Tap #816: Anheuser-Busch - Racer Snake Red

Tap size:  7.75"

Rarity:  Special Event, Less Than 10 Seen

Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

Back in Profile #373 for Burnin' Helles, I mentioned that the tap and beer were part of Anheuser-Busch's "you choose it, we'll brew it" contest held in Ohio in 2006. It was chosen over Racer Snake Red (an all-malt American amber) and Old Eyepopper (a Dunkel brewed with caramel and chocolate malts and Bavarian hops). It's a shame that Racer Snake Red didn't win because only a few of these taps were ever made for the promotion, and it is a very cool tap. I really like how the snake wraps around the glass and its tongue is getting a taste of the foam at the top.

I have also attached a photo of a prototype version of the tap that is unpainted. I received this prototype many years ago from the original designer (Kevin) who owned an advertising agency in St. Louis called XG-ad, which designed a lot of tap handles for Anheuser-Busch before A-B was purchased by InBev. XG-ad did the designs on computer, and then a company in St. Louis called Zimo hand carved all the molds and worked on A-B tap handles for several years, bringing to life many popular taps like Shock Top, Mule Kick, and the Bud Light boxing kangaroo. After the A-B purchase, InBev decided to go in a different direction for their marketing, and Kevin closed the XG-ad agency.

Racer Snake Red is 1 of 3 of these promotional taps that are next to be profiled. Racer Snake Red is so scarce that this is only the third one I've ever seen - my full color one, my prototype, and one that was part of a group of 3 promo taps that sold for $500 back in 2019.

For more about Anheuser-Busch, see this post.

According to the a short blurb written for the original contest, Racer Snake Red celebrated the official reptile of Ohio. This brew blended Tettnang, Millennium and Saaz hops to create a majestic, all malt American-style Amber. The beer was created and brewed in 2006 by a small team of local employees at the Columbus, Ohio, brewery.

There are no entries on Ratebeer or Beer Advocate for Racer Snake Red.