Tap Handle #646: Flying Mouse (new style)

Tap size:  11"
Rarity:  less than 10 seen
Mounting:  3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

As fantastic as the original tap from Flying Mouse Brewery was, this new tap exceeds it in every way. A full-figured Bartleby Hopsworth, sporting a Rocketeer-style jet pack, is kneeling on top of a large furnace. His hands are holding on to a sign that allows a label to be attached to indicate the beer variety. Gears, struts, rivets, copper bands, valves, and pipes, along with the jet pack, give the tap a very strong steampunk influence. Decals on the back enhance the tap by simulating flames in the furnace, and pressure gauges decals enhance the steampunk feel. The Flying Mouse brewery symbol appears on the front, while the brewery's abbreviated name, "Flymo:b", is sculpted into the door of the furnace. To the right you will see a label sheet that came with the tap, which includes a wide variety of beers to label the tap with. Since the original tap reflected Bartleby's backstory as a mouse who invented wings so he could fly, this tap suggests that Bartleby took his desire to fly to the next level by replacing his wings with a jet pack. The amount of detail and the Steampunk theme make this a top tap in the collection. A couple of these have hit the secondary market at outrageous prices, but otherwise they are pretty scarce.

For more about Flying Mouse, see this post.

Click through to see more photos of this astounding tap...