Modern Romance
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

Modern RomanceModern Romance
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From:
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
9.3%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 8.08%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
79
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 20, 2019
Added:
May 22, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  17
In an exciting collaboration, Midnight Sun and Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge—a local artisan chocolatier—designed and brewed a very special dark ale that celebrates our strengths—and weaknesses: sensuous chocolate, warm spice, fiery chili, provocative character and amorous mood.

Raw cacao powder and roasted cacao nibs add an earthy element. But every romance needs some spark. Modern Dwellers’ signature Mayan Spice blend provides sultry, lingering heat that seduces the sweetness of the malts.

37 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:

  None found.

Photo of Oh_Dark_Star
Reviewed by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
So light and thin. Interesting though that I love this one as the intensity of the chilies (they didn't hold back) was the perfect compliment to this beers weight. I bought another, and if it came back - there would be days I'd long for this over the thick molasses I usually run to.
Apr 20, 2019
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.17 by BarrelAgedG from California

Aug 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.49 by probert from New York

Feb 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.19 by dbrauneis from North Carolina

Aug 27, 2016
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Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, a bit of a gusher at first, with only slight residual foam in glass and slight slippery lacing. Aroma of dark biscuit malt, chocolate and a little chili burn. Flavor starts with biscuit malt, Mexican chocolate with cinnamon, then a chili burn quickly builds to a fairly hot level, similar to a chili ale, Finishes malty and chocolatey, but the lingering chili burn is the dominant remaining flavor. Medium bodied with slight creaminess. The malt body is more similar to an old ale than a Belgian, with nice dry biscuit character and the chocolate tastes very close to traditionally spiced Mexican chocolate. The chili is bit high here, would not be out of place in a chili beer, but does detract a little from the chocolate flavors, which would be worth savoring. Interesting and hot, I guess like a good romance, but perhaps to hot for an old guy like me to handle. Except for a slightly heavy hand on the chili, very nicely balanced and flavorful.
Aug 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.24 by SweetwaterTuonker from Minnesota

Jul 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by bostonryan from Massachusetts

May 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.76 by TheEpeeist from Maryland

May 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Erik-P from Canada (BC)

May 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by travolta from California

Nov 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.42 by rab53 from Washington

Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by NickThePyro from Washington

Oct 06, 2015
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Reviewed by 303beer from Colorado

3.77/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very dirty thick brown black. Has a thin tan head. The nose is of spice and cocoa powder. The taste upfront is chocolate but very quickly gets spicy. A awhile later the taste of chocolate and pepper merge. I'm not a fan of peppers in beer but I like this brewery enough that I tryed this. It is the best pepper beer I have had although this style of beer is an acquired taste.
Sep 18, 2015
Photo of Kevinpitts
Reviewed by Kevinpitts from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lots of spicy heat in this beer that comes through right away. Chocolate notes as well. Don't get this is you don't like hot foods; enough heat for you not to like. If you do like heat, go for it!
Aug 08, 2015
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Modern Romance doesn't look all that sexy - the bottom third of the bottle came out like brown sludge. Any liquid this murky and muddy, one without a trace of clarity or clearly defined colour, frankly resembles some rather objectionable stuff. What makes this look even more distasteful is that in lieu of a head it is topped instead with a seemingly oily surface.

Brewed with the Mayan spice blend of a local chocolatier (Modern Dwellers) and aged with cocoa powder, Modern Romance really does smell like a Mexican hot chocolate. It has the air of chocolate-covered chillies, cinnamon stick (which is actually used), vanilla pod (which isn't actually used), and very subtle dark fruit notes courtesy of Belgian yeast. A tempting aroma if ever there was one...

But for a dark beer with this level of spice and alcohol (9.3%), Modern Romance turns out a little thin in the old malt department. If I'm not mistaken, however, this bottle picked up in San Francisco was likely on the shelf almost a year and a half before I grudgingly caved into paying the exorbitant price asked. That would explain the beer's lack of libido (and why no one else was buying it).

Not to suggest the magic's all gone. Modern Romance is nonetheless a delicious combination of roasty, sweet and spicy flavours (even if they are by now a little faded). Each chocolatey, savory sip is concluded by a flicker of heat and chased by aftertastes of hazelnut and Malteser candies.

The one unfamiliar face in this flavour party is maca, a root plant chemically similar to cereal grains grown in the Andes mountains where locals consider it an aphrodisiac. It's said to be partly sweet and partly bitter which does very much characterize the beer.

Modern Romance isn't a sure thing to light a fire in your pants, but it's a good bet. I really enjoyed the spicy/savory Mexican hot chocolate profile that, discounting this bottle's age, got me a little stimulated, even if not feverish or frantic. I don't know it merited the energy and money invested in finding and transporting it but I enjoyed and will remember this one night stand.
Aug 04, 2015
Photo of BenGap
Reviewed by BenGap from Alaska

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Dark brown color with some cola highlights. Overall smell pocks up some chocolate but the taste doesnt quite deliver with a short burst of malt and chocolate quickly giving way to a strong alcohol burn. Just not quite my style of beer so take this rating for what its worth.
Aug 01, 2015
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Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, milk chocolate, spice, earth, and char aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa powder, cocoa nib, earth, char, spice, and slight soy sauce flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roast and earth bitterness and chile heat on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and dry mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that still has a nice mix of cocoa, spice, and chile characteristics even though this one is a bit old at this point.

Serving type: bottle.
Jul 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.83 by Bandi from New York

Jun 28, 2015
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Reviewed by metter98 from New York

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A: The beer is black when viewed from afar. Upon closer inspection, the sides of the glass are dark reddish brown in color. It poured with a short light beige head that died down, leaving a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of dark fruits are present in the nose.
T: The taste has initial flavors of dark fruits along with hints of chocolate. It finishes with strong flavors of spicy chili peppers; these intensify as the beer warms up.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. The chili peppers lend heat to the mouthfeel.
O: This beer starts out innocently, but once it starts warming up the spiciness and heat from the chili peppers really start kicking in.

Serving type: bottle
Jun 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.05 by smithj4 from New York

Jun 28, 2015
Modern Romance from Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 79 ratings