After the night must come day. Isn’t that the way of things? It is with Lagunitas Brewing of Petaluma, California and more recently Chicago, Illinois, too, although for me there was quite a bit of time in between. I first tried Lagunitas Night Time Fear the Dark Ale way back in 2014, but it’s only this year, 2016 that I’ve managed to find a bottle of Lagunitas Day Time Ale, A Fractional IPA. Whatever that is.
Actually I do know what that is, it’s another name for a so-called “Session IPA”. As a rule, I’m not a fan of such beers, though I do enjoy one here and there. I could never session them myself, as they are far too lacking in malt to be a beer I can drink more than one of. They are, classically defined, neither session beers nor IPAs. So there. Lagunitas even pokes fun at the Fractional IPA moniker on the label adding underneath it “is that ridiculous or what..?”
That said, I am a big Lagunitas fan, so let’s give their example a go, shall we?
From the brewery website:
Our "Fractional IPA", Boldly Dosed with a Gloriou$ Fortune of Dry Hops and a Toasty Malt Foundation to satisfy your every need. But it still lets you stay in the game to do what needs to be done. Available in select markets all year long and soon to be released year-round nationwide.
Lagunitas Day Time Ale has an alcohol content of 4.65% with 54 IBUs. I’ve seen it as low as $8.54 locally.
Lagunitas Day Time Ale, A Fractional IPA pours to a pale golden color with a thick frothy head and bit of tropical passion fruit and pineapple in the nose. Taking a sip, the palate is thin malty and then picks right back up with those passion fruit and pineapple notes with papaya and peach thrown in for good measure. The beer finishes with an assertive dry bitterness.
What I’m missing here is malt, but you already knew that. Still, that’s the way this “style” is supposed to be, so I judge accordingly. Really, this is an American Pale Ale although it would be light on the malt for that, too. Begrudgingly, I am officially giving “session IPAs” their own category here on Bruguru.com with this beer.
Still and all I do enjoy the abundance of tropical fruity hops in Lagunitas Day Time Ale, and this would indeed be a great beer for afternoon sipping. Because that’s um, the day time. You get the message.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft