Tap Handle #823: Moddy Brew - Last Bite Lager

Tap size:  12.25"

Rarity:  limited to 100 made

Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

It's been over 3 years since I last received and profiled a Moddy tap, so it is exciting to see a new one come out. While Gorgon Conquest remains my favorite, this new tap, Last Bite Lager, is its equal in almost every way. It features a multi-colored-haired girl who is dressed in a fluffy hooded jacket and fishnet stockings, and is wielding a chainsaw. Standing on an upside down trash can, she is surrounded by 3 zombies, and she bears multiple wounds and bloodstains from her previous battles. Just like past Moddy taps, the sculpting detail and colors are exquisite. There are so many unique details, such as the mascara running down the girl's face, her tattoos (tattoos also appear on the zombies), a severed arm at the base, the fishnet stocking, the lacing of her boots, one zombie missing a hand...it's really fantastic! Like previous Moddy Brew taps, this one comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity and a label. The "M B" for Moddy Brew appears on the front of the stone at the base that the trash can is sitting on, and is where the label is placed.

You can order this tap through Moddy Brew's Facebook page, and it can also be found on eBay (search for "Moddy tap"), while supplies last.

For more about Moddy Brew and the first Moddy tap, Deep Troubles Blonde Ale, see this post, and for more about other previous Moddy taps, see this post about Gorgon Conquest Red Ale and this post about Black Widow Stout.

Here is the story about Last Bite Lager, straight from Moddy:

"A few month ago, I got a message on the Moddy Brew Facebook page asking if we were going to design another beer tap handle.  That evening as we sat down for dinner we talked about it and Eliana said we should because the “beer taps are about me.” I agreed and we started to brainstorm as a family about the design.  The first idea that was laid on the table was Eliana’s, “Zombie friends.”

As I started to ask her more questions it became obvious that Eliana should take the lead with this one.  She decided that she wanted the Zombies to be the friends of the Moddy Girl. That she didn’t want to kill them, but she had to.  This is why as the design process went she wanted the Moddy girl’s mascara to be running down her cheeks as she cried, as she prepared to do what she must. 

She was also insistent that the Moddy girl be in danger, but the Zombies had to be far enough away that it was clear that she would be fine. She said the “girl is me” and “Zombies part of me too”.  I asked her what she meant and she explained that her disability is part of her. 

These are very complex feelings and ideas that she was telling though her design.  When she was born, we were told that she would probably never walk or talk. Yet, here she was doing much more than walking and talking.  Eliana is beating all the odds and as her father I couldn’t be prouder."

I was curious about some of the design details so I reached out to Moddy to clarify a couple of questions I had...

ATH:  How does Eliana know about zombies?

Moddy: "Disney, they made a series of movies about zombies. Then she had some questions about zombies and we did a little research together and learned about the various types of zombies."

I had no idea there was such a thing, but it's Disney, so of course there is lol!

ATH:  The hair color choice of the Moddy girl has, up to now, kind of corresponded to the beer (blonde for Blonde ale, red for Red ale, brown for Stout). Is there any significance to the multicolor hair of the Moddy girl for this tap? I noticed some of the zombies share hair color, tattoo styles, etc., is this demonstrating that they are "part of Eliana?"

Moddy:  "Eliana wanted them to be friends - the Moddy girl and her friends that became zombies. The similarity of clothing is how she envisioned it. She actually had Tap Handles change the clothing and the sex of the zombie that is in front of the Moddy girl to represent that they were not only friends, but best friends.

As for the hair color, it is more representative of Eliana’s personality. I think as the series moves along, more of her personality will come out in the designs, which in itself is beautiful. As her father, it reminds me of when she was very little and was having trouble remembering her colors. We decided to use hair dye to help her remember, lol. It was our rainbow summer."

The brilliance of this design from a child who was as severely challenged as Eliana has been is, quite frankly, jaw-dropping. There is just something incredibly profound about being this self-aware and having the strength and courage to face it, as well as being able to articulate it and incorporate it into an artistic design that represents that awareness. Someday soon I plan to meet Eliana, and I would be willing to bet that in doing so, my life will be changed forever.