Tap Handle #523: Coronado

October 12, 2015

Tap Handle #523: Coronado - Islander IPA

Tap size: 13.25"
Rarity: Scarce
Mounting: Standard 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

Coronado Brewing's Islander IPA is a fascinating tap. Some people call it a tiki, but I feel it more closely resembles the moai statues on Rapa Nui, which is more commonly known as Easter Island. The letters "IPA" are sculpted and raised from the forehead. The tap appears to be made of wood - it has a mahogany grain pattern, and what appears to be saw marks on the backside, which although wouldn't be hard to create through the use of paint, that intricate type of detail is seldom found on older resin taps. Also, since the bottom section is definitely made of resin, if the top was resin you'd expect it to be all one piece; however, it is evident that the top portion has been glued to the resin base, making it even more likely to be made of wood. If it is wood, that makes the tap very valuable, due to the expense of the hand carving and all of the fine indentations in the wood - it was very labor-intensive to create. The bottom section features a label with the brewery's name and the beer variety. If you look closely at the label, you will also see a mermaid holding a tankard of beer, with a small image of the Hotel Del Coronado to the left - both the mermaid and hotel were also tap handles that were profiled on this site. This tap has long been retired from the brewery, and is seldom found on the secondary market; when it does appear, it commands a hefty price due to its rarity, craftsmanship, and the popularity of tiki-themed items.

Rapa Nui is a Chilean island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.

For more about Coronado Brewing, see this post.

Click through to read more about Coronado Brewing's Islander IPA and to see more photos of this mysterious tap...

Named after Coronado Island, this original India Pale Ale is a liquid expression of hometown pride. Cascade, Chinook, and Columbus hops combine to provide an explosive burst of piney bitterness and luscious notes of apricot, grapefruit, and mango that are sure to invoke imagery of swinging palms and sun-kissed shores.