Been having a lot of gluten free beers lately so be prepared for a slightly GF focus in the near future. However, for now, I’ve still got a few Lidl beers kicking around including today’s beer ‘Tarocco’s Modern Life’ by 71 Brewing. A brilliant pun between the 90s kid show Rocco’s Modern Life and a variety of blood orange this is a sour IPA at 4.5% ABV.

Visually, a straw coloured beer with a haze. Very juice-like to look at with a quickly disappearing head. Heavy blood orange and mandarin on the nose, living up to it’s namesake. The flavour is certainly tart orange however I feel the IPA aspect gets lost within the sourness of the beer. Fairly soft finish however, with a little fizz to round it off. There is sediment in the can so pour carefully.

A quick note on the can art: Really gorgeous design on this one with thick, thunderous clouds being contrasted to a blood orange full moon. The design within the hexagon in the middle has also been turned upside down interestingly.

This is a good sour IPA but not a great one for me. It’s aroma is the standout aspect with a really pleasant, punchy blood orange nose. However, the flavour falls a bit flat. There’s a decent sour aspect but the hops going invisible for my taste. With the sediment in the bottom, I suppose it could imply the beer is can conditioned. Nothing wrong with that at all and conditioning in such a way can provide different flavours. That said, if this was the aim there needs to be a note on the can advising a more careful pour. Not bad, but not the best I’ve had from the folks at 71 Brewing.

Score: 6/10

Thanks for reading! Cheers!

Additional Information:

• Hops: Cryo Mosaic
• Malt: Not Available
• IBU: Not Available
• ABV: 4.5%
• Gluten Free: No
• Vegan: Yes!
• Purchase Price: £1.79
• Purchase Location: Lidl