Upon a recommendation from Lee Williams I decided to pick up a bomber of Le Freak and save it for a special occasion. Surprisingly, that occasion came quickly in the form of an awful day at work. Things have slowed down for the summer making it extremely hard to sit at a desk waiting for phone calls. Although I’m getting paid to I would much rather save the company money and have some free time to do whatever the hell I wanted. Anywho, enough of my venting let’s get to the beer.
To be honest I was rather intimidated by Le Freak as I plucked it off the shelf. It’s a San Diego-style Imperial IPA and a Belgian Trippel. Regardless of my nerves my curiosity was peaked and my resolve to try every beer once (it might be possible Michael) spurred me onward. The label art depicts a picturesque, watercolor beach scene looking out at a lifeguard hut. Right smack dab in the middle of the bottle reads the ABV coming in at 9.2%. Yikes! After today I need a big beer.
The color is a hazy straw-golden that shines in the sunlight. It is topped with a very lively white head. The carbonation is rather high making we wonder if this beer is bottle conditioned, but I’m leaning towards no. There are intricate patterns of lace as you gradually sip this freak-ish brew. I’m not really sure how to describe the aroma. It’s almost like you get hit with everything at once. I can say that the Belgian yeast is at the forefront of the smell. It is spicy, bready, bold, and floral. The hops, determined to not be counted out, add their own scents of citrus and pine. You can just about smell every fruit imaginable.
My first sip owned my senses in a good way. I was completely taken back by the odd blend of both styles of beer. I’m pretty sure they ferment the IPA with a Belgian yeast strain instead of blending/mixing separate brews. What a treat! I’m most impressed by the yeast. It stands out confidently among a massively hopped beer. Both styles are identifiable, yet compliment each other perfectly. At first you get the resinous hoppy IPA which then turns into a slightly alcoholic, sweet Trippel, and then finishes with a zesty, spicy, bready Saison-like flavor. The aftertaste is light, but your breath lets you know you just had a HUGE beer. While somewhat dry at first from the hops and alcohol, the bready aspects leave you refreshed.
ABV 9.2%
Gut level Grade: B+
Grade based on uniqueness: A