A couple of years in the past, Heck Brewing, a brand new non alcoholic beer model quietly entered the Pacific Northwest market. Then final 12 months the brewery debuted two beers, Silver Linings IPA and Mild Persuasion Golden, in 12 ounce cans. Now in time for Dry January, the group at Heck has a collaborated with Puff Espresso on its first non-alcoholic seasonal beer, Secret Handshake Espresso Stout.
Primarily based in Portland, Oregon, Heck was co-founded in 2021 by Andy McMillan and Justin Miller. McMillan was already identified within the non alcoholic beverage house for beginning Suckerpunch, a pop-up zero-proof cocktail bar in early 2020, and earlier than that in 2015 for constructing a devoted n/a bar program into his experimental artwork competition and convention, XOXO Fest.
When Suckerpunch closed through the pandemic, McMillan teamed up with Miller, beforehand the Head Brewer at Hopworks Brewery, and started making non alcoholic beer. When Suckerpunch reopened in February 2022, Heck served its first beers on the bar and started making waves with individuals who needed non alcoholic beer, so the duo started specializing in Heck full time. Being that Heck doesn’t have its personal brewing services, its n/a beers are brewed at Sin Marca Drinks in Portland.
Now with the recognition of Dry January, Heck has teamed up with Puff Espresso to create a non alcoholic espresso stout, referred to as Secret Handshake. The model accessible this month is an experimental beta batch, and the ultimate model will likely be served in February because the first-ever non alcoholic beer at Fort George Brewery’s Competition of the Darkish Arts throughout Stout Month.
To create Secret Handshake, the groups at Heck and Puff got here collectively to debate flavors and intentions throughout a espresso cupping. A particular reserve Guatemalan mix was specifically chosen by Puff founder, Duane Sorenson, for its cocoa and fruit-forward character that compliments the beer’s wealthy chocolate and roast basis. This beer represents the primary in a sequence of collaborations, all of which Heck will launch underneath the Secret Handshake moniker.
Secret Handshake will likely be accessible in restricted draft accounts throughout Portland the Portland metro space throughout Dry January. Heck will announce the key pop up occasions all through the month on Instagram at @heckbrewing and thru the brewery’s e-mail e-newsletter.
One such occasion developing this weekend that Heck will likely be served at is John’s Market on Southeast Powell throughout its Booze Free Beverage Fest on Saturday, January 4, 2025 from 2:00 – 5:00pm. Search for Heck an different zero-proof and non-alcoholic manufacturers being served!
Heck’s year-round choices consists of Silver Linings IPA, a full-bodied West Coast IPA with citrus and pineapple hop character, and Mild Persuasion Golden, easy and crushable European-inspired beer. Each beers are packaged in 6-pack, 12 ounce cans and will be discovered all through the Portland metro space. This record consists of a few of Portland’s favourite eating places and venues together with Eem, Yaowarat, Nostrana, and Hollywood Theater together with nice bottle retailers and shops like New Seasons, Market of Alternative, John’s Market, The BeerMongers, and Belmont Station.
In the event you’re not situated in one of many areas that promote Heck, you may also mail order this non alcoholic beer with delivery to Oregon, Washington, and California with further states sooner or later. Transport is a flat $6 to those states and is free on orders larger than $60! For updates on when Heck provides further supply areas, join its e-newsletter or examine again frequently. For an up-to-date record of the place to seek out Heck Non-Alcoholic Beer, go to findheck.com.
About The Writer
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based mostly author that spent his adolescence within the Midwest. With over 25 years underneath his belt of consuming beer at festivals throughout America and the world, he has developed a powerful appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the trade that surrounds it. He will be present in any of the good breweries or beer bars that make Portland the perfect beer metropolis on this planet. His writing may also be discovered within the archives of Northwest Brewing Information and will be adopted on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.
