Tap Handle #755: North Coast - Puck the Beer

Tap size:  12"
Rarity:  fragile
Mounting:  internal 3/8" nut

First brewed in 2013 to celebrate the brewery's 25th anniversary, in 2014 North Coast's Puck the Beer became a permanent addition to the brewery's offerings. Initially the tap for the beer was a plain, almost ball-style knob (see photo to right). In 2016, the full figural tap was produced in order to give the beer its due, and in 2017 a shotgun version of the same tap was also produced. It is named after a spirit of English folklore and additionally is a famous character in a Shakespeare play. The design of the tap is unusual in a couple of ways and I'd love to learn more about what inspired it. First, the styling of the base of the tap looks like a fluted column, but it also appears as if there are windows at the very bottom, and it appears as if a building is sitting on top of the column with puck figures on each corner. In some ways it does bear a strong resemblance to the Puck Building in New York. Second, the tap has four sides which are all identical, so I only took photos of one side. Third, the puck figures on top have an oblong shape to their heads that join in the center...it is so unusual that I took a photo of the feature from a top down view. The name of the beer features prominently on a label at the top of the tap, with the beer style also on a label that sits between the building and the column. Finally at the base is yet another label bearing the brewery's logo. While there are a lot of fine details in the design, there are many edges and corners that are prone to wear and chipping, making a used tap in good condition hard to find. Fortunately, though the tap does not appear in the brewery's online store, new in box versions are readily available for great prices on the secondary market.

In English folklore, Puck is a domestic and nature sprite, demon, or fairy. Puck may also be called "Robin Goodfellow" or "Hobgoblin", in which "Hob" may substitute for "Rob" or "Robin". Addtionally, the term "pixie" is in origin a diminutive of puck. Like other fairy creatures such as brownies or sprites, Puck might do minor housework, fine needlework, or butter-churning for you, which could be undone in a moment by his knavish tricks if you displeased him. He may also do work for you if you leave him small gifts, such as a glass of milk or other such treats. Medieval brewers did not understand the science behind the reaction of yeast in brewing beer, which was instead attributed to magic (called "barm"). The brewers often thought that Puck would help or hinder the making of beer by providing or withholding the barm. The most commonly known Puck/Robin Goodfellow is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Puck appears prominently in many art pieces, and multiple sculptures can be found featuring him, including 2 on the Puck Building in New York City...the building was named after and housed the office of the 19th-century humor magazine Puck, and is currently owned by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. The character still makes modern appearances in television and literature: in the Amazon series Carnival Row, the Puck are a race of fae; also, Puck is a significant character who goes by Robin Goodfellow in season three of the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Puck information and photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

For more about North Coast Brewing see this post.

Click through to read more about North Coast's Puck the Beer and to see more photos of this classically styled tap...

North Coast's Puck the Beer is a petite saison brewed with premium Pils and wheat malts and fermented with the same yeast strain used to make their renowned Saison, Le Merle. Puck is sharp and spritzy with a delicious flowery, spicy dry-hop aroma - the perfect accompaniment to any celebration, big or small. While the beer does not show up on the brewery's website as a part of their lineup, it can still be found in bottles at various locations.

Ratebeer:  3.3 out of 5

Beer Advocate:  82 out of 100 (good)