closed. Please see our For Sale tab to purchase our remaining equipment.."