Pucker Face is an American Wild Ale brewed by 26 Degrees Brewing Co., and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in an IPA glass from a can.
Appearance
Pours a crystal clear reddish copper topped by nearly an inch-thick cap of dense off-white foam that dissipates rapidly. An aggressive pour will yield the best results. The head lingers briefly and collapses to a soapy collar. A smattering of residue disappears quickly. Effervescence is visibly apparent.
Aroma
Aroma is faint but offers a pleasant scent of grain, pine, and tart fruit.
Flavor
Bready malt leads the palate and quickly ramps towards tart cherry and citrus. Finishes with a squeeze of lemon. A touch of caramel in the malt adds a slight sticky sweetness to the base that balance the flavor.
Mouthfeel
The ale has the feel of an IPA with a medium body and moderate carbonation.
Overall
Pucker Face is a specialty brew that lies somewhere between Berliner and IPA. The hops serve a small role in its aroma, the malt rounds out the feel, but it’s the Lactobacillus that dominates the palate. It’s an interesting mix of styles which results in a refreshing brew that can satisfy your sour craving.
About this Beer
Introduced back in March of 2017, Pucker Face represents 26 Degrees Brewing Co.’s first foray into the realm of sour beers. To craft this brew they used their IPA1A recipe, tweaked the malt usage, added Lactobacillus to sour, and then double-dry hopped the ale.