Monsters' Park - Tequila Barrel-Aged
Modern Times Beer

- From:
- Modern Times Beer
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 13%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 17.41%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 26, 2025
- Added:
- Nov 20, 2016
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
This is Monsters’ Park, our hulking, cantankerous imperial stout, aged in fragrant, agave-soaked tequila barrels, resulting in a stunningly unique character that’s as intriguing as it is delicious. Earthy aromas of roasted agave give way to rich flavors of dark chocolate and peanut brittle with a tantalizing hint of spicy vanilla.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
4.35/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a very dark mahogany brown and settles black in the glass with a sudsy mocha colored head that dissipates quickly.
The nose is focused primarily on the rich chocolate and vanilla notes, and there’s some sea salt and oak and a hint of lime. No big barrel presence.
The barrel is present on the taste, especially at the back of the palate as a nice alcohol warming, and there’s lot of chocolate and vanilla and (thankfully) no strong tequila flavor, but there’s a lot of sea salt, which actually works very well, cutting the sweetness nicely, with a touch of lime for good measure. Delicious, IMHO.
The mouse very full and edges towards creamy. I pretty sure I’ve had this for 8+ years, and I think that worked in my favor, because on the bottle it doesn’t read as very drinkable, but is in fact VERY drinkable. Glad I finally got around to it - it was with the wait.
May 26, 2025The nose is focused primarily on the rich chocolate and vanilla notes, and there’s some sea salt and oak and a hint of lime. No big barrel presence.
The barrel is present on the taste, especially at the back of the palate as a nice alcohol warming, and there’s lot of chocolate and vanilla and (thankfully) no strong tequila flavor, but there’s a lot of sea salt, which actually works very well, cutting the sweetness nicely, with a touch of lime for good measure. Delicious, IMHO.
The mouse very full and edges towards creamy. I pretty sure I’ve had this for 8+ years, and I think that worked in my favor, because on the bottle it doesn’t read as very drinkable, but is in fact VERY drinkable. Glad I finally got around to it - it was with the wait.
Reviewed by Phil-Fresh from California
3.83/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle.
A: Lots of tequila, semi-sweet chocolate, light roasted malts, moderate limes, light salt and wood, faint vanilla.
A: Black color, opaque, with a thin, uneven tan head that quickly dissipates into the glass.
T: Agave flavor upfront, lots of tequila character, moderate chocolate like malt with moderate roasted malts, fairly prominent lime flavor, lightly bitter, followed by light salt and wood with faint vanilla with a faint roast bitterness on the finish.
M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation. The intense flavors hide the alcoholic strength well.
O: Interesting; this beer really mimics a shot of tequila with lime and salt. However, the chocolate roasted malt notes clashed a bit and were way overpowered by the tequila notes.
Mar 18, 2018A: Lots of tequila, semi-sweet chocolate, light roasted malts, moderate limes, light salt and wood, faint vanilla.
A: Black color, opaque, with a thin, uneven tan head that quickly dissipates into the glass.
T: Agave flavor upfront, lots of tequila character, moderate chocolate like malt with moderate roasted malts, fairly prominent lime flavor, lightly bitter, followed by light salt and wood with faint vanilla with a faint roast bitterness on the finish.
M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation. The intense flavors hide the alcoholic strength well.
O: Interesting; this beer really mimics a shot of tequila with lime and salt. However, the chocolate roasted malt notes clashed a bit and were way overpowered by the tequila notes.
Reviewed by Donco from Pennsylvania
4.4/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Flavorful base beer with major hits of dark and milk chocolate, coffee and char. Added bonus of spending time in Tequila barrels adds another dimension of spiciness. Excellent variant of Monsters' Park.
Aug 20, 2017Reviewed by Slack from Virginia
3.94/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12/23/17 Review of 2nd Bottle
This bottle is definitely different than the original and the additional year has not done it justice.
Nose is a bit stale. Hints of cardboard, peanut flour, something vegetal.
Taste tequila, muted booze, muted peanuts, barrel, and some roasted coffee notes.
Body and carb are the same. Finish is more barrel.
Overall a step back compared to the younger bottle.
11/19/2016 Review
Deep brown in color and a bit clear on the edges. A minor ring of head remains after it settles. Minor lacing on a swirl.
Nose is strongly peanuts, booze, and chocolate.
Taste is tequila, sweetness, barrel, peanuts, vanilla, and booze.
Mouthful is medium to heavy and smooth. Carbonation is low. Finish is sweet.
If you like tequila, this is a beer for you. The nose hits spot on to the description of peanut brittle and chocolate. The taste is very much tequila through and through accented by the flavors noted above. Very enjoyable, very sippable. Seek it if you like tequila.
Nov 20, 2016This bottle is definitely different than the original and the additional year has not done it justice.
Nose is a bit stale. Hints of cardboard, peanut flour, something vegetal.
Taste tequila, muted booze, muted peanuts, barrel, and some roasted coffee notes.
Body and carb are the same. Finish is more barrel.
Overall a step back compared to the younger bottle.
11/19/2016 Review
Deep brown in color and a bit clear on the edges. A minor ring of head remains after it settles. Minor lacing on a swirl.
Nose is strongly peanuts, booze, and chocolate.
Taste is tequila, sweetness, barrel, peanuts, vanilla, and booze.
Mouthful is medium to heavy and smooth. Carbonation is low. Finish is sweet.
If you like tequila, this is a beer for you. The nose hits spot on to the description of peanut brittle and chocolate. The taste is very much tequila through and through accented by the flavors noted above. Very enjoyable, very sippable. Seek it if you like tequila.
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