Tap Handle #613: Schlitz - Dark Lager

Tap size:  10.25"
Rarity:  50 or less, brewery closed
Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

This has to be the most unusual tap that Schlitz produced. It dates back to the 1970s, and is made of plastic. The internal nut for mounting is located in the tip of the pointing index finger. The protruding fingernail means the tap could not be screwed down on the mounting bolt all the way because it would hit the stage. The brown sleeve and white cuff covering the arm bear the name of the brewery and the beer. There are several lines and swirls pressed into the plastic to give it more detail and character. As to why an arm and pointing finger were created in the form of this tap to sell Schlitz Dark Lager, I have no idea. Since this beer was not widely distributed and was only produced for a short time in the 1970s, this tap would be very scarce if it wan't for the durability of the plastic. They are not indestructible, however, and I have seen a few damaged ones.

For more about Schlitz, see this post.

Click through to read what little information I could find on Schlitz Dark and to see more photos of this bizarre tap...

There's not much information available about Schlitz Dark Lager. It was introduced in the 1970s as a premium beer during a time when Schlitz was cutting costs to compete with other big breweries on a national level. Introducing a premium beer into this environment doomed it to failure from the start. By all accounts, Schlitz Dark Lager was well-received but the revenue it generated was not enough to save the company from a sale to Stroh a few years later. The "Dark" probably was the result of using chocolate or roasted malts in the brewing process. There is no entry for Schlitz Dark at either Ratebeer or Beer Advocate.