Tap Handle #494: Mother Road - Roadside American Ale

Tap size:  10.5" tall by 4" deep
Rarity:  Rare
Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

According to Mother Road, this tap handle design is a composite of several of their favorite 1930s automobile hood ornaments: the late 20s and early 30s Duesenbergs; the mid 30s Auburns; and the late 30s Cadillac V-8 and V-16s. Each of these were in the streamline modern or deco style and graced the finest automobiles on the road at the time.  In what is a rare design feature, the internal nut is mounted at an angle, leaning the tap forward like an actual hood ornament and forcing me to move the backdrop during some of the photos...you'll need extra depth when displaying this tap. I received 4 labels and have chosen to profile Mother Road's Roadside American Ale, since it is one of their highly-rated core beers and the label on the bottle is fantastic. The brewery has named each of their tap handles (I profiled "Ellie" back in post #324), and this tap handle is named Josephine, after the 1920s and 30s jazz singer and dancer, Josephine Baker. Her dancing was scandalous for the time and often censored. Ms. Baker popularized the Charleston and was infamous for her Banana Dance. The tap has been expensive when found on the secondary market.

For more about Mother Road Brewing, see this post.

Click through to read more about Mother Road's Roadside American Ale and to see more photos of this graceful tap...

Roadside American Ale is Mother Road's answer to the arms race on hoppy beers. They crafted their pale ale to be extremely hoppy in flavor and aroma, but not bitter. Enjoy this showcase of American hops that share a medium body and excellent malt balance. They have kept the alcohol at a sessionable level so you can enjoy a pint or two. Recommended food pairings are sharp cheese and spicy foods. This beer was inspired by the many roadside attractions that populate stretches of two lane roads. They were especially enamored with Jackrabbit, Arizona: a gasoline stop on Route 66 between Winslow and Holbrook made famous by the ‘Here It Is’ billboard. Stop in and see the friendly folks at the Trading Post as you drive through. They have soft drinks, memorabilia, and Indian crafts. Make sure to ride the rabbit! Drive the stretch of the original two lane Route 66 from Jackrabbit to Joseph City that runs parallel to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline. This is an iconic stop along Route 66 with the recently re-painted billboard, that has been parodied many times in popular culture, including the Disney movie "Cars".

Ratebeer weighted average:  3.41 out of 5

Beer Advocate:  82 out of 100 (good)