Tap Handle #865: Pioneer Beer Company

12/28/2025 10:11:00 PM

Tap Handle #865: Pioneer Beer Company - American IPA

Tap size: 13"

Rarity: 50 or less seen, brewery closed, hand-made

Mounting: 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

This partial figural tap from Pioneer Beer Company features a bright yellow submarine perched atop a sculpted blue wave. The submarine is marked "USS" on its conning tower and includes details such as portholes, a propeller at the rear, rivet marks, and a small periscope. Below the wave, a red banner wraps across the front of the company's circular compass logo with wheat stalks alongside the compass, and "The Pioneer Beer Co." in raised white lettering. The front and back of the base displays "American India Pale Ale" in raised red lettering, with "True American Beer" appearing at the bottom in white letters. On each side of the base are the words "Pioneer Beer Company", also in white lettering. The submarine topper reflected Pioneer's transportation branding. The "USS" marking and submarine design likely reference the long history of submarine manufacturing at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, which has built submarines for the U.S. Navy since 1900. It could be pure coincidence that the yellow submarine on the tap would lead one to think of the music group The Beatles; however, the manufacturer of the tap is known to be a big fan of the band, so I would like to believe that it is not just chance. The tap was produced in 2016 with only 50 made; many of them flooded the secondary market when Pioneer beers were slowly phased out between late 2017 and 2021 and the taps were no longer needed by the brewery. However, with a limited number in existence, the supply dwindled until the last one appeared in late 2021, selling for over $100, and another has not been seen since. A single prototype of a similar tap was created for parent company Connecticut Valley Brewing (see photo inset), with a reference to the Fantastic Voyage movie from 1966. That design was never put into production, and the prototype was sold on the secondary market for $75 and is now in the hands of a collector.

Pioneer Brewing Company was founded in 2004 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, by brewer Todd Sullivan. Sullivan's brewing career began at Mill City Brewing Company in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he gained professional experience before attending the Siebel Institute of Technology for his brewing certificate. In 2003, Sullivan left Mill City and began brewing at Hyland Orchard and Brewery in Sturbridge, which shut down the following year. When Hyland's owners offered Sullivan the chance to purchase the brewing operation, he took the opportunity and launched Pioneer Brewing Company on the grounds of the 150-acre apple orchard in the village of Fiskdale. The brewery operated alongside the orchard's 18-hole disc golf course, emphasizing freshness and community in its approach to craft beer.

Pioneer moved to a larger location in 2009, but by 2013 the brewery was facing financial challenges. Sullivan sold the brewing location at 195 Arnold Road to Rapscallion Brewery, owned by brothers Cedric and Peter Daniel, who had been contracting their beers through Pioneer for two years. In what was described as a "Freaky Friday-style" business transaction, the roles reversed: Rapscallion took ownership of the physical brewery while Sullivan retained the rights to the Pioneer Brewing recipes and brand, now contracting through Rapscallion's operation. Sullivan explained he wanted to scale back from his grueling schedule of starting to brew at 8 a.m. and not leaving until the taproom closed at 10:30 p.m.

In 2014, Sullivan brought Pioneer Brewing to Connecticut after forging a partnership with South Windsor investor Neil Caron. The company was rebranded as Pioneer Beer Company and began contract brewing at Olde Burnside Brewing Co. in East Hartford while planning a permanent facility. Sullivan was particularly proud of his Manifest Destiny series, three imperial beers - a Vienna lager, double American brown ale, and double California IPA - that symbolized a New Englander's trek to the West Coast. Pioneer Beer labels featured a transportation theme with rockets, trains, airplanes, and other vehicles, each highlighting Connecticut's history of innovation and industry.

In 2015, Pioneer was acquired by Connecticut Valley Brewing Company, owned by husband and wife Steve and Lori Palauskas. Steve, who grew up in Ellington and had worked in aviation for about 20 years, had created Connecticut Valley Brewing 3 years earlier, specializing in European- and Bavarian-style lagers. Sullivan was hired as master brewer; he and Steve began contract brewing at Shebeen Brewing in Wolcott while constructing a new 15,000-square-foot brewery and tasting room on Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor. The partnership allowed Sullivan to focus on brewing while Steve handled business operations. The brewery planned to feature 12 year-round brews - six from the Pioneer Beer label and six from Connecticut Valley - along with seasonal offerings. Connecticut Valley's labels featured World War II-era images, including the F4U Corsair, which was designated the Connecticut State Airplane in 2005, with over 12,000 of the aircraft built in Connecticut between 1938 and 1945.

Sullivan stayed with Connecticut Valley Brewing for approximately 2 years before leaving to start Progression Brewing Company in Northampton, Massachusetts, which opened in November 2018, relinquishing all rights to the Pioneer Beer brand to Steve and Lori. Connecticut Valley Brewing opened its South Windsor taproom and brewing facility in 2018, initially continuing to brew beers under both the Pioneer and Connecticut Valley labels. However, by 2021 the Pioneer brand had been almost completely phased out.

Pioneer American IPA was an American India Pale Ale that showcased a hop-forward profile featuring citrus, tropical fruit, and pine notes. The beer poured a hazy orange with aromas of grapefruit, peach, and tropical fruit. The palate offered waves of peach, mango, and pineapple balanced by pine bitterness and a bready finish. In 2016, the recipe was reformulated to be more New England IPA-like, with increased haze and juicier characteristics.