This tap handle is new never used and is in very near mint condition. The only marks are on the ferrule (bottom metal connector) it has very small light scratches and a small dot. The ferrule can be replaced (See Pics). It is about 10 1/2 inches tall and the colors are very vivid and the coating is very new looking and it shines. The Hodag is a mythical creature centered around the city of Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin. In 1896 a Hodag was “captured” and displayed at the Oneida County Fair, but was exposed to be a hoax. Still, the legend stuck, and the Hodag became the mascot of the local high school. This tap is extremely rare, since Lead Feather (which is the company that brewed it for Applebees) was not in business long.. Lead Feather was founded in Janesville, Wisconsin in 2009 by three business partners. It was formed as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and created its first brew, Hodag Premium Honey Wheat Ale, which was contract brewed through the O’so Brewery. They struck a deal with the Wisconsin Hospitality Group to have their beer distributed exclusively to their Applebee’s Restaurants. It seemed like a win-win: Lead Feather would get to increase brand awareness without having to spend on advertising, while Applebee’s would increase customers through microbrew offerings. The company tried to raise capital from private investors to support building a brewery, and establish the brand as well as sales and distribution networks. They even announced 4 more beers they would produce, all named after oxymoron’s: Dark Star (a brown ale) Crash Landing (a pale ale) Pretty Ugly (an India pale ale) True Blarney (an Irish stout). Unfortunately Lead Feather was unable to raise the capital, and with no advertising or marketing, combined with disappointing sales at Applebee’s, the company closed in 2012. Hodag was a honey wheat ale made with pure Wisconsin clover honey and a light wheat flavor with a slightly sweet finish. Although reviews were lukewarm, multiple reviewers commented on the awesomeness of the tap handle while it was being served at Applebee’s. This tap handle was acquired from contact at Applebees. Was a spare if one broke. The item “Wisconsin Hodag Beer Tap Handle New” is in sale since Tuesday, March 28, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Breweriana, Beer\Tap Handles, Knobs\Other Beer Tap Handles, Knobs”. The seller is “exectechsystems” and is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada, to United Kingdom, DK, RO, SK, BG, CZ, FI, HU, LV, LT, MT, EE, to Australia, GR, PT, CY, SI, to Japan, to China, SE, KR, ID, to Taiwan, ZA, TH, to Belgium, to France, to Hong Kong, to Ireland, to Netherlands, PL, to Spain, to Italy, to Germany, to Austria, IL, to Mexico, to New Zealand, SG, to Switzerland, NO, UA, AE, QA, KW, BH, HR, MY, BR, CO, PA, JM.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Produced for Honey Wheat Ale: Limited Run
- Front reads: Premium Wisconsin Honey Wheat Ale