High Water Nyctophiliac
High Water Nyctophiliac is a walk on the dark side of sour beer — 6.5% ABV, 12oz, a dark American sour built from a blend of the brewery's stout and porter, aged together in oak barrels for 18 months. "Nyctophiliac" means a lover of the dark, and this beer earns the name: jet-black pour, roasted malt depth, and a bracing acidic bite. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 6.5%
- Size: 12oz
- Style: Dark American sour / wild ale
- Base: Blend of stout and porter
- Aging: 18 months in oak barrels
- Origin: High Water Brewing, California
Stout Depth Meets Sour Bite
Most sours are pale and bright — Nyctophiliac goes the other way. Eighteen months in oak layers vanilla and barrel tannin over chocolate and coffee roast, while the wild fermentation brings a sharp, bracing acidity that cuts straight through the richness. The contrast is the whole point. Fans of dark sours should also browse Del Mesa Liquor's sour and wild beer shelf, or explore more from High Water.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Deep roasted malt — chocolate and coffee — with moderate sourness and vanilla-oak. Palate: Roasted malt quickly contrasted by sharp, bracing acidity; vanilla and barrel on the finish. Finish: Lingering acidity over rounded malt.
How to Enjoy
Serve cool, not ice-cold, in a snifter to let the roast and oak open up. Pair with dark chocolate desserts or rich, fatty barbecue — the acidity slices through both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Nyctophiliac" mean? A person with a love of the dark — a nod to this beer's jet-black, stout-based character.
Is Nyctophiliac very sour? Yes — reviewers describe a moderately bracing acidity balanced against deep roasted malt. It is a genuine sour, not a stout with a twist.
How long is it aged? The stout-porter blend spends 18 months in oak barrels before release.
For lovers of the dark — order High Water Nyctophiliac online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.