Tap Handle #778: Tortugo

May 31, 2021

Tap Handle #778: Tortugo

Tap size: 10.5"

Rarity: 10 or less seen

Mounting: 3/8" flat ferrule on threaded bolt

What a great tap this is from Tortugo Brewing! Do not confuse Tortugo with Tortuga...Tortuga is a mountainous island off the coast of Haiti that was once home to pirates, and a female tortoise in Spanish. Tortugo is Spanish for a male tortoise, so this is a perfect character to represent the brewery, right down the stylish little mustache! In one hand the tortoise holds a bundle of wheat stalks; in the other, a glass of beer. A belt or ribbon encircles the center of the tortoise, and in the center of the ribbon, front and back, is the name and logo of the brewery. The tortoise stands on a blue base where there is a place to put a label (see photos of labels to right - they still have the protective film over them). I'll be profiling the Kicker Rock IPA. In a very unique look, the tortoise appears to be sitting on a ferrule, while underneath the base is a flat ferrule; the two are most likely joined together with a threaded rod that goes through the base. I've only seen one of these taps on the secondary market, and it sold for a little over $100.

Tortugo Brewing was founded in Inglewood, California in 2018 by Joe Kovach. In 2005, Kovach started brewing in his parent’s kitchen. He fell in love with everything about brewing and was impressed by the variety of ingredients that could be used to brew beer. Kovach hosted a weekly tasting at his house for friends, who would drink and critique his brews, and he noticed that a small community began to grow around his brewing. This inspired Kovach to devote his life to brewing beer in order to bring people together. He spent the next 14 years developing his skills by working in every aspect of the brewing industry. He took various jobs such as bartender, warehouse worker homebrew shop worker, a retail beer specialist, and as a distributor. All of these jobs helped prepare him for opening his own brewery and determining what kind of beers he wanted to make.

Kovach's started with plans for a small production brewery, shooting for 1000 barrels in the first year, with an on-site tasting room. After locating a site, the buildout was filled with hurdles, which took over two years for Kovach to get all of his permitting and building approved. Finally, construction finished on the 6,600 square foot building that had a bright orange and blue paint job. The color scheme was meant to represent a bright sunset (the orange) over the ocean (the blue). There had been nothing new on the street in a couple decades, so the bright color scheme made the brewery stand out. The layout included a mix of shaded and sunny seating arranged around the L-shaped bar. Upon opening, Kovach was the only employee, doing everything from brewing the beer to manning the taps to outside sales.

Currently the brewery has 8 employees and offers 13 beers to choose from on tap. There are 5 core beers and the rest of the beers on tap are seasonals and specialties such as the spicy Michelada. The brewery also features a mascot - a tortoise named "Annie" - that is named after Kovach's grandmother, because the tortoise was the only pet she ever liked. Tortoises feature prominently in the brewery's theme, including the name "Tortugo", which is Spanish for tortoise. From a young age, Kovach was fascinated with reptiles and amphibians, and idolized 1920’s naturalist Raymond Ditmar, reading his books on exploring foreign lands to seek out strange and mysterious animals.

Tortugo's Kicker Rock is East Coast meets West Coast with this Tropical IPA. You get hit with Honey dew and Citrus on the nose and a strong malt backbone with a clean refreshing finish. Finished with Citra and Mosaic Hops.