Soul of the Oak
Pure Project

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: Maibock / Helles Bock
Glass: Pure Project 14-oz. snifter elemental (earth) glass
Price: $4.50
From: Pure Project Brewing in Balboa Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: n/a; Received April 18, 2022
Consumed: May 6, 2022
Misc.: Collaboration with Eppig; Canned on April 12, 2022; Split (1/4) with Sonny (1/4) and Kevin (2/4)

Got a can of this from Kevin along with two others. Was specifically looking forward to this one. Pure Project’s website called it “We teamed up with Eppig Brewing to bring you something we’ve never done before—a barrel-lagered maibock. Built on a grain bill of Weyermann Barke Pilsner, Vienna and Munich malts, Soul of the Oak fermented in a stainless steel tank before being transferred to American oak barrels for a month to lager in our cold box. Wood tannins extracted into the beer contribute to its tarnished gold color and rocky white head. Scents of French madeleine cookies, lemon bars and floral notes give way to a rich malt flavor reminiscent of Hawaiian sweet bread. Complementary tastes of toast, oak, and orange zest make up its smooth, round body with a slightly hoppy finish; this one truly evokes the soul of the oak.”

Poured a medium yellow clear color with 3-to-4 fingers of rocky white head. Could see tons of bubble streams coming up along the sides of the glass at different speeds. World-class uneven foamy lacing. Perfect foamy retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled oak, hints of caramel and toffee, cookie, graham cracker, wheat bread and grass. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted a little better than the nose. In order got oaky wood, caramel, toffee, cookie, graham cracker, grain, pear, apple, black pepper, Noble hops, toasted wheat bread, grass and lemon zest. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Slightly underrated this but it still wasn’t as good as I hoped given these two breweries. (Overall - 4.25)

4.12 | 92 | A-

amazing can of beer here, done in collaboration with eppig, not like anything else out there, barrel lagered, not sure i have head of that before. i love pure project and wish i had better access to their stuff, huge thanks to my buddy for sending this one out! beautiful deep brass to light copper color on this with a tall couple of inches of white head rising up and staying, its not quite perfectly clear but still looks nicely refined. the aroma is awesome, super woody, a bit sweet, long boiled and caramel forward, still classically german too with the munich malt, some light citrus peel character, and a hint of honey, definitely more complex than most of these, old world lager yeast also evident through all the grain and oak. the flavor is killer too, smoothed out and long from the oak and just a little residual sweetness, the barrel character is sturdy and it makes this feel like fall and winter to me. its got golden raisin, bran muffin, candied orange zest, toffee, and new oak with some vanilla to it, its at once hearty and also refreshing still, the lagering is great, the yeast is classic to me, there is nice minerality to this, and the wood really adds a lot. effervescent carbonation is right on too, it almost feels can conditioned to me, expert in every way. not only is this a clever recipe and process, but the execution is first rate. loved this!

Pint at their new location in North Park. Described as a barrel-lagered Maibock. Rare style these days. Definitely has the characteristics you expect from this style but a bit mellow, likely to please the masses. A good beer for the celebration of spring!