Empty Hats
Modern Times Beer

350 mL bottle into a tulip

Clean, easy drinking Flanders-style brew. Malty and toasty with just enough citric acid to keep things rounded. Doesn’t have some of the earthy nuances you’d find in a true Flanders brew, but with a nice mix of tart and oak and malty sweetness, it pays proper respect to the style.

 

 

This one pours a light murky brown color, with a small head, and a bit of lacing.

This smells somewhat metallic and vinegary, with cherry and slightly sweet malt.

This is a touch too prickly and acetic for me - it doesn't feel carefully brewed to me. There's some metallic astringency on the back end, too. There's not enough malt richness to balance these flavors out.

This is light bodied, but not super drinkable, with a prickly and lactic finish on the back end.

I usually like Modern Times a bit more than I enjoyed this bottle. There were too many off flavors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have tried both the 2015 and 2016 (both from the bottle) versions which were largely similar except that 2015 was significantly more sourless balanced. Smell is brown malt, light oak, and lactic acidity. Taste is similar with the malt lending a slight sweetness which balances the the oak and acidity. The barrel also lends some nice vanilla character and medium full mouthfeel. Overall, this is one of the best dark sours out there, I personally prefer the more balanced 2016 but both were excellent.

 

 

First of all, this beer is not retired and has been brewed once again, released april 2016. It is the same great, barrel aged FOB that I remember though. Another exceptional brew with that signature modern times funk!