Mugshot Saloon - Wasilla, Alaska

The Mugshot Saloon is one of those "hard to miss" businesses located on the outskirts of Wasilla, Alaska, off the Parks Highway. The building itself sports a rustic(dirty) blue paint job with a maroon trim, which is far more inviting than the previous pale gray color "shack" sort of look it had in the early days. Lets not forget the over-sized billboard of a sign that you just can't miss, maroon on white. That's right, they couldn't waste that extra trim paint. A quick phone call to the on-shift bartender revealed that the establishment has been serving "Wasilla's finest" since 1982.
The interior is absolutely what you would expect after viewing the buildings exterior. If you step one foot into this bar on a sunny day, you will have to wait about 10 seconds for you eyes to adjust to the dark cave that invites you inside. We all know that drinkers prefer dimly lit surroundings, so this wasn't a surprise at all. However, once your pupils have acclimated, you will notice a horseshoe shaped bar with a couple photo framed portraits above each bar stool towards the ceiling. You guessed it, mugshots. A local artist has taken on the task of hand drawing cartoonish mugshots of the bars "regulars", complete with larger-than-life heads and the occasional beer mug or cigar.
What's on tap? Well of course, Alaska Brewing Company(Amber, IPA, Pale, etc) along with your common domestics(Budweiser, MGD, etc). Don't get your hopes up yet though, the Alaska Brewing Company offers a very highly esteemed brew and has a reputation for satisfying the taste buds of beer snobs alike.
Aside from a couple pool tables, the Mugshot Saloon doesn't have much to offer for entertainment on the weekdays. However, the weekends are known for larger crowds and an occasional semi-impressive band or two.
In the recent years, this bar has been a sore thumb for the McCain and Palin Campaign and has been speculated to be a drug trafficking hot spot of Wasilla. During my review, I wasn't able to verify any of these claims, but the Wasilla Wonderland Skatepark, positioned 2 blocks away, seems to raise a redder flag.
If you can't find yourself at this watering hole, perhaps Tailgaters Sports Bar, featuring occasional karaoke, is more your style. It's only a few steps away.