Freak of Nature. A Double India Pale Ale

Review Date 12/6/2025 By John Staradumsky

Style: Imperial IPA   Brewery: Wicked Weed   Country: USA   State: North Carolina   $ Per OZ: $.18 (B), $.50 (D)   ABV: 8.5%

So, there I was at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, and I wanted a beer. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t surprise you. Mind you, I had already had a few beers, first when I stopped at the new Buck Bald brewery downtown, then at the new Brew Brothers bar and restaurant in the casino, and then another with dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen. I was on vacation and having fun losing money to the slot machines, so why not have another beer? I ordered another beer.

This time, I got the beer at one of the two free standing bars in the casino, and I ordered a Wicked Weed Freak of Nature Double India Pale Ale. I don’t often see this beer, and apparently, I had only had it once before, according to Untappd. I checked into it there on March 5^th 2017, and entered that I had had it at Taco Mac.

No photo, though. No tasting notes to be found anywhere. I checked my Brewniversity history from Taco Mac and they had me drinking it the night before, March 4^th. My Onedrive photo uploads from my phone then told the story: that was the night Jeff Evans was in town, and we had a few beers together at Taco Mac. Must have been caught up in conversation and didn’t take a picture or notes.

This time, though, I was sure to jot down my thoughts, and I must say that I truly enjoyed this beer.

Wicked Weed says:

Freak of Nature. Noun. 1. An unusual, unexpected natural phenomenon. 2. An outlying, west coast style double India Pale Ale brewed with an abnormally large quantity of hops. 3. A delicately crafted, and crushable ale designed for fresh and immediate consumption. 4. A hophead vice or downfall. Ex: Though warned about its habit-forming hoppiness, they were seduced by the dank, tropical, and drinkable Freak of Nature.

Hops

Centennial/Chinook/Columbus/Warrior

Dry Hops

Amarillo/Centennial/Columbus/Simcoe

Yeasts

California Ale Yeast

Malts

2 Row/Carifoam/Crystal Light

Wicked Weed Freak of Nature Double India Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 8.5% by volume and I paid $8 for a pint at Harrah’s. Total Wine sells it for $12.99 a six-pack here in Georgia.

My Wicked Weed Freak of Nature Double India Pale Ale arrived a bright orange color with a light head of creamy foam and a nose of intense citrus and pine. Taking a sip the beer is medium in body with a firm caramel maltiness, then explodes with grapefruit peel and resiny pine. It finishes with an intense long dry grassy bitterness that just goes on and on and on.

This was truly impressive, and I am definitely going to pick some up the next time I see it. You should, too.