Rating: 5.05/5

NightTime by Lagunitas is an 8.2% ABV Black India Pale Ale.

Label:
Fear The Dark

There are two kinds. There is the DayTime kind, which is bright and welcoming and then there is the NightTime kind, which should never be confused with the DayTime. NightTime is dark and deep and may take you to unexpected places, places that the DayTime cannot. But then, the NightTime is not suited for ordinary life and ordinary tasks. In fact, NightTime may be the answer for that sort of thing, meaning that those sorts of things may never get done. Things take time in the NightTime, things slow down and you can pause (you have to, actually) and investigate carefully to find that level of objective detachment that is only possible under the spell of the NightTime. Seek the Day, but fear not the Night.
___

Got this one at craftshack.com at a very low price. I have heard many people talking about how great his beer was and how it was unlike usual Black IPAs because it was more like a regular IPA than most. I have had similar beers that changed perceptions in the past, mainly Black Racer from Bear Republic. So I figured I give this one a go and see what was up with the commotion. This one should be readily available where ever they sell Lagunitas beers. Cheers!!

Aromas:
Lots of Tropical fruits, guava, papaya, prickly pear, dragon fruit, peach, pineapple, mango, chocolate, piney grassy, rich grapefruit and earthy hops, anise, molasses hints, citrus, dank garlic and onion notes, brown sugar, citrus, lemon peel, hints of vanilla, tangerine, gummy bears and passion fruit.

Flavors:
Very much tropical fruits for a Black IPA. Mango,papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, guava, peaches, cherries, strawberries, dragon fruit, dark chocolate, caramel, biscuit bread, brown sugar, citrus, hints of anise, molasses hints, hints of vanilla, cola notes, floral notes, hints of smoke, dank garlic and onion notes, tangerine, gummy bears and lemon peel.

Aftertaste:
Earthy hops, chocolate, smokey hints, rich tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya, and guava hints .No alcohol in the taste, black as night appearance, easy to moderate drinkability, crisp and refreshing despite the appearance with a full mouth feel.

Overall:
This beer does not drink like Black IPA, it drinks like a very delicious double IPA with Black appearances. This beer is freaking amazing. Lagunitas really knows their stuff in the IPA department. Tropical beers are my thing and like Black Racer, this one was just like that one but this one had a lot of tropics to it despite being a dark IPA. If you were to smother a bit of chocolate sweetness unto a plentiful tropical punch with ofcourse the IPA grassy bitterness, you would be close to what this beer has to offer. NightTime is freaking insane. Appearances can be deceiving but in this case they are doing it in a great way.

Anime Corner:
Original Character by dj.adonis was used in this pairing for several reasons. I paired this beer with the character because I wanted to show the aspect of NightTime and the colors of the label partially. As you can see, many sleep in the night (closed eyes), but this character with the night time background and the crimson bloody moon represent that fruit punch tropical aspect you get this this beer. Her weapons shown only make that more dangerous. As I have said before, about looks being deceiving, you should definitely “Fear The Dark” as stated in this bottle because you will be mesmerized by her beauty only to be deceived but experience bliss before your downfall…

Sources:
http://e-shuushuu.net/images/2014-07-13-660632.jpeg