Green Flash Le Freak - Green Flash Brewing Co.

bloberglawp

Quebec (Canada)

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

@ the Trappist, pre-NHC evening, thanks Push Eject for sharing this.

Pours a golden yellow, huge head, huge lace. Gorgeous rich and generous hop aroma, also alot of belgian candy in the nose. Awesome.

Flavor, much like the aroma is alot of hops and a fresh belgian ale caracter. Sweeter like a dubbel, dispite it being pale.

Love this beer, I purchased a couple of bombers and will enjoy these I'm shure.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2009 02:36:20 | More by bloberglawp

HalfFull

California

3.63/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap into a tulip glass, the brew pours a cloudy golden orange in color with a full inch of off white head. Head collapses upon itself slowly and leaves random chunks of lacing.

Nose is of some citrus hops muddled with candi sugar. Bit of banana and yeast in the background.

Tastes more of a Tripel than an IPA, as Green Flash calls it a cross between the two. Hops are present yet swarmed by the rich malts, yet the yeast isn't that prevalent either. Still it is enticing and complex and rather drinkable for its size. Flavors improve notably with some warming. The alcohol is pretty well hidden here but the sweetness would limit the drinkability. A unique beer worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2009 18:52:18 | More by HalfFull

soccerman7

Vermont

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on draft at Holy Smoke in a pint glass.

A- Gorgeous glowing blonde color with a very sticky head that laced all the way down.

S - Truly complex nose. hops were there with the citrus and pine, but also the sweetness as expected on a triple.

T - Fantastic. I was expecting more of an east coast style DIPA but you could make out the DIPA and tripel. hops were perfectly balanced with the sweetness and the flavors unravelled as it gently warmed.

M - very smooth but had a sticky coating affect with the sweetness.

D - Definitely one of the better beers around. can see why the cult status with many people. Highly enjoyable brew but more than one can be overwhelming on the palate.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2009 01:47:27 | More by soccerman7

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #1 on tap at the Toronado, in San Diego and again at Cole's, in Buffalo.

Golden and orange tones are blended into an assortment of soft-hued pastels - the delicacy and balance of this synthesis is quite emblematic for a beer that sets out to fuse two distinctly archetypal brewing traditions. Although clarity is impeded it isn't entirely obstructed. The haze also fails to repress what is a very healthy looking glow.

Its lean, peachy coloured overlay is firm and durable. Despite the only modest proportion, it manages to embalm the glass like a mummy; strips of white are wrapped around and around. Le Freak certainly doesn't look like much of an aberration; instead actually, all indications show signs of a really well crafted beer.

The aroma isn't funky like I braced myself for it to be. I could possibly be convinced there was use of brettanomyces, although I know none were used. No, this bouquet of soft fruit (pear and apple) is the indication of an authentic, time-tested Belgian strain of yeast. It should go without saying that a proper yeast is the most important aspect of making a Belgian-type ale.

Here's where fruit will start to come at you from all angles. First, overwhelming and aggressively so from the hops. This is definitely West Coast style: it has all the juice, peel, piths, rinds and otherwise citrusy character you can soak out of hops. This produces flavours of banana, pineapple, grapefruit, melon, lemon zest, and cantaloupe.

The second source of all things fruity and flavorful, Belgian yeast, is far more subtle. It has the suggestion of fruit through its esters. It concentrates more on the orchard fruits (rather than citrus) and tops it all of with a smack of buttery vanilla, tons of white pepper and a pretty generous dose of barnyard funk.

The brewer considers this a "Belgian-style tripel meets San Diego imperial IPA" and it's still a bit of a mystery to me how, given if that's exactly what they set out to do, Green Flash could pull off something so well balanced. American hops are obnoxiously in-your-face aggressive whilst Belgian yeast works with subtlety and elegance. In theory the two contradict...

Yet in this beer both somehow go about their ways independently and do nothing to compromise the other. If there is one anomaly with Le Freak it would be how well the quintessence of both Belgian and American brewing has been merged. Green Flash must be commended for this. The result is something smooth and tremendously gratifying to drink.

I was very happy to learn Green Flash has decided to brew this one again. 'Le Freak' was definitely no miscreation; it happened to be one of the most ingenious, praiseworthy and admirable brewing aspirations I've had the pleasure of drinking. Mission accomplished Green Flash... now do it again!

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2008 20:20:09 | More by biegaman

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at the Roadhouse BBQ in Brookline. Came served in a small 12 oz stemmed glass. Hazy orange color. Thin white head. The smell tingles the nose; there are some hops in there for sure. Taste was very different. Had a very unusual initial flavor of a sweet Tripel with that upfront alcohol flavor, then before you could swallow, there was a tons of hops in your mouth. For an IPA, very different. For a Belgian IPA, very tasty. Alcohol was very pronounced, hence the small pour. This, plus the stringent hops profile, makes this beer a sipper, and not something to drink all night, in my opinion. Well worth a try though.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2008 00:47:01 | More by morebeergood

HopDerek

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask at Spinnerstown Hotel on 10/25/08.

Poured a hazy light amber with thin white head. Some good retention and a bit of lacing. Smells of citrus and pine, yeast, fruits, candy, caramel, and clove. Tastes of fruits like pear and apple up front followed by banana, clove, and honey. Belgian candy and yeasty funk follow, then a medley of citrus and pine hops for a West Coast style finish. Medium full in body, smooth. Fruity with a nice spicy bitter finish. Another impressive brew from Green Flash, combines both Belgian and West Coast IPA styles nicely.

Serving type: cask

11-13-2008 01:23:15 | More by HopDerek

SShelly

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap at Blue Palms.

A light golden color with a 2" bright white head.

Nice hop aroma, lots of citrus and pine.

Taste is almost all pine in the bitterness/hop flavor/hop aroma, my wife described it as "sprucy". there is enough malt to balance out the hops, and as it warmed I was able to get some residual sweetness . While there was a little spiciness to the flavor there wasnt much there that I would label as "belgian". Also a great sharp hop bite aftertaste that was again very piny.

Overall I will most definetly order this again if I see it on someones beer list.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2008 03:27:15 | More by SShelly

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

GABF Weekend '08: I'm a'luv'n the hoppy Belgians. This one comes out with a witbier appearance- canary yellow and a firm head formation that laced well and retained to the bottom of the glass. Piercing aromas of lemons, acidic berry-like tartness, and sharp citrus-piney hops that stand out over the softer pilsner malts. Flavors are acidic of lemons, berries, white pepper, and a plethera of other fruity esters and peppery phenols. Hops (Amerillo's?) give a citric orange / grapefruit flavor swirled around strong notes of pine and lemmon grass. The hop flavor is intense, religating the malts to a backup role only. The intense hops and spices give a lot of complexity and variety. A light vineous, barrel-aged tannin quality prounounces in the finish. And so does a mild lactic astringency and a light soapy phenolic character. Otherwise a near-flawless beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2008 20:57:14 | More by BEERchitect

bonbini26

New Jersey

4.88/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On cask @ the Blind Tiger 10-03-08

A - Hazy light orangey color, with thin white head. Great lacing

S - Great floral aroma up front, bordering on citrus fruit as well. Good hop presence in the mix

T - As delicate as the aromas are, there is quite a big taste. Plenty of hop bitterness, per the style, with hints of spices

M - The hops attacks in a totally different way than your normal IPA, so amazing, I love hoppy beers and this beer on cask was unlike any type of hop attack ive ever had. with a pretty dry finish

D - Plenty of interesting layers to this brew, but superbly drinkable. If it wasnt for $7 a mug price i would drink a whole cask of this

Overall this is one of my favorite beers ive had in a while, simply outstanding. Ive had this beer from the bottle, but on cask its a totally different beast, simply outstanding.

Serving type: cask

10-06-2008 13:55:51 | More by bonbini26

Nickls

District of Columbia

4.53/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(From notes)

A - Hazy light orangey color, with thin white head. Great lacing

S - Great floral aroma up front, bordering on citrus fruit as well. Good hop presence in the mix

T - As delicate as the aromas are, there is quite a big taste. Plenty of hop bitterness, per the style, with hints of spices

M - Thinner mouthfeel, with very muted carbonation (it was on cask after all), with a pretty dry finish

D - Plenty of interesting layers to this brew, but superbly drinkable. I would have no trouble partaking in it all night.

Overall, this was a standout brew (at least for me) at the 2nd Chelsea Cask Festival in Manhattan. Really great stuff, and would highly recommend. Looking forward to trying the bottled version

Serving type: cask

09-24-2008 01:52:49 | More by Nickls

illidurit

California

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Poured into a pint glass. Hazy orange color with a fluffy white head. Good thick lacing. Tropical citrus aroma with some Belgian yeast esters. A bit of tree sap too. Bready and yeasty malt undertones, mango notes, perfumey alcohol, medium bitterness. Soft carbonation, maybe a little undercarbonated. Semi dry and mostly clean finish.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2008 08:21:10 | More by illidurit

Sixpoint

New York

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I can't believe you can get this beer on-tap in Brooklyn. That's crazy.

Had this baby on draft at Pacific Standard. They always seem to have great beers on tap.

Not much of a head on this hazy golden beer, looked a little lifeless. However, the aroma had the sweetness and spice of a true Belgian Pale.

Lots of warmth from the alcohol, plenty of clove, nutmeg, the usual suspects.

Had a light carbonation, which was surprising, but I felt actually enhanced the drinkability of this brew. Went down way too easy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2008 14:41:26 | More by Sixpoint

Floydster

California

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pint at the PB Tap Room for five dollars and some change, consumed 9/4/08, reviewed from notes, glad to finally find this stuff

A-Cloudy golden orange color with yellow highlights, 3/4 inch creamy white head that stayed around for about five minutes, nice lacing
S-Oranges, grapefruit, tangerine, cloves, other spices, bananas, bubble gum, Belgian yeast, candied sugar, hoppiness, straw, and pine
T-This brew reminds me of a tripel and a double IPA at the same time even though that does not seem possible, lots of underlying sugar to go along with the hops, Belgian yeast sticks out quite a bit as well, lots of pine at times too, a little sweeter than I would have wanted but still very good and different from the other Belgian IPAs I have had in that it is more abbey-like than being hoppy like a typical IPA
M-Spicy, dry, and sweet mouthfeel, above average level of carbonation, medium bodied that is on the thicker side, taste lingers
D-This stuff is slightly hard to drink because of its complexity, ABV seems like it would be high too, can heavy on the stomach, smooth for the most part but does get sweet by the end

I had Super Freak before this which is a barrel aged sour version and I was disappointed to say the least, this beer impressed me quite a bit and is part of a fairly new style, if there was a Belgian DIPA category, it would probably be in that, will be drinking again judging by the bottles I picked up while down south, recommended

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2008 21:22:01 | More by Floydster

Rzzzzz

California

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

On tap at Mission Pizza in Fremont (aka "Freakmont"). ABV not listed above, but bartender said it was 9%.

This is definitely an example of worlds colliding. Served in a pint glass, cloudy yellow with a fluffy white head that lingered, leaving behind some solid lacework.

Strong aroma of hops, typical of a west coast IPA. And of Belgian yeast & spice, typical of a Belgian tripel. My brain can't figure out which way to go with this one, as the pull is equally strong from each direction. Tasting only adds to the confusion, as the flavors match the aromas. These are not two styles I'd in any way associate with one another yet there they are living harmoniously in the same glass.

An unusual animal for sure, but with a nice, smooth mouthfeel and a subtle alcohol warming at the end, this stuff is oddly satisfying.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2008 14:16:02 | More by Rzzzzz

Hojaminbag

Colorado

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

A copper body with an off-white head.

Smell is mostly hops, piney and citrusy.

Taste is also mostly hops. Some fruitiness up front followed by tons of pine along with citrus and just straight bitterness. In the background, espcially in the finish, I notice a belgian yeast character. Mouthfeel is thicker than an IPA and not as oily.

Fairly drinkable brew, an interesting drink.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2008 17:14:34 | More by Hojaminbag

Patrick

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: this beer get points for appearing different from anything else I've had. It is the color of old orange juice, a dark orange. Nice head and tons of lacing.

S: lots of hops but even more cloves. The nose is dominated by spiciness.

T: smooth and spicy clove taste at first with an also smooth biterness at the end, interesting.

M: smooth, dry, well carbonated.

D: this might not be my favorite style bit this is an interesting beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2008 00:57:13 | More by Patrick

largadeer

Kentucky

2.3/5  rDev -43.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: Hazy golden yellow with a small white head.

Smell: Estery funk, candy sweetness and hops of the herbal and citrus variety.

Taste & mouthfeel: Candy-like sweetness and fruity esters up front. A bit of yeasty funk is present in the background, lending some nice complexity until the abusively bitter hops begin to rape the palate. This beer has to have the worst balance of hops I've ever tasted - there's little hop flavor or aroma, while the bitterness is completely over the top. Midway through the glass my palate was numb and I couldn't actually taste anything beyond bitterness. Pretty ridiculous stuff, and not in a good way.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2008 23:26:44 | More by largadeer

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

On-tap at The Blue Tusk in Syracuse, served in a tulip. Hazy yellow color with a white head and lacing.

Interesting, the hops don't kick in until the aftertaste. The initial flavor and aroma are of white bread, orange peel, and yellow cake. Then once this beer rolls back, it bursts with citrus and pine hops for an American IPA-strength bitterness. If you're into Belgian IPA's, this one's for you.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2008 05:15:08 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a fully fogged in orange with a brown hue. nose is real strong with lemon and seems to smell like Pine Sol. Yeah. I said that. Flavor is smooooth. Real smooth. Meaty hops and meaty citrus. Robust and earthy. Feel is silken on liquid. This is pretty tasty. Surprisingly, it leans much farther to Belgian than IPA, which is good. Well done. Very well done indeed.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2008 20:30:31 | More by RblWthACoz

opwog

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Now listeing to: Gorillaz - Spitting Out The Demons

I admit it, I have a "thing" for Greenflash beers and while this beer was a stretch from most of their offerings, it did not disapoint at all.

A- Cloudy, golden-yellow color, with firm white head
S- yeast, pear, citrus, straw
T- This is an incredibly balanced beer. Hops help keep the style slightly dry, while you still get all the fruit characteristics
M- For many Beligians, the mouth is my least favorite element, but just as with the balance that the hops add to the taste, that dryness improves the mouthfeel for this style
D- Very drinkable! If there wasn't such a large selection of revolving beers at Beechwood that I wanted to try, I definitely would have ordered a second!

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2008 00:03:02 | More by opwog

Halcyondays

California

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

On-tap at the Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a cloudy yellow-orange, with a medium white white head, great thick sticky white lacing.

S: Belgian yeast, pepper, hops, solid scent for the style.

T: Taste is big on the Belgian yeast spice on the first taste. Then the hops come in and combine with the yeast flavour to create a menthol, peppermint flavour, interesting. Hops are filled with a grassy and pine bitterness reminiscent of a spruce ale, but you know they're hops, a strange flavour, but tasty.

M: Very yeasty, light phenols, medium-bodied, has a bit of chalky character to it.

D: Another very good beer from Green Flash, is it possible for this brewery to make a beer that is not delicious? Great example of the new style, glad I finally found it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2008 22:33:54 | More by Halcyondays

dbONE

California

4.4/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed at the tasting table on site at Green Flash.

A nice deep pale near golden looks crisp and clean, as the very carbonated head has trouble staying put in the glass.
They dont forget about the hops in this creation they are place well behind a fruity and spicy aroma
The flavor creeps in with a hint of spice then picks up the pace with fruityness, then sprints in to give a heafty hearble bitterness. They said it was 9% but it went down way easier than that.
Nice mouthfeel but the carbontaion was enough to take away from the heavier taste.
This is a nicly balanced beer and a catagory that is sure to keep growing. Get your notes in on this one first, then enjoy it with a Ashton VSG cigar, holy ----!

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2008 16:02:00 | More by dbONE

sloejams

California

3.7/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap at the Belmont Brewing Co

I was happy to see that nestled in amongst the BBC's own beers they had a few from Green Flash, including this one that I've not had previously. It pours a golden color, looking a lot like a tripel. Smell-wise too, I would have guessed this a tripel: there was clove, Belgian yeast and slight citrus. The hops didnt really come out until the bitterness of the taste. It took me awhile to warm up to it as it didnt have the bouquet of say an Urthel Hop-It or a Poperings Hommel. I will say that as it warmed it warmed up to me.

I will say the high ABV came out in the taste a bit which had me switch beers after just one.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2008 22:16:23 | More by sloejams

3frog

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Liars Club in Alpine.

A-due to the over-exuberant head, it took them a bit to get enough liquid in the glass. Halfway between pale and gold. sparkly!

S-mmm, spicy! somewhat fruity/apricotty. Good blend of aromas, that said Saison, though the hops were in the background.

T-saison spice and fruit, plus a pretty strong bitter backbone and tail. Didn't really notice the alcohol. The flavors married very well together, imo.

M-definitely some fizz, though the body was heavy enough that it felt fairly substantial when drinking.

D-ok, I'm just going to say it; this is my favorite Belgium-Calfornia IPA combination. It wasn't the first, but while others have been more of a tripel-IPA, this strikes me as a saison-IPA, and the spiciness of the yeast and hops integrate better than others I've tried (and I've had a few).

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2008 02:20:27 | More by 3frog

Billolick

New York

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

On tap at the Gate in Brooklyn ,NY as part of their recent California bee event. Always nice to try a new offering from a Green Flash. This pours hazy, apricot amber, under a rich looking off white head, that lasts and dissolves to tiny bubble film and shimmering lace on the glass. nose explodes with , ripe fuits, tropical and citrus, yeast, bread, and a mellow undertone of funk, wow, nice. Heady, bold and tasty brew. A lot going on here. Yeast, more tropical fruity ester, spiced up hops. Yummy, aggressive brew. Love the style and this one delivers the goods. Only wish this one was available in the local area on a regular basis. Oh well, gotta get back out to San Diego!

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2008 19:04:30 | More by Billolick