The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Mystery Woman on the Beer Tap
Mar 2, 2026
Mandy Neglich, author and advanced Cicerone (beer expert), digs into the lore of Ruthie Fontanini. She traces the origin of a famous beer tap figure and Ruthie’s balancing-pint stunt. Conversation covers how Mandy uncovered the story, Ruthie’s showmanship and legal troubles, and the wider history of women in brewing.
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Ruthie’s Bosom Balancing Act
- Ruthie Fontanini was a real Des Moines bar owner in the 1950s who balanced two empty glasses on her bosom and filled them without touching them as a performance.
- That stunt made her locally famous and is depicted on the Ruthie beer tap handle sold across Iowa.
Tap Art Reframed As Empowerment
- The Ruthie artwork was redesigned from a pinup style into a Rosie-the-Riveter–like image to emphasize skill and empowerment rather than sexuality.
- Exile Brewery uses bold yellow, blue, and red colors to frame her as a talent-forward local icon.
She Charged For The Show
- Ruthie ran Ruthie’s Lounge for 21 years, charging premium prices (50 cents versus the town pint at 17 cents) because patrons paid for the show as much as the drink.
- Newspaper stories and Bill Bryson’s memoir kept her legend alive as a flamboyant, enterprising bar owner.