Tap Handle #284: New Orleans Lager and Ale (NOLA) - Mechahopzilla

Tap size:  11.5"
Rarity:  Rare
Mounting:  metallic green 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

Upon its release, this tap shot to the top of my wishlist, and I was thrilled to acquire it.  The great detail - from the recognizable New Orleans buildings (including the Superdome) to the hop juice running down the monster's chin to the brilliant green metallic ferrule - this is probably one of the best taps ever conceived. It won a best tap of the year award at one of the big brew festivals. To the right you'll find the conceptual artwork for it, and there's some pretty awesome designs there. Due to copyright issues filed by the owners of Mechagodzilla, the tap is no longer produced, so they continue to show up on the market since the brewery cannot use them. The end result is that it went from being very rare to just rare. However, demand helps keep prices high.

Click through to read more about NOLA's Mechahopzilla and to see more photos of this epic tap...

Mechahopzilla is a double IPA first brewed in late 2012. NOLA loses money brewing it due to the higher malt and hop content, so it is limited to a seasonal that is on tap only. It has an orange color and higher hop intensity, a richer malt base, a heavier mouthfeel, and a higher but not overly noticeable alcohol presence. 

Ratebeer weighted average:  3.2 out of 5

Beer Advocate:  87 out of 100 (very good)

For more about NOLA, see this post.