A four-legged gadget with a very special purpose

Cup-mounted turtle pours a perfect black and tan

Jennifer Lowell

Jenn Lowell spent her time at the University of Colorado building robots and other toys before earning her graduate degree in mechatronics and mechanical engineering. She is a self-proclaimed lover of anything that runs off of electricity and has moving parts or motors. Currently pulling double-duty as a high school science teacher and freelance blogger, she has free time seldom enough to deeply appreciate the modern technological conveniences that give her more of it. She is a long-time recreational blogger currently living and working in Brooklyn, NY.

See full bio

Jennifer Lowell

June 1, 2009 8:47 a.m. PT

In my line of work, I run across a ton of gadgets that are the appliance equivalents of one-hit wonders. Some serve unique purposes that are necessary for accomplishing very specific tasks, and some are just plain ridiculous. A few, although not necessary, are pretty enough to warrant owning, even if you can only use them on rare occasions.

A perfect example of the latter is this Brütül Lagerhead Black & Tan Turtle, featured in Popular Mechanic's "Top 10 Wild Kitchen Gadgets You'll Use Only Once." The sentiment written at the top of the article provides the best definition of the type of gadgets that end up making it onto our wish lists, describing them as things that "straddle the line between humorous and ingenious."

The turtle sits atop your glass as you pour alcohol into it, ensuring that they mix perfectly. You simply pour the lighter brew, add the turtle, and finish your glass off with the denser beer. Popular Mechanics gives the Black Velvet (Guinness and Champagne), the Snakebite (Guinness and hard cider), and the Bumble Bee (Murphy's and Dundee Honey Lager) as example beverages. If you're like me and you tend to put your faith in the pros, you can follow Brütül's suggestion and use the turtle to make its namesake, even if it's only once every couple of years.

Computing Guides

Laptops

Desktops & Monitors

Computer Accessories

Photography

Tablets & E-Readers

3D Printers

Computing Coupons