short summary about brewdog punk af
- Excellent depth of flavour
- True IPA aroma
- Easy to source
- Colour not the same as Punk IPA
- Lactose adds texture, but not great for allergies
What was the first craft beer? Difficult question.
What’s the best craft beer? Dangerous question.
What was the first commercially successful craft beer? Easy. Brewdog Punk IPA.
This was the beer that brought bold American style craft beer to the masses, and it did so with a punk rock attitude – divisive and daring to be different. Brewdog have always been about quality of beer over quantity of beer. It’s not about sinking 20 pints of fizzy bathwater on a Friday night, but it is about a couple of ⅓ pints of a choice brew with good friends and good food. Brewdog’s punk attitude, rather like its musical namesake, is about a lifestyle choice. But don’t take my word for it – check out a brief history of Brewdog here.
With this in mind it seems natural that the creators of the modern beer revolution would bring out an alcohol free version of their flagship beer. I mean after all, what’s more punk rock than that?
Brewdog Punk AF Beer Initial Review
First up let’s straighten out the whole alcohol free thing. Brewdog Punk AF has 0.5% ABV so whilst it would certainly take a huge volume to intoxicate a person and it does meet the criteria to be classed and marketed as alcohol free, the low alcohol content would suggest if you’re looking for pure 0% you should look elsewhere.
Brewdog Punk AF has the familiar high end matt can of all Brewdog beers. It feels so good in the hand doesn’t it? It pours nicely and here we see a difference between the alcohol free and fully loaded versions of this beer. Punk AF is a lemony straw coloured brew with a thin fizzy head whilst the original Punk IPA has a darker colour and thicker foam suds. I know it’s horrible to compare siblings, but the original beer is such a strong player we can’t simply ignore it, and on looks Punk AF doesn’t meet expectations.
However, moving on from looks, let’s talk about taste. This is the easy bit. Brewdog Punk AF is an awesome low alcohol beer. Truly excellent. It has all the body and depth of a good IPA – all the body and depth of a Punk IPA. It has the complex hoppy hit that is the Brewdog signature, followed by the classic sharp spikey grapefruit mixed with pineapple note, finished with a muted malt background. I love this beer.
It doesn’t feel quite as thick and viscous as its fully loaded counterpart but Punk AF is a pleasure to drink and where it really surprises is in the aroma department. It has an excellent full-on IPA aroma filled with hoppy goodness. Most alcohol free beers fail on aroma for me but the master brewers at Brewdog got it right on this one. Did I mention I love this beer?
Where Can I Buy Brewdog Punk AF?
Most major supermarkets are Brewdog stockists and Punk AF is lined up to be their flagship low alcohol brew. As such it should be an easy one to find. I bought direct from the brewery via their website where a mixed box of 48 cans from the alcohol free beer range cost £34.25 – absolute bargain! However, if you’re looking to buy small before making a commitment then you can pick up a 4 pack for a mere £4 in most major outlets:
Brewdog Punk AF Ingredients, Nutritional Information and Calories
Brewdog really are excellent at telling the story of their beers including all the ingredients used in their brews.
The ingredient list is as follows:
Water, Lactose, Malted Barley, Oats and Wheat, Hops, Yeast and Lactic Acid
It does mean that this AF beer is not suitable for those on allergen free diets.
| Nutritional Information | Per 100mL |
|---|---|
| Energy (KJ/KCal) | 63 / 15 |
| Fat (g) | <0.1 |
| of which saturates (g) | <0.1 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 3.0 |
| of which sugars (g) | 1.8 |
| Protein (g) | 0.1 |
| Salt (g) | <0.1 |
The Verdict
Love it. Simple. If you’re looking for an awesome alcohol free beer look no further. If you think all alcohol free beers are bland, think again. Brewdog Punk AF has all the complexity, all the hops and all the flavour of an excellent IPA, but without the hefty alcohol content. Buy it. Drink it. Love it. You’re welcome.
