Green Flash Le Freak - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Wreckoncile

California

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 24 oz bottle into a Chimay goblet.

A - Hazy with a dark orangish brown hue. Very minimal head (perhaps my fault on the pour) with minimal lacing around the glass since the head only formed a film on top of the beer.

S - Definitely yeast forward with that Belgian yeast. A slight sympthony of fruity esters dancing with the lemony/citrusy hops of the pale ale. A unique and complimentary bouquet.

T - While the smell had me expecting more tripel than pale ale, the flavor kicked me the opposite way. The yeastiness carries through initially, but is overpowered by the bitter pale ale hoppiness. The lemony scent picked up in the nose gives way to more of a piney initial hops flavor that yields to a lingering grapefruit.

M - Medium pale ale carbonation and more carbonated than your run of the mill tripel. Body is heavier than most pale ales, albeit a rather lighter body than most tripels.

O - As a huge tripel fan who drinks IPAs mostly during the warmer summer months, I found the scent of this beer irresistible once I sniffed it. However, the tripel quality really seems buried in the hoppiness at the end of each sip. A good offering when keeping in mind the challenges of mixing the divergent styles, but a little more hoppy than I was hoping. I'd like the yeast to star a bit more. But for a hophead who likes the bready nose of a tripel but would prefer it finish with the bitter hoppiness of IPA instead of that sweet maltiness of a Belgian, this is perhaps a dream come true.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 04:03:45 | More by Wreckoncile

capnamerica

Arkansas

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-19-2013 23:53:24 | More by capnamerica

Glibber

Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-19-2013 21:58:50 | More by Glibber

mc4z

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-19-2013 05:44:07 | More by mc4z

anteater

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-19-2013 01:26:15 | More by anteater

dwagner003

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-17-2013 13:25:31 | More by dwagner003

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Nothing better than walking into a gas station and seeing rows of Green Flash bombers; I’ve got to go to Missouri more often.

A: Pouring this into a Duvel tulip was a great idea, because Le Freak fits the Belgian pale look perfectly. Half-and-half white head and hazy amber body, with the foam looking nice and chunky as it slowly disappears. Bubbly lacing webs spread all the way around.

S: Pepper, ginger root, and white wine hop notes provide an uplifting aroma to a nose that broods with the caramel butteriness of American DIPA malt. It has a hint of age to it, almost old enough to provide an overpowering mustiness to the nose; however, the molasses and plum scent of Belgian candi sugar paint over most of the flaw with a hefty, in-style meatiness.

T: Candi sugar oozes tastes of plum and black cherry cobbler from the start, with a slight black licorice quality. A familiar hop pattern of pine and grapefruit make this distinctly American, exciting the palate to a momentary crispness as it melds with a slightly cheesy yeast funk. A buildup of brine sweeps across as the aftertaste hits, as bright, dry, and catty as any Belgian ale, but with a lingering note of biting fusel alcohol.

M: Try to swirl it around your mouth at all and you’re left with a frothy remnant of the beer you first drank – this is as softly carbonated as they come. A sign of bottle conditioning, sure, but a little crispness would help battle the thickness of the palate.

O: I’m left wondering whether I got all that I paid for. I know that Green Flash started bottle-dating recently, but it’s possible that the light yellow ink had been rubbed off, which is frustrating. Now, I don’t think every brewer should make their beers like Stone, with the “Enjoy By” date in huge letters on the label, but it wouldn’t hurt to date bottles in a manner that couldn’t be sabotaged by any bottle shop employee with a wet rag and a desire to sell old beer. At any rate, this is a beer that did pretty well with a little age on it. Though I wished it were fresher, I’m glad I got to try – because it was an excellent Belgo-American ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:34:20 | More by BarryMFBurton

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-16-2013 23:07:19 | More by Slatetank

KingEdward

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-15-2013 21:34:29 | More by KingEdward

Zbeetleman

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-15-2013 03:23:46 | More by Zbeetleman

jburd19

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-14-2013 22:58:48 | More by jburd19

4amepiphany

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-14-2013 05:03:57 | More by 4amepiphany

Tshack

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

05-13-2013 12:37:28 | More by Tshack

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

05-13-2013 10:44:06 | More by MDDMD

SadMachine

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-13-2013 05:07:09 | More by SadMachine

Jamison85

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-13-2013 01:35:13 | More by Jamison85

Gww1864

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-12-2013 21:18:53 | More by Gww1864

ryanpj

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

05-12-2013 21:16:17 | More by ryanpj

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-12-2013 17:58:38 | More by mikeburd1128

fitzy84

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Sierra Grille. Beverage had a great and orange-copper appearance with a rich, frothy head. Aromas included smells of yeast and hops. Wish I could have pin-pointed the fruit aroma I smelled, but there was a nice ripe, fruit aroma to the drink. Taste was a good mix of fruits and hops. I felt like I could taste a flavor of pineapple and bready hops. Good mouthful of a medium carbonation that helps the flavors come out without being muted. Overall, a pretty good drink. Never tried too many Belgian IPAs, but this definitely makes me want to try more.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 14:09:29 | More by fitzy84

drinkAK

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-12-2013 00:30:56 | More by drinkAK

YobroitsJoe

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-11-2013 06:28:23 | More by YobroitsJoe

ScottieD

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-11-2013 02:02:29 | More by ScottieD

TheBadger0289

New Zealand (Aotearoa)

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-11-2013 01:40:18 | More by TheBadger0289

shigg85

Japan

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-10-2013 15:33:07 | More by shigg85