Tap Handle #503: Jarre Creek Ranch - Heffer Wizzen Golden Ale

Tap size:  10"
Rarity:  Scarce
Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

In post #489 (Jarre Creek Ranch Pitchfork Pale) I talked about how Jarre Creek Ranch taps were colorful and whimsical...this tap is probably their best in both categories. It sure looks and feels like it is the same artist that created Pitchfork Pale. The farmer is using the cow's tail as a tap handle (notice the "HW" label!), while the beer pours into his mug from a metal plate and spigot fastened to the cow's rear end, visually playing on the Heffer Wizzen name. This beer caused more confusion than the humor was worth. Even if consumers were able to get past the idea that they were not drinking cow pee, the Heffer Wizzen name implied they were drinking Hefeweizen, while the beer was actually a golden ale. The brewery acknowledged the inconsistencies but claimed they couldn't resist the humor in it. Since they are no longer around, we will never know if the beer would have overcome these inconsistencies. Initial reviews weren't bad, but very little of this beer was ever produced, and this tap is so scarce that I have never seen another. It belongs on my "cream of the crop" list and was one of the taps I hinted at in the post that talked about such taps.

For more about Jarre Creek Ranch Brewery, see this post.

Click through to read more about Jarre Creek Ranch's Heffer Wizzen Golden Ale and to see more photos of this misguided but still hilarious tap...

Heffer Wizzen was a golden ale with a name that was a play on words from the well-known German wheat beer called Hefeweizen. This rich ale was golden in color; it had a light bodied mouth feel, a residual malty aroma and a noticeable fruity character. Heffer Wizzen was truly unique in every regard, as it was hand crafted from six different malts and three different hops, and a special strain of yeast for a smooth, sweet, fruity finish.

Ratebeer weighted average:  2.82 out of 5

Beer Advocate:  no rating