Monday, January 29, 2007

LAGUNITAS "FREAK OUT" REDUX

After Rick from Pacific Brew News warned us all in the interview I did with him that we shouldn't "cellar" light-colored beers for too long, I sorta panicked and put all the IPAs and pale ales that were sitting in the garage into the fridge, and lined them up for drinking (and naturally, reviewing) ASAP. Last October I told you how much I loved LAGUNITAS BREWING's Frank Zappa/Mothers-inspired "FREAK OUT" ALE, and today I'm here to tell you again that I still love it, and that I want you to drink some. This is a beautiful India Pale Ale, "big" and hoppy and full of flavor. It is a deep sunburst orange color, and just begs you to get going from the first drop in the glass - also a big foamy, hoppy head invigorated with a grapefruit-ish smell. Fantastic beer across the board, whether you find it on draft or in a bottle - I've had it both ways, and figure it deserves no less than a 9/10. I'd better go get some more to cellar for no more than a month or two.

4 comments:

the said...

http://origin.insidebayarea.com/bayarealiving/ci_5074577

Anonymous said...

How would you compare it to the regular Lagunitas IPA as far as hops & bitterness go?

Anonymous said...

Don't want to speak for Jay, but I think the Freak Out is a lot better than the regular Lagunitas IPA.

scott

Jay H. said...

Totally agree with Scott. I have always thought Lagunitas IPA is just too basic & bland, but when they hop it up a bit, as they've done with Freak Out and Maximus - look out. Those two beers are fantastic.