Once You Go
NightLife Brewing Company

On tap at a beer bar right outside the Everglades National Park.

I knew nothing of the brewery, and the oxymoronic "Dark Pale Ale" designation will always irritate me, and it appears as if juvenile "Once You Go (Black)" pun thing was already done by at least one other brewer. But the bartender spoke highly of this beer, so I gave it a try.

It pours a deep black. It's a black ale.

Smells roasty and hoppy: like a nice, strong stout made with American hops .

Tastes like a stout up front: charred barley, dry hops. The middle and end tastes like a bready, piney DIPA. In my notes, I wrote the word PINE in all caps and underlined.

The balance is surprisingly neat and well-done.