Tad T is drinking a Deadstock DL-44 Blaster by RaR Brewing
Lemongrass leads, quickly joined up front by bolder, chalk-heavy limestone, w/ balanced but less distinct mélange of mango gummies, orange-flavored cough drops, & late-trailing, thoroughly underripe pineapple mid-taste.
Earned the International Beer Day (2026) badge!
Earned the IPA Day Badge (2026) badge!
Tad T is drinking a Summon the Moon Lord by Elder Pine Brewing & Blending
Nice! Bourbon, molasses, unmistakable maple, & touch of leather kick things off, w/ dark choc & hint of raisin mid-palate, & lightly charry, whiskey-soaked wood & vanilla Tootsie Roll late.
Tad T: Dark cherry & hint of toasted marshmallow slowly emerge @aftertaste. Bourbon expression absolutely spot-on for Elijah Craig barrel proof. B2 still delightfully boozy @23 months (9/2024 can), but still too smooth for me to believe claimed 16% ABV.
Tad T: Lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Unlike when fresh, this now drinks its best much closer to room temp, w/ all flavors muted when closer to cellar but popping nicely as it warms.
Tad T is drinking a Deep Fried Porg Combo by RaR Brewing
NICE! BOLD mango gummies & fresh pineapple lead & dominate throughout, largely overshadowing lesser but well-executed dried apricot & generous twist of lime mid-palate, w/ tangerine & debittered grapefruit flesh late.
Tad T: Mellow, pale, doughy malt slowly emerges @aftertaste as the fruit flavors fade. Vibrantly tropical w/ low, pleasant bitterness. Supremely juicy, even if lacking the pillowy, creamy body of the style's best.
Tad T: 5/1 can still drinking delightfully @91 days, though not quite wowing me enough to overlook rar offloading old, unsold inventory on an unsuspecting market.
Tad T is drinking a Deadstock DL-44 Blaster by RaR Brewing
Tasty! Mellow lemon candy & lesser chalky limestone take the fore, w/ balanced white peach, mango gummy, & orange hard candy & lighter, unexpectedly distinct touch of overripe strawberry mid-palate.
Earned the Tripping on TIPAs (Level 11) badge!
Tad T: Lightly piney bitterness, generously offsetting splash of sweet cream, & underlying vegetal herbaceousness show in successive turns late. Impressively complex, though overall enjoyability struggles to match.
Tad T: Initially juicy, pillowy mouthfeel subtly turns drying into the finish.
Tad T: Late check-in from last night, but 5/1 can just hitting a few shelves here @90 days, inescapably prompting serious side eye @rar for pawning off old, unsold hops on an unknowing, non-local market.
Tad T: First hoppy rar brew since the recipe overhaul, &, based on ratings & hophead reactions, I expected so much more.
Tad T is drinking a Bourbon County Brand Vanilla Rye Stout (2024) by Goose Island Beer Co.
Dig it! Toasted but generously gooey-centered marshmallow leads, w/ milk choc & light dab of caramel sauce mid-taste, & vanilla Tootsie Roll, sprinkle of brown sugar, lightly charred wood, nougat, touch of molasses, & dark-choc-covered marshmallow late.
Tad T: Hint of cherry-candy rye peeks out toward the finish but really comes into its own @aftertaste. Lightly creamy, coating mouthfeel.
Tad T: 7/2024 bottle drinking better than ever @2 years, w/ noticeable improvement in balance as the vanilla continues to mellow over time. 4.4.
Tad T: Drinks its best @FULL room temp, w/ flavor separation vastly improved after warming from even the most modest chilling.
Tad T: Grass, subtle touch of pine, & detractingly vegetal plant matter @fin. Lightly pillowy mouthfeel, but well below average among hazy DIPAs w/ similarly lofty ratings.
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:51:07 +0000 Report
Tad T: 5/1 can @97 days, though just now showing up here as rar belatedly jettisons the stuff their locals wisely refused to buy. 3.9.
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:51:55 +0000 Report