Beer of the Weekend #894: Puck the Beer
My neighbor stopped drinking alcohol. It’s not a bad decision in my opinion, especially in light of the recently released study that found there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. His newfound teetotalism has been beneficial for both of us: He’s lost weight and is sleeping better, I assume, and I got a bottle of Puck the Beer, brewed by the North Coast Brewing Company of Fort Bragg, California, that had been sitting in his fridge.
The color is hazy golden amber. An overly aggressive pour produced three fingers of dense, white, buttery head that settles slowly, leaving trails of foam stuck to the glass. I’m unsure how old this beer is, but it is still very carbonated, which is a good sign.
The aroma is very spicy and funky, much like a farmhouse saison should be. It seems peppery, but I think it is more flowery than anything. Overall, it is a spice and funk bomb.
The flavor is more complex and very pleasing. It has the spice and funk, but there is also fruit sweetness and wheat. It’s really smooth too. There is a hint of zest as well. It is more funky than flowery or peppery. It is also reminiscent of champagne or sparkling apple cider, and the wheat malt provides a hint of hefeweizen. It’s good stuff! The funk and spice linger on the taste buds.
Fun facts about Puck the Beer:
• Style: Saison.
• Alcohol content: 4 percent ABV.
• There’s not much information about the beer online, but a description on the beer’s BA page says it was first brewed for North Coast’s 25th anniversary in 2013. Also, there’s this description on the brewery website:
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
The color is hazy golden amber. An overly aggressive pour produced three fingers of dense, white, buttery head that settles slowly, leaving trails of foam stuck to the glass. I’m unsure how old this beer is, but it is still very carbonated, which is a good sign.
The aroma is very spicy and funky, much like a farmhouse saison should be. It seems peppery, but I think it is more flowery than anything. Overall, it is a spice and funk bomb.
The flavor is more complex and very pleasing. It has the spice and funk, but there is also fruit sweetness and wheat. It’s really smooth too. There is a hint of zest as well. It is more funky than flowery or peppery. It is also reminiscent of champagne or sparkling apple cider, and the wheat malt provides a hint of hefeweizen. It’s good stuff! The funk and spice linger on the taste buds.
Fun facts about Puck the Beer:
• Style: Saison.
• Alcohol content: 4 percent ABV.
• There’s not much information about the beer online, but a description on the beer’s BA page says it was first brewed for North Coast’s 25th anniversary in 2013. Also, there’s this description on the brewery website:
How did Puck come to be the name of this beer? Puck has been with us since long before Shakespeare; medieval English folklore tells of a woodland spirit who could help or hinder the making of your beer by providing or withholding the “barm” (in those days, the nature of the yeast that fermented beer and wine was not yet understood; it was magical!). The work of a puck, or puca, was done by moonlight and often included mischief. With a Midsummer Night’s Dream, this playful spirit became a singular character; we like to think of him embodied in “The Beer” – PUCK!
“A weeja-beeba!” – It’s magic!
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
