The latest release from Independence Brewing Co. in Austin has a citrus twist and a civic motive. Freak Power, a blood orange-infused hefeweizen, has the refreshing quality that you'd expect from a summer wheat beer. Although it shows classic hefeweizen notes of clove and banana, its tart citrus and orange peel quality tempers those flavors and cuts the sweetness. Tangy blood orange and a touch of earthiness lead into the dry finish.
The beer's rollout ties in with Independence Brewing Co.'s upcoming voter registration events, held at bars and retailers in five Texas cities, including Dallas. The name Freak Power pays homage to the author Hunter S. Thompson's "Freak Power" political party, launched to rock the vote for his 1970 campaign for sheriff of Aspen. The Dallas and Fort Worth voter registration events will be later this summer, and announced on the brewery's Facebook page. (You can only register to vote in the county in which you live, so pay attention to the event locale.) Regional sales reps for the brewery will be deputized to register voters at Freak Power's summer roll-out events - a novel approach to boosting turnout for the 2020 elections.
Owned and co-founded by Amy Cartwright and her husband Rob, Independence Brewing Co. was established in 2004. It is one of Austin's oldest craft breweries.
Freak Power is sold in six-packs of 12-ounce cans for about $8.99 at Central Market (Northwest Highway and Plano stores), Whole Foods Market (Richardson and Fairview stores), Richardson Beer and Wine, Market Street in Frisco, Empire Liquor and Craft Beers in Allen, and Midway Mart in Denton.
Tina Danze is a Dallas freelance writer.