Fat Toddler
Refined Fool Brewing Co.

473 mL can from the brewery; no canning date and served barely chilled.

Pours a clear, brassy golden-amber colour, stirring up more than an inch of rocky, foamy, off white-tinged head that steadily settles off over the next five minutes or so. A tight ring of lacing clings to the glass, above a generous collar of soapy froth - lookin' good so far. Smells dank, spicy, resiny and herbaceous, with notes of caramelized sugars and bready, lightly toasted malts; hints of grapefruit, popcorn and earthiness also come through.

Powerful flavours, but not a lot of variety - I get caramel and/or butterscotch sweetness at the forefront, with grapefruit, candied orange peel and indeterminate berry by mid-sip. It finishes with pine sap and an earthy, resiny hop bitterness, which is very nearly overshadowed by the intense hop acidity that lingers into a slightly warming, malty-sweet aftertaste. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that rolls gently along the surface of the palate, with a smooth, oily, tongue-coating mouthfeel. Not particularly drinkable, but considering the style, I must let that slide.

Final Grade: 3.56, a B grade. Much like their Fat Baby, Refined Fool's Fat Toddler bears some resemblance to the classic, bitter, old-school hop bombs of yesteryear. The intense hopping process imparts a unique feel and flavour, but I'm not sure those qualities actually improve the experience all that much, if at all. This is even more bitter and resiny than Baby, while suffering from the same lack of diversity (in terms of hop flavours) - I suppose it's worth a look if you like 'em strong and bitter, but I prefer its lighter sibling.