Nightcrawler
Flying Dreams Brewing Co.

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From:
Flying Dreams Brewing Co.
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 9.25%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
24
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 26, 2019
Added:
Apr 21, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  6
ABV fluctuates between 6.9%-7.4% depending on the batch.

This dark and mysterious cousin to the India Pale Ale is a complex beauty that blends the color and body of a black ale with the flavor and aroma of an IPA. Combining malts from Germany, North America and the United Kingdom with hops from Australia, Germany and the Yakima Valley (USA), connects diverse beer flavors and styles from all over the world.

64 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by costanzo_mike:
Photo of costanzo_mike
Rated by costanzo_mike from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jun 01, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.06 by jcoleMA66 from Massachusetts

Oct 26, 2019
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.84/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sample at the kickoff party at Homebrewcon
Dark brown with a decent sized off white head that persists. Light roast and chocolate against some citrus and resinous hops. Nice to have some malt in the mix.
Jul 05, 2019
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

3.97/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from an undated bottle into the test pint glass
A - Deep brown color, translucent backdrop allow for viewing of the vigorous carbonation. The off white cap is thickly knit and last forever.
S - Pine, light roast malts, some nutmeg earthiness as well.
T - Hop bitterness drives this bus, a bit out of balance, but quite enjoyable, the roast malts cant catch the ride.
M - A bitter start, with some delicate sweet malt notes in the middle, velvety feel, with a nice balanced linger
O - A very good hoppy ale, Reminds me in many ways of the Smuttynose hopped brown ale, this has a better feel
Mar 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.32 by redsoxjim from Massachusetts

Dec 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.19 by Hootie159 from Massachusetts

Mar 11, 2017
Photo of curtis6290
Reviewed by curtis6290 from New York

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Enjoyed on tap at the Brewery.

Look: Like a watered down Guinness.
Smell: Like a sweet IPA, great hop aroma.
Taste: Incredible. Definitely wouldn't know it was a dark ale if I didn't see it first.
Feel: Amazingly smooth and enjoyable.
Overall: Try this beer, you will be blown away.
Feb 17, 2017
Photo of ichorNet
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts

4.37/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black IPAs can be kind of tough to pull off, in my opinion. That balance of roasty, charred maltiness and heady citrusy, piney and tropical hop character is definitely not an easy one to achieve, so I've always fluctuated between being intrigued by the style and kind of annoyed by it. There just aren't too many great beers in this sub-style out there, but, of course... leave it to a random tiny brewery operating out of Worcester, MA to create an exemplary style piece.

Pours a very deep brown with little clarity save for a smattering of chestnut tones if held very closely to the light. This is definitely an unfiltered brew, that's for sure! The head is incredibly thick and long-lasting; an eggshell-white/beige kind of color that leaves behind thick, generous swaths of lace as it slowly sinks to a couple fingers in my glass. Great, vivacious pour on this right off the bat. Excellent stuff here, so far.

Nose has a lot of leafy hops upfront with a pronounced tropical fruit quality (papaya, mostly) and some light citrus undertones. Spice, herbal and pine notes are noticeable as well, but not to the extent of the juicy and fleshy fruit elements. Almost immediately underneath, however, I get bitter dark chocolate and roasty, heavily-kilned malts, providing the yang to the yin of the hop aspects. Freshly-ground espresso beans mingle with light acidic notes of orange peel and grapefruit here. A great continuation from the sight first pour, which was already very impressive. This seems like a home-run, to me!

Papaya, grapefruit, pine and herbal elements combine on the tongue right before a huge blast of roasted espresso beans and cacao hits towards the middle. This is very impressive to me. I've heard tell that previous renditions of this beer were more towards the "hoppy porter" end of the black IPA spectrum, and I'm glad this feels a bit more towards the middle, sometimes even leaning towards the newer-school IPA side of things. Very citrus pith forward with a lot of curaçao orange peel, grapefruit zest and tangerine pulp in there as well. Pretty juicy, and the acidity of the hops mixes well with the roasty, bold chocolate malt aspects. This is really good; maybe one of the best black IPAs I've had, and, like I've said, it's a style I sometimes have trouble with.

Feel is fairly dense and tightly-packed with a low-medium carbonation and heavier body... the more natural bottle-conditioning helps this one a lot. Very drinkable, worthy of consideration and up there with some of the best black IPAs/ABAs/CDAs I've had (including Hill Farmstead's James, In'finiti aka Liquid Riot's Pushing Black and the original Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet). Very enjoyable, especially for something I didn't quite expect to be so good.
Nov 26, 2016
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown where light shine through the center. Two finger head that settles in a rocky fashion. Lots of chunky lace on the glass.

Not as dark smelling as I expected. I get some creaminess with a touch of hop bitterness.

Smooth pale malt start that slowly "darkens" as the taste proceeds. Good body and low carbonation. Creamy finish with a short aftertaste.
Nov 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by MA_Nole from Massachusetts

Apr 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.71 by Uconnelmo from Connecticut

Apr 01, 2016
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Reviewed by gonzo000 from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The night crawler is a solid dark IPA, or hoppy black ale. The pour lacks noticeable body and appears thin, but the color is nice as is the 1 finger head. The smell is solid, somewhat hoppy with a solid ale aroma. The taste is very good, but gets better as it warms. Seemed to be best at 48 degrees + to me. The feel was solid. I would have guessed waterier based on the pour, but the mouthfeel was very good. Overall a solid sweet brown.
Mar 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.19 by Rideguy64 from New Hampshire

Feb 11, 2016
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Reviewed by deleted_user_987389

3.66/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Enjoyed from 22-oz bottle. Look: dark with a light tan head. Smell: roasty and very much like coffee. Taste: roasty and bitter, lacking hop flavor and hop bitterness. Feel: creamy, slightly undercarbonated. Overall: great malt character for style, though perhaps too dark, but missing hop profile to qualify as "hoppy" or black ipa.
Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by ColdOneKev from North Carolina

Jan 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by WoostaBia from Massachusetts

Dec 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by Nomis from Massachusetts

Dec 13, 2015
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Enjoyed at the release party.

Light fluffy head, little lacing, dark murky brown.

Nose fresh hops, floral citrusy, spicy earthy notes, creamy dark malts, hint choc and caramel.

Taste dark malts, toasty with little caramel and creamy brown malts, hops get fairly bitter, little citrus zest, bit earthy spicy, pretty bitter with zest finish, fairly dry quite bitter earthy spicy hops, hint of brown malt.

Mouth med bod, nice creamy good carb.

Overall an interesting beer, one of my least fav styles but this was done pretty well.
Dec 07, 2015
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed at the brewery grand opening.

A - Poured a dark black hue with a thin off white head that fades to leave thin wisps.

S - Aromas of faint malts, dark roast, faint chocolate. The hops are surprisingly subtle. Light grassy notes, super subtle pine, very soft citrus and tangerine.

T - Taste is similar to the nose, light malts and chocolate roast. The hops bring nice bitterness on the finish, definitely has the 7.9% ABV hidden. The hops are light and grassy, lingering bitter finish. The hops are a little subdued, but, this drinks more like a darker ipa instead of a hoppy porter thanks to the Bravo and Topaz.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, little creamy. Alcohol hidden well.

O - Overall this beer was rather solid. I think I agree with Dave, as things get fine tuned and the alcohol comes down the hops will pop more. Lots of upside here.

Serving type: on tap
Nov 20, 2015
Photo of Phillip13
Reviewed by Phillip13 from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A very good dark IPA. A rich and bitter taste all at the same time. You can smell the coffee and cocoa overtones along with just the right amount of hops. The best beer at the Gardner Ale House.
Jun 22, 2015
Nightcrawler from Flying Dreams Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 24 ratings