Tap Handle #162: Pangaea - Lilja's Heifer Weizen

This is the first of three Pangaea taps I own. It's got great detail, and the cheesehead is removable, as it's held on with flexible string. An outstanding tap.

Pangaea Beer Company was founded in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, in 2004 by Guy Lilja. Lilja brews all of the test batches in a 1/2 barrel test system in his garage. Every aspect of the company, from the recipes to the labels, is done from Lilja’s home. He personally negotiates with distributors, and has gotten the beer into New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota and Illinois. The beer is contract brewed by Sand Creek Brewery, as Lilja has no desire to build his own brewery, and is happy with the results produced by Sand Creek.

Lilja's Heifer Weizen is a German Hefeweizen brewed with 40% malted wheat and 60% Pilsner malt. However, the flavor profile of the Heifer isn’t primarily derived from the malted wheat or hops, but from the special strain of yeast employed during fermentation. The Belgian Ale yeast produces a dry, multi-dimensional, mildly fruity flavor profile that is as refreshing as it is complex. Heifer Weizen won Best-Of-The-Fest at the 2008 Sheboygan Brewfest in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Weighted average on ratebeer.com is 2.9 out of 5.

Pangaea Official Website (full of all kinds of cool information)