I'm not quite sure I'd refer to Keagan Karnes' light rom-com Love on Tap as a Hallmark flick, though I can't deny it reminded me an awful lot of those months I spent with my mother in her final months of life watching Hallmark Channel flick after Hallmark Channel flick. 

For the record, beyond being able to spend that time with my mother I also rather enjoyed those films even though I'm pretty certain that's not through anything resembling a critical lens. 

Love on Tap stars Kennedy McMann (Nancy Drew) as Amber, who has inherited the struggling Guzzler's Brewery from her recently departed father (Butch Peel). Struggling with a sense of familial obligation, Amber's determined to make the smalltown brewery work, though it's obvious pretty early on that she's in way over her head. 

In pops Mr. Charming, Samuel (Alex Moffat, SNL), a marketing expert who claims to have been hired by her father before his death. She's wary, though her curiosity is piqued when a certain Mr. Bank (Joel De La Fuente), hilarious name, pops in. He is, yes, calling in the brewery's loan. 

See what I mean? Very Hallmark. 

Fortunately for all of us, while Love on Tap is familiar it's also a breezy and rather sweet rom-com with a winning cast and a delightful alpaca named Fred who steals just about every scene he's in. 

We can't help but adore both Samuel and Amber. Samuel's the kinda sorta fish-out-of-water guy whose big city ways get challenged the more he grows fond of quirky smalltown folks like Caroline Kingsley's Officer Hayley and the rather inspired Raiden (Jamey Maurice Clay). 

Released recently to most streaming platforms, Love on Tap is an enjoyable indie rom-com that hits all the right notes and mostly hits those notes in a way that is charming and surprisingly honest emotionally. I was quite taken by Kennedy McMann. McMann achieves a nice tonal balance that draws you in and keeps you watching throughout. She's matched quite nicely with Moffatt. Moffat isn't overly taxed here, however, he definitely shows enough that you can't help but want to look up his IMDB page. 

Love on Tap is one of those indie discoveries you find on a late night streaming platform and think to yourself "Man, I really enjoyed that." Indeed, sometimes a good old-fashioned crowdpleaser is what you need. Love on Tap should definitely do it for you. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic