Le Freak Ale

Today was the last day of school in Broward County, Florida. School officials thoughtlessly and inconveniently made it another half day putting added stresses on working parents. On top of that, they decided not to offer the after-care program that they offer on every single other "early-release" day. Perhaps the elites don't think it's such a big deal, but in all honesty, it would have been 1000% better to not have had school today at all. At least then I'd have been able to take my son to my office for a full day. You know what? Tons of parents agreed, according to my son. His 28-kid (yes, gulp, packed in like sardines, too) class had less than 20 today. Seems like they do school like they do elections here in Broward!

This afternoon I am drinking Le Freak Ale brewed by Green Flash Brewing Company in Vista, California. I've heard this beer referred to as a Belgian IPA, but the bottle describes it as an "extreme ale converging San Diego-style imperial pale ale and Belgian-style trippel". This one came back from my friend's Washington DC visit. Thanks a lot! There is a picture on the label behind the words, but I'll be damned if I could tell you what it's depicting beyond a vague nature scene with a guard house and railing view over a mountain. Perhaps it's a new style of  impressionism!

Damn! I opened this outside for my photo shoot and even with some decent wind, the aroma was super powerful. Spicy and tropical fruity at the same time, some pine and a yeasty component, too. The flavors start out very similarly. Fruity pineapple and mango with a bitter orange peel there as well. A good dose of pine with spicy black pepper rounds out the most noticeable flavors. Balance? Hmmm. Well, the sweet and bitter do not combine to make a balanced neutral, not at all. You start with bitter, then the beer turns sweet, and you swing back and forth like a pendulum for the whole beer, really quite awesomely!

Yeast and sugar give some other dimensions as you drink your 22 ouncer. The 9.2% alcohol also jumps in the mix to accentuate the fruits and spicy black pepper. Medium carbonation is perfect, flavors out of this world, nice spicy, bitter and alcohol kick, fruity loveliness... what else could you possibly ask for in a beer? If you answer that, you are greedy! Dry and bitter fruitiness linger on your palate for a long time. Wonderful beer!

Le Freak: Live ~ Chic

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Here's a before and after opening in my front yard. The different cars driving by should be a giveaway on that one. Yes, thank you, I know that is a beautiful Date Palm in the picture. I planted that when it only had 4 fronds, after that bitch Hurricane Wilma ripped the tree that was situated there in half, leaving it on my driveway twisted in wind and street debris! I did take my time, but the neighbors were giving me a WTF glare after four staged beer photos.