When Matt and Kat from Berkshire Cider Project — our neighbors across the street at our North Adams office — stopped by Knockout Design’s new shop and custom tap handle showroom in the Norad Mill, it felt like the kind of local collaboration that makes the Berkshires so special. Surrounded by hundreds of custom tap markers we’ve created for breweries, wineries, and cideries, they immediately gravitated toward the clean, square wooden design — a simple yet timeless shape that mirrors the quality of their cider.
Just like their approach to cider making — 100% apples, no sugar added — their vision for the custom designed tap handle was natural, and authentic. They wanted the design to reflect both traditional cider making and the modern touch of Berkshire Cider’s home at Greylock WORKS, a reimagined textile mill filled with artists, makers, and food innovators. Together, Knockout Designs developed a multi-colored palette inspired by the theme of their work space. Each custom tap handle features four painted sides in complementary hues, with the Berkshire Cider name UV LED printed in bold black lettering against a bright white face for a refined finish. High-quality wooden tap handles are long-lasting and can withstand the wear and tear of daily use. With proper care and finishing, wooden tap handles resist warping, cracking, and fading, making them ideal for a busy environment.
Knockout Designs manufactures tap handles, beer flights, and door hardware with various materials, including wood and 3D-printed metal and plastic, to create exclusive products for craft breweries, restaurants, wineries, vineyard tasting rooms, bars, and even the at-home brewer! Knockout Designs specializes in small orders but are more than happy to fill large orders for distribution! This small order of distribution tap handles represents something bigger: the growth of a local business that values art, agriculture, and community. Knockout Designs is proud to help Matt and Kat share their ciders with more people throughout Berkshire County and beyond!
