Tap Handle #621: Applebee's (Leinenkugel)

July 08, 2016

Tap Handle #621: Applebee's (Leinenkugel) - Brawlin' Badger Lager

Tap size: 10.5"
Rarity: 10 or less, small scale, beer retired, hand-made
Mounting: 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

I would say this tap qualifies as a "toy on a stick", but it's still a great tap. The badger head is mounted to the front surface like a game room trophy, and with the detailed fur and teeth sculpting, as well as the beady little black eyes, it is realistic, intriguing, and creepy all at the same time. One curious features is the name of the beer on the handle...instead of displaying "Brawling", it is instead a "B.", which is very strange. The full name of the beer does appear above the badger's head. Below the badger's head are the words "Wisconsin's Genuine". The tap is identical front and back, so I have reduced the number of photos taken. Brawlin' Badger was brewed under contract by Leinenkugel as a house beer for Applebee's restaurants in Wisconsin, and is an obvious tie-in to the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Since this was only brewed for a brief time in a limited distribution area, and not many were produced, the tap is very hard to find - I have only seen one other.

Click through to read more about Applebee's Brawlin Badger Lager and to see more photos of this ferocious tap...

Brawlin Badger Lager was available exclusively at Applebee’s restaurants in Wisconsin as one of their house beers for a brief period of time, and was produced under contract by Leinenkugel. Known at the brewery as Leinenkugel Special Ale, this American Pale Ale is not sold under this name, but as a house brand at various restaurants and bars across the country. Why Brawlin' Badger is shown on the tap as a lager, but is associated with a pale ale (with some descriptions calling it an amber ale) on Ratebeer, is a mystery.