Green Flash Le Freak
Green Flash Brewing Co.

1 pt. 6 fl.oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.2%. Deep golden colour, slightly hazy, with a big white (or slightly off-white) head. Lovely aroma of Belgian ale yeast, white candi sugar and various spices (incl cloves), hints of leather. The flavour is spicy and zesty with a solid hoppy punch throughout, but I’d never have guessed that the IBU was as high as 101. Mixing Belgian and American ale styles is not always successful, but I think Le Freak is a very good try.

Murky yellow color.

Huge white head; strong lacing throughout.

Clove nose; fresh bread notes as well.

Medium mouthfeel.

Muted clove taste; hops smack your lips with bitterness. Booze well hidden.

Pretty tasty; not life changing.

 

Pours an opaque orange gold with 2 fingers of off-white, soap bubble foamy, lasting head that leaves wonderful sheets of lacing. Aroma is lemon/lime sherbet, Belgian yeast, banana and hop tones of floral, pine and citrus backed up by sweet caramel malt. Taste is banana pop sickle, hoppy bitter notes of pine and citrus, a menagerie of Belgian yeast and sugar balanced with caramel malt sweetness. Finishes with an odd combination of butter, spice and pepper, Aftertaste is bitter and distinctly chalky. Superbly balance for what is an astronomically complex brew. Touche Green Flash!

[Original rating 2016-01-16] Clear orange gold with a medium white head. Aroma of pepper, stone fruit, grass. Taste is spicy, black pepper, fruit, flowers, very complex. Reminds me of Epic Brainless IPA, but though I like the Epic, Green Flash just does it better in every way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured into a wine glass from a 22oz bottle

A - a semi translucent blood orange copper with a hint of dark gold, two finger almost off-white head and some serious sugar lacing

S - Belgian yeast upon, Belgian yeast, tons of sugar, toasted grain/malt, orange/banana/pineapple juice, lots of alive and dead earth, tons of soil, vanilla pipe tobacco and tons of sweet and savory dried flowers.

T - the Belgian style yeast is very prevalent, lots of sweet/toasted hops, orange, pineapple, very sugary, not much of a booze note for the ABV, lots of charred wood, sweet anise, dry earth and some slight grass

M - full bodied, well balance, great complexity, medium plus acidity, medium carbonation

D/O - La Freak is a beast, with tons of flavor, a nice bite and refreshing to boot. It's also pretty easy to drink for how much is going on and don't be fooled, it's not over the top or anything, not perfect, but delightful. Paired really well with a homemade tuna Mac n cheese and a sweet and savory chocolate cookie. This dude can be enjoyed fresh or save for the perfect occasion. Couldn't imagine this being anything but good unless it is hot and humid outside. Drink chilled and let warm gradually for a multitude of flavors.

Final thoughts - $8-10 a 22oz is high, but worth a try and the nearly 10% ABV is awesome for a night cap or to share amongst friends.

Poured from 22oz bottle into Snifter. No date.

L: Pours a clear bronze with a nice finger and a half of off-white head that has wonderful retention and stick.

S: First you get a whiff of citrus and floral hops, then a subdued note of Belgian yeasty esters come forth. Some spice hidden in there as well. Quite interesting.

T: This is wonderful. It begins with the hops, which again are mostly citrus with some floral, and then the yeast makes its presence known. Just purely unique to anything I have had yet.

F: Medium-Full body with crisp carbonation and a dry finish with lingering hop residuals.

O: Super unique, super tasty.

Reviewed from notes. The appearance has a hazy orange/amber body that leaves a half finger foamy white head appears that lasts for a good two minutes before dieing. No carbonation is seen rising nor any lacing was left The smell has some clove, banana, combined decently with some citrus and floral tones. Hops are pretty subdued. The taste has a dominating clove with fairly strong banana, citrus and floral tones are less defined. The alcohol is very hidden. The palate is about medium bodied and well balanced - not too watery, but not too heavy, just right. It has a dry finish. I would say this is fairly drinkable. Overall, good for what it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22oz "bomber" into Libbey Glass
BB 5/3/17
L- hazy burnt orange, nice off-white cap of foam, great retention, lacing as well
S- fruity yeast aroma which masks the resin-y hop aroma
T- sweetish start to the beer, followed by fruity yeast ester on the linger, with a real nice and dry bitter 101 IBU finish
F- medium-bodied, creamy, crisp, and bitter
Overall a real nice beer, great representation to the style, which they claim to have started. with the 'Belgian-y' feel to it with the great IPA finish

On draft at The Merry Monk in Saratoga Springs, NY. Delicious! One of the best from Green Flash.

 

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy, copper color with some orange highlights. Very fine bubbles, a large head with good retention.

Aroma: Citrus, pale malt and yeast character on the first sniff. Clove, banana and other spicey phenolics. Plenty of citrus hop character, orange juice and maybe a touch of pineapple. Some nice malt character with just a touch of toasted bread and bread crust.

Mouthfeel: Very full carbonation, some warm alcohol and a strong initial Belgian spice character. Well balanced, but intense bitterness, very full body, coats the tongue, but the bitterness and high carbonation leave the mouth relatively clean, with just a bit of residual spice and malt.

Flavor: Lots of Belgian yeast phenolics, juicy citrus and tropical fruits, a little herbal hop character and some nice cracker and sourdough bread crust. Maybe a little bit of honey

Very intense, a great bridge between two very strong styles, though surprisingly not overwhelming.

Very recommendable.