Green Flash Le Freak - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured it into a Weizen-glass, and man was I right; the glass fills to the brim with all head, off-white and kind of light - definitely wheat in this one. When the head dissipates the clear golden liquid apperas. The lacings are rich and beautiful.

S: Rather mild smell, but the wheat is still there; ripe bananas. Yeast and bitterness. A bit funky and sour. Citric.

T: Now we're talking; the bitterness is rich and direct. Flowery and floral. A hint of bananas, still. Yeast is rich, as is the caramell malt, semi-sweet.

M: Bone-dry long aftertaste. Body is rather full while carbonation is mild.

O: A bit uneven but the taste is too die for...

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 18:32:30 | More by Sunnanek

benfons

Belgium

3.94/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: clear orange colour, decent head

S: some yeast, some banana and peach, hops, not as outspoken as I expected

T: yeast, hoppy, hints of citrus, hops at the end, litle one sided

M: undercarbonated, very dry finish

O: not as balanced as I like, undercarbonated, I quite like, it's not a great beer

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 20:45:55 | More by benfons

CrazyDavros

Australia

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours golden amber with a large head.
Nose shows spicy, piny hops, spicy Belgian phenols, mineral characters, some light fruit-like esters and clean sweet malt.
Aggressive flavours. Spicy, piny hops, Belgian phenols, a little light malt and soft booze.
Carbonation could be a bit higher.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:29:13 | More by CrazyDavros

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.54/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to shebby for the bottle. Tasted 5 March 2013, reviewed from notes.

Pours bright orange, a clean vibrant color. Gentle pour left the yeast in the bottle, with a clean look straight through the glass. A solid column of bubbles rising up to the thick one-finger cap of white head. Good retention and lacing. Almost as good as it gets.

Smell is all Belgian, and I really can't find anything in it that reminds me of an IPA. It smells like a fabulous, fruity Belgian golden or tripel. Juicy, full of Belgian-yeast fruit; loaded with peaches, edged with sweet oranges and melon. Really nice, just odd for a beer brewed at least in part as an IPA.

Taste is a collision of Belgian and IPA, in a way that doesn't really work for me. The Belgian flavor never really gets going, and just when it starts to rise up, it gets kicked back down by a surge of bitterness that's the only IPA element I can find. It's unbalanced, lacking the positive notes from either side of the spectrum. Not really working for me. A clash, rather than a smooth blend, of the two styles.

Mouthfeel is fine. Medium-bodied, almost enough carbonation. Lasting, carrying mostly a persistent, slightly dry, acidic bitterness.

Not exactly a dud, but not all that impressive to me. Somehow the hops don't come through, and where they do, it's to the detriment of the beer. Think I would have like it better as a straight Belgian ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:45:54 | More by zeledonia

TheSixthRing

California

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

Had on-tap at Sports Page in Roseville, CA

Appearance - A hazy golden orange, served up with a white, finger width head. Good retention. Spotty lacing.

Smell - Yeasty Belgian funky sourness. Green banana, subtle citrus notes sit beneath.

Taste - Follows the nose. Strong Belgian yeast character, hitting on green banana, funk and subtle spice. Hops pop through mid-taste, hitting on subtle floral character and bright citrus notes, then turn a slightly bitter orange pith in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Somewhat chalky, with a fairly dry finish.

Overall - Fantastic Belgian IPA. Reminds me a lot of the Stone Cali-Belgique, albeit with a significantly stronger ABV. At twice the price, though, I'd opt for the Stone more often than not.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 03:11:26 | More by TheSixthRing

TheBone

Wisconsin

3.31/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Well, this is my first ever review. I am going to be myself and honest. So take it for what it's worth...A: I love the light- fluffy foamy head but prefer more color. But I appreciate that the suds floated for the whole session.

S: I'm not a huge fan of Belgian yeast smell, but appreciate the Belgian IPA mix, although the hops are not exposed enough in this beer, however - I am partial to hops.

T: Very smooth and easy to gulp. For a 9.2, it was somewhat tart but very drinkable.

M: seemed to be dry. Probably couldn't drink more than two, I think it drank nicely but the higher alcohol was disguised and caught up with me.

O: I actually liked the beer for a couple of reasons and didn't like it for a couple also. Liked: 9.2 ABV. - gave me a good-beer-buzz. & was disappointed when the bottle was empty, which happened before I realized. Not liked: Price, the most I ever paid for a 4 pack - $14.00. A little too much. &. The Belgian yeast was a little too strong for the mix, I desire a more fresh-hoppy flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 05:31:51 | More by TheBone

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - bright orange with a huge, thick, dense, foamy, pure-white head that has great retention

S - citrsuy hops, Belgian yeast

T - some light malt, honey, citrus, faint pine, mild hop bitterness, Belgian yeast throughout, some warming alcohol

M - very crisp, medium to full bodied, warm

This is a nice beer. It is a nice BIPA in the sense that it showcases some bright hops and also some Belgian yeast but maintains balance. The alcohol is also relatively well hidden adding only a slight warmth in the finish and some body. This is a BIPA that I could sip on for a while. I like the balance and the flavor profile. It was enjoyable throughout.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 03:04:14 | More by tdm168

Gu3mom

Georgia

3.1/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

At our house, we use a 10-point scale. For this particular beer our ratings are as follows:

Her - 6 Hint of banana flavor which I do not like in beer.
Him - 8 High octane, good flavor. Pricey.

Overall, drinkable but a far cry from a top choice; we hold out for brews that are at least a 7 on our scale. Cheers!

Serving type: growler

02-07-2013 19:16:38 | More by Gu3mom

MaineBrewing

Maine

2.64/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - poured at cellar temp into chalice with 3 finger off white head, golden in color slightly cloudy with hint of orange. Head reduced by half to a resilient fluffy layer and ample lacing. left lacing thoughout the whole experience. Appearance is spot on for the style.

S - First in the nose is a wave of beautiful hops, piney, resinous. This is followed quickly with a nice fruity and phenolic yeast bouquet. Hints of coriander and pepper, slight alcohol. Light cereal and caramel malts provide backbone to the hoppy and fruity nuances.

T - Taste is wall of bitter, very astringent. Not hop bitter as much as tannin induced astringency, very drying like a red wine. Behind the bitter there is some flavoring hops, but they are lost. Lost under a layer of bitter is the fruity bouquet found in the nose and the malt character. The bitter is lingering. I keep coming back to try to find more descriptive words for the taste, but I can't. Bitter.

M - carbonation is good, but too dry, alcohol and astringent flavor is ruining my palate. Horrid.

O - poorly executed, i dont think this is a bad bottle, it doesnt taste infected... It just tastes like a poorly brewed beer. I have had way better examples of a Belgian style ipa. This is very one dimensional, bitter and alcohol. I expected much more distinct flavor and a much more enjoyable beer. I feel there is some good favors deep down but they are not coming through. Not a drain pour, I can drink it, but won't buy another.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 03:03:50 | More by MaineBrewing

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.04/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 1.3.13

A - Crystal clear medium orange with a huge cream-colored head with good retention.

S - Hoppy grass, then some pineapple and orange citrus.

T - Belgian spice then hop citrus overtake all the other flavors.

D - Great carbonation with a light body.

O - A nice mix, Belgian then tons of West Coast hoppy IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 05:58:58 | More by HuskyinPDX

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.64/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Green Flash Le Freak has a thick, spongy, cream-colored head, and a brilliant, bubbly, yellow-golden appearance, which has a gray-yellow descending cloud in it once the bottom of the bottle is swished and poured in. Some thick, splotchy lacing is left on the sides of the glass. The aroma is of pine oil (hop oil) and grapefruit. The taste is the same, with sweetness, sugar, lots of bitterness, some biscuit, and bread crust. Mouthfeel is slimy and medium, and Green Flash Le Freak finishes dry, sweet & sour, and delicious. After ten minutes or so, the alcohol punches the drinker in the brain. This really is Le Freak. Wonderful!

RJT

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 17:12:35 | More by RonaldTheriot

bound4er

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Turbid amber appearance with a white, puffy two finger head. Laces well.

M. Belgian yeast, fruity ester, spicy malt.

T. Palate mirrors the nose pretty closely. The yeast gives off a nice tropical fruitiness. Malt comes into play through it breadiness. Finishes with nice hop bitterness

M. Medium body, refreshing carbonation.

O. Not something I want to drink more than one of in a session but very tasty nonetheless. My reference Belgian-style IPA is Bedlam - this stuff is pretty close.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 03:01:42 | More by bound4er

Alchemist

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was very pleased with the both the aroma and taste of this beer. I drank this not knowing the style was a converging of Belgian and IPA. I think a true testament to this beer is that it was obvious what was being attempted as you drank it. I think they accomplished this beautifully.

For a 9.2% beer it went down easily with a nice hop aroma and a huge hop forward taste. This for me was a very hop dominated beer (not a bad thing). If you are expecting a malty IPA this isn't it. A nice amber color with decent head retention completes the picture.

Overall, a very nice offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 22:02:44 | More by Alchemist

Keyportnick

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A-pours a golden amber with a haze. Strong white head that fades and rests a thin a layer on top.

S-very strong bready tones from the Belgian yeast and malt. The hops are pretty much no present in the nose. More Belgian than iipa.

T- strong Belgian sweet bready malts. Hops kick in with bitter dry grass and dull citrus

M- big body with a light carbonation. Finishes sweet and dry

O- one hell of an interesting combo here. Trippel takes the cake as far as the blend goes but the hops are sneaky and tasty too

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:34:46 | More by Keyportnick

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, no date, I'm assuming it's pretty fresh since its only been in this market for about a week, poured into NB Globe glass
A- Pours a very hazy orangish yellow with thick, maybe slightly off-white head, great lacing and good retention
S- Has a definite aroma of a Trippel, banana, Belgian yeast, sugar, fruity, candy. Light malts and grassy hops in the background
T- Taste features more bitterness than expected from the nose, balances well with more Tripel flavors from the nose. Sweet and hoppy.
M- 5.0. Best part of this beer.. Big, Smooth, juicy and a little creamy in the mouth, bitter and "zesty" as the label suggests as well, flavors coat the mouth but its very drinkable even at 9.2%
O- This is a damn fine beer, Deliciously drinkable, not much I didn't like here, has a big, diverse body and combines the great flavors of a Trippel and an IPA. Looking forward to having many more of these.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 03:25:10 | More by BasterdInABasket

jera1350

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Burnt orange color that is slightly muddy looking. Massive head of foam that leaves lots of lace clinging to the glass.

Huge fruity and hoppy nose. Smells more belgian than american. Lemon and belgian yeast esters fill the nostrils. Like a hopped up belgian style brew which is supposed to be the aim I guess.

The taste is more belgian also, but the american hops are not to be outdone. Really tastes like a tripel at the base with tons of belgian yeast characters. The hops are big, but low on the bitterness scale. More fruity and piney with citrus also. Medium amount of sweetness with a citrus peel finish.

Close to a full body with lots of pillowy soft carbonation sweeping across the tongue. Very smooth with a drier finish.

Wonderful take on a belgian IPA. Really more like a true belgian tripel with loads of american hops added. Typically, this style just has the belgian yeast, but this one adds the sweetness and malt/candi sugar flavors that are found in tripels. A very tasty beer that stands out for the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:53:39 | More by jera1350

jjchristiano

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hops and Alcohol.
One of the hoppiest beers I've tried and the ABV is 9.2%.
Appearance is a little murky as I poured into a wine glass and there was active yeast still bubbling away in the glass. Drank it at temperature in the 45-50 degree range which was just right. smell and taste are a perfect match in this beer as the very hop flavor you anticipate is what you get. No other off flavors to surprise.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 05:08:49 | More by jjchristiano

magictacosinus

California

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

About time I picked up another Green Flash brew. This one looks intriguing for the Belgian beer fanatic in me! Poured into a snifter from a 22oz bomber.

Produces a fabulous golden yellow, orange toned color, complete with a head that sticks around for a surprisingly long while considering the ABV. The head is creamy and yeasty, and large bubbles appear at the top, especially during the process of sinking. In fact, this whole thing is quite delightfully bubbly, almost in the way that champagne is. There's a good yeasty tone in the center of the beer, and it seems pretty dense, especially considering the massive alcohol leggings going on here. Is it a tripel or a Belgian IPA though? A combination of both, it seems! Fun stuff.

The aroma is, as expected from the description, a combo of zesty citrus (especially on the orange/clementine variety) and fruity, full-bodied Belgian yeast strands. For that matter, it pretty much reminds me of two of my favorite styles (the West Coast IPA and the tripel), and in this case, it's a true match made in heaven. Unsure still how this will hold up in the flavor. The boozy notes come off quite strong, but not as much as the hops or yeast. I can barely gather any malty aromas right here, but perhaps its for the best. It smells pretty terrific as it is, as it is quite fresh and flavorful overall.

The flavor definitely expands what I was trying to find in this beer, however! Other than the obvious dry hopped bitter flavor at first, it's quickly replaced with fruity aromas ranging from orange to sweetened lemon to candied sugar. Tripels usually have a ton of dried hops in them, but in this case, the West Coast variety from Green Flash is earthier, more on the zesty and grassy side, and also the malts are slightly sweeter as well. However, the yeasty flavors and thickness are as great as any good tripel I've had from Belgium. It's truly stunning how close they've gotten the style down in this case. There's an undeniable freshness that permeates throughout, and it tastes as such no matter how much it sits around. The alcohol is quite present, but there's a smoothness amongst the dryness that makes this a fine drinking experience indeed. I also enjoyed adding the yeast to this by the end, as it thickened the experience, but definitely reduced the hoppiness!

Fantastic job once again from the people at Green Flash. If this weren't such a hybrid, I'd say this is one of the best tripel-styled beers in America. However, the better news that because it's a hybrid recipe, it's a beer that's *unlike* any other I've ever had! Excellent stuff, and will definitely buy more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 07:27:36 | More by magictacosinus

Takahiro

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into a duvel glass for the tasting

A: clear, deep golden, with thick melengue-like foam
S: yogurty yeastiness, that reminds me of Belgian-saison yeast, bit of strawberry
T: fruity candi flavor (can't describe actual fruit) upfront then quickly transition to hop-flavor and bitterness which linger on the tongue.
M: soft and silky smoothness, light on the malt side. the bitterness is relatively sticky
O: nice Belgian pale with hoppy twist. very good

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 04:59:03 | More by Takahiro

BeerManDan

California

4.48/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

There is at least 1" of white foam against an hazy golden orange color in my clear glass. The smell of spices, fruit and mild pine filled the nose with a pleasant aroma. The taste of cloves, banana and alcoholic fruit put a surprising finish to the "zesty brew". This has a great balance of components in on 12 fl. oz. bottle. This is a #1 brew from Green Flash. I'll be back for more!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 23:50:54 | More by BeerManDan

UnkleFester

Kansas

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a golden orange with over two fingers of foamy white head that sticks around, this one has an excellent lacing.

S: Belgian yeast, cloves, spices and floral hops. Wow there is a lot going on here.

T: Upfront there is Banana, clove, and spices then it starts to transition to the IPA qualities citrusy grapefruit, orange and pine.

M: A medium body that is highly carbonated. The finish is surprisingly smooth.

O: My first beer from Green Flash I really like this one it's an amazing blend of the two styles. Refreshing complex and well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 02:08:13 | More by UnkleFester

DocJitsu

California

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky, yet vibrant golden color with a nearly pure white head. Some white lace drags the edges of the glass. The aroma is inviting with creamy Belgian yeast and balanced tartness and sweetness. Mouthfeel is pretty full and not too dry, which is a criticism I have of a lot of Belgians. A little bready, a little raisiny, but not too much of anything. Get's a little spicy. The hops help that component. A pretty unoffensive Belgian. Very drinkable and mild despite its 9.2% ABV.

ADDENDUM: As beer gets a little warmer, the tartness fades and the sweetness from the grain expresses itself, making it a little more appealing.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 00:57:09 | More by DocJitsu

Mic-Lee

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Two fingers of head minimum; big, thick, creamy and foamy. Nice caramel color, medium translucence. Smells of sweet Belgian yeast, bready. Bread and fruit flavors, spicy hops. Light bitterness. Creamy mouthfeel; smooth. Hides the alcohol extremely well, little to no boozy taste.

Overall: This is tasty. It has a nice hit of hops for a Belgian style beer. Overall, the Belgian flavor is the dominant one, so only get this if you’re in the mood for that, but it’s a nice taste that mixes well with the hops and it is definitely gulpable. Also, it is shockingly non-boozy for being 9.2%, making it a great beer to get a buzz from.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 00:28:31 | More by Mic-Lee

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I find it funny that this beer is listed on page 420. With the recent election, marijuana has been legalized in Washington state and in Colorado. The state of Arizona has also given permission for medical marijuana grow houses. Anyway, just a funny time for us to be drinking the beer on page 420. Does anyone know where the 4:20 thing came from?

The beer we are drinking is… well, a good one. Sheryl said, "Pick a good one." OK, I will. And I did. Tonight we are drinking a bottle of the Green Flash Le Freak, a huge Belgian IPA. I have had this beer before, and actually bought a case of it from Total Wine & More. They dropped the price to $3.99, so I grabbed a case. Can't beat that for an IPA that is over 9% ABV. Let's see what this beer tastes like.

In the Glass: It is thick, and has a nice orange color to it. It was poured right out of the fridge, and has a weak thin white head on top. The lace is nice, but quickly finds itself back on top of the beer. Probably because the bubbles want back in the best beer Green Flash makes! Well, their Palate Wrecker is pretty great, too.

Nose: At first, I smell flowers. It has a very nice aroma to it. On a second whiff I am picking up some dirty grassy notes on the nose. Like I said, it's ice cold, so I am sure the aroma is being masked just a little. But it has a nice aroma that you wouldn't expect from a 9.2% beer. You don't smell the booze at all.

Flavor: Oh. My. Goodness. This is a great IPA. It has all of the same characteristics that you picked up on the aroma, but then it leads to a dry, somewhat sweet aftertaste. But I will get to the aftertaste in a minute. Some tastings notes I read online talk about a citrus flavor, but I am just not getting much citrus here. The grass that I mentioned in the aroma is really obvious here on the palate. Yes, I like drinking grass. Lay off!

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is nice. Not a ton of bubbles, and while we are drinking this WAY too cold, the feeling on the tongue is totally worth writing home about. It slides across the tongue nice and cold, and leaves a thin layer of sweetness that I didn't expect. Then I swallow, and my mouth is still excited. This beer has a very nice mouthfeel that I wish more brews modeled themselves after.

Aftertaste: Nice. It's really nice. It has a quick finish that leads to the aftertaste, and it's so good, I don't even want to take another drink. it's not dry at first, but quickly my mouth feels like cotton balls. There is a super dry finish that literally leaves me licking the inside of my mouth for more flavor. But that's OK, because that dryness is what I hang on to. It hangs on for a few minutes, too. And all of those flavors that I am having along the way… the burp brings them all back to the center of the palate. I encourage you to burp on this one just to experience that flavor one more time.

This is a great beer, and even though I am a hop head, I would say this is a great place for a craft beer drinker to start when wanting to experience the true hops that a beer can produce. This one has a HUGE IBU, coming in over 100. There are some beers out there that do the same thing, hit triple digits… but they are always masked by the malt. Not here. Green Flash continues to impress me, and has done so again with the Le Freak. Bottoms up, people!

Le Freak - The bottle says: "ZESTY BREW"

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 23:34:53 | More by rickyleepotts

babaracas

Florida

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy darker amber, dense offwhite head, settles slowly to a thin layer; spray of lace on the glass. Smell: bubblegum, pepper, medicinal, funky (horseblanket) whiff, lemon peel. Taste: a little grainy and funky, sweet-ish, some peppery and citric balance, then finishes dry with citrus rind reemerging. Booze note.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 07:25:01 | More by babaracas