Tap Handle #700: Parallel 49 - Schadenfreude

Tap size:  10"
Rarity:  less than 10 seen
Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

For tap profile #700, I wanted to present something special as I have in the past for tap profiles #600, #500, etc., as those numbers represent a significant milestone. Of all the Parallel 49 taps produced to date, this one is by far my favorite. Many thanks to my club members and the folks at Parallel 49 for helping me get the complete series of the brewery's taps into the Museum. Schadenfreude is the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, or humiliation of another. Perhaps this fellow, chosen for his association with fall (since the beer is a fall seasonal), is grinning at my troubles or failures? If he is, I can live with that, because this tap is simply amazing. It features a pumpkin head scarecrow with glowing orange eyes, lederhosen and Oktoberfest cap, and even has a little owl perched next to him. The pumpkin head reminds me a little of Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas movie. The scarecrow is attached to a wood post; in fact, there is a nail head on the back of the post that gives the impression that he has been nailed to it. The colors and sculpting of the tap are truly outstanding, and the beer it represents sounds delicious. Historically this tap has sold on the secondary market in limited numbers and for huge sums - typically over $300. I'm thrilled to have one!

For more about Parallel 49 Brewing, see this post.

Click through to read more about Parallel 49 Brewing's Schadenfreude and to see more photos of this frightfully beautiful tap...

Parallel 49 Schadenfreude is a hearty, malty lager, a fall seasonal warmed by the mighty pumpkin and lifted with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, all-spice and ginger. Brewed as a traditional Oktoberfest Lager, this beer sets itself apart from other pumpkin ales by being light and refreshing. Pumpkin is used in the mash along with traditional pumpkin pie spicing in the brew kettle. A large portion of the grain used is Munich malt which gives a nice pie crust flavor to the beer.

Ratebeer:  3.07 out of 5

Beer Advocate:  4 out of 5 (exceptional)