With all of that established, this review is going to take a hard left into discussing the merits of grabbing a beer at VFW Post 873, of which there are many. The community of Canyon Lake sits well northeast of San Antonio proper, part of rolling scenery that houses a surprisingly potent array of dive bars. Just off of a lake named, you guessed it, Canyon Lake, the VFW Post sits a bit removed from some of the more touristy options for those attracted by recreation options at the lake. Though a sign can be seen from the more trafficked of the roads that runs through Canyon Lake, the actual entrance involves circling the building once and driving over a short bridge to a small parking lot outside the front door.
And if you had no idea what purpose a VFW Post served, the color scheme of the building would clear that up immediately, brightly painted blocks of red, white and blue circling the building. A long front patio houses painted wood lettering in the form of “USA” and the name of the post is similarly posted in wood lettering next to the front door. Along the patio, extensive seating under both an overhang and the shade of a large tree in the parking lot provides critical shade in a part of the country that swelters in the summer. A grill or smoker or both can be found on this patio, suggesting one of the many community events held here.
Inside, that dive bar-familiar wood paneling takes over, creating a simple but comprehensive footprint satisfying every bar-related need. A long front room just inside the front door serves as both seating area and game room, low circular tables dotting the space next to a dart board, pool table and shuffleboard setup. Flags related to veterans hang from the ceiling, itself a continuation of the wood paneling along the walls. Far from the classic dive bar clutter, this room is clearly appointed, bar signs dotting the walls without overpowering it, leaving room for a few odds and ends.
