Heck and Puff Coffee Collaborate on Non Alcoholic Coffee Stout

A few years ago, Heck Brewing, a new non alcoholic beer brand quietly entered the Pacific Northwest market. Then last year the brewery debuted two beers, Silver Linings IPA and Gentle Persuasion Golden, in 12 ounce cans. Now in time for Dry January, the team at Heck has a collaborated with Puff Coffee on its first non-alcoholic seasonal beer, Secret Handshake Coffee Stout.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Heck was co-founded in 2021 by Andy McMillan and Justin Miller. McMillan was already known in the non alcoholic beverage space for starting Suckerpunch, a pop-up zero-proof cocktail bar in early 2020, and before that in 2015 for building a dedicated n/a bar program into his experimental art festival and conference, XOXO Fest.

When Suckerpunch closed during the pandemic, McMillan teamed up with Miller, previously the Head Brewer at Hopworks Brewery, and began making non alcoholic beer. When Suckerpunch reopened in February 2022, Heck served its first beers at the bar and began making waves with people who wanted non alcoholic beer, so the duo began focusing on Heck full time. Being that Heck doesn’t have its own brewing facilities, its n/a beers are brewed at Sin Marca Beverages in Portland.

Now with the popularity of Dry January, Heck has teamed up with Puff Coffee to create a non alcoholic coffee stout, called Secret Handshake. The version available this month is an experimental beta batch, and the final version will be served in February as the first-ever non alcoholic beer at Fort George Brewery’s Festival of the Dark Arts during Stout Month. 

To create Secret Handshake, the teams at Heck and Puff came together to discuss flavors and intentions during a coffee cupping. A special reserve Guatemalan blend was specially selected by Puff founder, Duane Sorenson, for its cocoa and fruit-forward character that compliments the beer’s rich chocolate and roast foundation. This beer represents the first in a series of collaborations, all of which Heck will release under the Secret Handshake moniker.

Secret Handshake will be available in limited draft accounts across Portland the Portland metro area during Dry January. Heck will announce the secret pop up events throughout the month on Instagram at @heckbrewing and through the brewery’s email newsletter.

One such event coming up this weekend that Heck will be served at is John’s Marketplace on Southeast Powell during its Booze Free Beverage Fest on Saturday, January 4, 2025 from 2:00 – 5:00pm. Look for Heck an other zero-proof and non-alcoholic brands being served!

Heck’s year-round offerings includes Silver Linings IPA, a full-bodied West Coast IPA with citrus and pineapple hop character, and Gentle Persuasion Golden, smooth and crushable European-inspired beer. Both beers are packaged in 6-pack, 12 ounce cans and can be found throughout the Portland metro area. This list includes some of Portland’s favorite restaurants and venues including Eem, Yaowarat, Nostrana, and Hollywood Theater along with great bottle shops and stores like New Seasons, Market of Choice, John’s Marketplace, The BeerMongers, and Belmont Station.

If you’re not located in one of the locations that sell Heck, you can also mail order this non alcoholic beer with shipping to Oregon, Washington, and California with additional states in the future. Shipping is a flat $6 to these states and is free on orders greater than $60! For updates on when Heck adds additional delivery locations, sign up for its newsletter or check back regularly. For an up-to-date list of where to find Heck Non-Alcoholic Beer, visit findheck.com.