-
Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more. Thanks! — Todd
Monsters' Park - Bourbon Barrel-Aged - Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition
Modern Times Beer


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Modern Times Beer
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 14.6%
- Score:
- 97
- Avg:
- 4.4 | pDev: 6.59%
- Reviews:
- 24
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 20, 2020
- Added:
- May 08, 2017
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 11
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class


Notes:
Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cinnamon, Cocoa Nibs, Chilis and Vanilla.
This is Monsters' Park---our hulking cantankerous Imperial Stout---aged in fragrant, oaky bourbon barrels. The barrel character is immediately evident on the nose and only grows more intense in the flavor, and the addition of cinnamon, cocoa nibs, chilis, and vanilla beans turns the whole thing into a Mind-blowingly delicious Mexican hot chocolate party. This decadent celebration of inter-American flavor should be applied directly to your grill piece at about 50 degrees.
Malts: Barley, Oats, Chocolate Malt, Midnight Wheat, Crystal 120, Roasted Barley, Black Barley
IBU: 60
Final Gravity: 1.019
This is Monsters' Park---our hulking cantankerous Imperial Stout---aged in fragrant, oaky bourbon barrels. The barrel character is immediately evident on the nose and only grows more intense in the flavor, and the addition of cinnamon, cocoa nibs, chilis, and vanilla beans turns the whole thing into a Mind-blowingly delicious Mexican hot chocolate party. This decadent celebration of inter-American flavor should be applied directly to your grill piece at about 50 degrees.
Malts: Barley, Oats, Chocolate Malt, Midnight Wheat, Crystal 120, Roasted Barley, Black Barley
IBU: 60
Final Gravity: 1.019
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.43/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap. Matte black with a medium brown ring. Hello there brownie aroma with chili pepper and cinnamon sharply accent before entering a realm of cocoa, vanilla, and bourbon all integrating, wow a lot going on. Peppers and cinnamon seem stronger than other iterations of this style stout. Taste however puts those fears to rest, so fudgy, great barrel with wood peaking out amongst the bourbon here and there, slight lighter roast coffee in there too with all the adjuncts, very well balanced and layered. Feel has some spice and pepper heat, but mostly is fudgy, thick, sneaky creamy while has nods to various textures from the ingredients, and pleasantly warm with booze. As it warms the heat gets stronger
Mar 17, 2020Rated by pathman from Ohio
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
12/12/19 can @ home
Dec 12, 2019Reviewed by AyatollahGold from Indiana
4.25/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Slick black with very minimal highlights. It forms a pinky width of caramel colored crown that dissipates within a minute.
The nose brings a huge marshmallow like vanilla and chocolate mixing with slight barrel.
The taste follows well. A lot of chocolate and huge vanilla sweetness with a hint of peppers in the back. Cinnamon evident as well. Pretty huge sweetness though.
The mouthfeel is warm from the bourbon and has a tingle from the peppers. Sticky, coating sweetness. Peppers leave a warmness behind to linger in the chest.
Overall, I can detect everything this lists while keeping a pretty good balance. The only thing not perfectly balanced would be the sweetness, if not for the peppers and cinnamon it could become too much.
Nov 24, 2019The nose brings a huge marshmallow like vanilla and chocolate mixing with slight barrel.
The taste follows well. A lot of chocolate and huge vanilla sweetness with a hint of peppers in the back. Cinnamon evident as well. Pretty huge sweetness though.
The mouthfeel is warm from the bourbon and has a tingle from the peppers. Sticky, coating sweetness. Peppers leave a warmness behind to linger in the chest.
Overall, I can detect everything this lists while keeping a pretty good balance. The only thing not perfectly balanced would be the sweetness, if not for the peppers and cinnamon it could become too much.
Rated by jmc808
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
PERFECTION!!!
Nov 23, 2019Reviewed by unlikelyspiderperson from California
3.99/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.99/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a deep deep brown, definitely not black, with a very active mocha head (the beer was remarkably active when I popped the cap) that fizzles back to a thin halo pretty quickly.
Nose is unremarkable. Chocolate and roasted malts dominate but aren't pungent. There's a softness to the sharp smells that I associate with vanilla when it's in baked goods so maybe that's it's influence here as well.
Taste is super mellow, vanilla and rich chocolate and mild malts dominate up front. a bourbon and dark cacao with a hint of chile follows behind but it's mellow at first and builds with each sip. This is thick and chocolatey for sure. The cinnamon and chile hang out in the back and end up being the last flavor to linger on the tongue, a nasty trick to inspire another sip
Mouthfeel is very thick. I think this is what the pastry stout crowd is after but it's a bit over the top for me, kinda feels like I'm just sipping on chocolate syrup at some points.
Overall I'm happy that whoever wants this is getting it, and I could definitely see it being served as part of a dessert in like a 3 or 4 oz cup. But it's just a lot too much sugar and I guess I don't really want my stouts to be liquers that belong in mixed drinks
Oct 08, 2019Nose is unremarkable. Chocolate and roasted malts dominate but aren't pungent. There's a softness to the sharp smells that I associate with vanilla when it's in baked goods so maybe that's it's influence here as well.
Taste is super mellow, vanilla and rich chocolate and mild malts dominate up front. a bourbon and dark cacao with a hint of chile follows behind but it's mellow at first and builds with each sip. This is thick and chocolatey for sure. The cinnamon and chile hang out in the back and end up being the last flavor to linger on the tongue, a nasty trick to inspire another sip
Mouthfeel is very thick. I think this is what the pastry stout crowd is after but it's a bit over the top for me, kinda feels like I'm just sipping on chocolate syrup at some points.
Overall I'm happy that whoever wants this is getting it, and I could definitely see it being served as part of a dessert in like a 3 or 4 oz cup. But it's just a lot too much sugar and I guess I don't really want my stouts to be liquers that belong in mixed drinks
Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon
4.04/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12oz can, Modern Times stemless glass. Dark black body, oily, with a one finger mocha head, good retention and lacing. Smells like dirty sewer water or something like that. It doesn't have any chocolate presence at all, and mostly cinnamon and dry oak, which gives off that stale, stagnant water smell to it. Problematic to say the least. That being said, flavourwise, it's got a nice big chocolate and cinnamon spice bite to it, mild dry oak. Not really tasting much bourbon, more so the neutral oak; the cinnamon is kind of overpowering. Full bodied, smooth and good carbonation, a bit creamy as well.
Sep 30, 2019Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pitch black with a ruby tinge, and a half finger of purpleish dark brown head.
It smells of chocolate, rum barrel, oak, Caramel, a little bit of aromatics, and very boozy.
The taste is out of chocolate, very sweet with hints of woody oak barrel aging, a hint of chilies, chocolate, malty, there’s a throat burn and hint of a booze.
Medium to think, oily and slick body, with very little carbonation.
I got this in Redding where am drinking it July 9, 2019.
Jul 10, 2019It smells of chocolate, rum barrel, oak, Caramel, a little bit of aromatics, and very boozy.
The taste is out of chocolate, very sweet with hints of woody oak barrel aging, a hint of chilies, chocolate, malty, there’s a throat burn and hint of a booze.
Medium to think, oily and slick body, with very little carbonation.
I got this in Redding where am drinking it July 9, 2019.
Reviewed by SeanKnapp74 from Arizona
4.74/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Awesome! A bit pricey at $30 at my local bottle shop, but it didn't leave me with buyers remorse. Excellent! Boozy bourbon with strong cocao and vanilla flavors as of Sept. 2018. Very smooth. Going to have to pick up a couple bottles to leave in the stash.
Sep 24, 2018Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
4.2/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got this one from rutger this past summer. Cheers, man!
From a bomber into a snifter
Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition
SRM: 80
IBU: 60
FG: 1.019
Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with cinnamon, cacao nibs, chilies and vanilla.
APPEARANCE: Pours out black and yields a one finger, medium looking, dark tan head with good retention. Pitch black body with no carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to swirly wisp and ring. A good ring remains but leaves no real lacing on the glass.
SMELL: Cinnamon, chilies, vanilla and cacao for sure, with oak, bourbon and alcohol as well. Bold and just as advertised. Nice.
TASTE: Definite alcohol, bourbon, chili heat and cinnamon up front. Alcohol, vanilla and chili heat at the swallow, moving into a bold and boozy finish of chili heat, cinnamon, vanilla, roasted notes, bourbon and a decent punch of alcohol lingering on the palate. Boozy with lots of stuff going on.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough on the palate, hot for sure, goes down fine with a bit of an alcohol burn and finishes sticky on the palate. Lots of chili and boozy heat lingers.
OVERALL: Really, really good. This was excellent and is probably the best Monster’s Park variant I’ve had so far. It’s boozy for sure, but the chili heat is well measured and the adjuncts work really well here. The base beer is also well put together with a decent look and feel to support the boozy, adjunct show. Well worth checking out if you get the chance. Thanks again, rutger!
Apr 11, 2018From a bomber into a snifter
Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition
SRM: 80
IBU: 60
FG: 1.019
Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with cinnamon, cacao nibs, chilies and vanilla.
APPEARANCE: Pours out black and yields a one finger, medium looking, dark tan head with good retention. Pitch black body with no carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to swirly wisp and ring. A good ring remains but leaves no real lacing on the glass.
SMELL: Cinnamon, chilies, vanilla and cacao for sure, with oak, bourbon and alcohol as well. Bold and just as advertised. Nice.
TASTE: Definite alcohol, bourbon, chili heat and cinnamon up front. Alcohol, vanilla and chili heat at the swallow, moving into a bold and boozy finish of chili heat, cinnamon, vanilla, roasted notes, bourbon and a decent punch of alcohol lingering on the palate. Boozy with lots of stuff going on.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough on the palate, hot for sure, goes down fine with a bit of an alcohol burn and finishes sticky on the palate. Lots of chili and boozy heat lingers.
OVERALL: Really, really good. This was excellent and is probably the best Monster’s Park variant I’ve had so far. It’s boozy for sure, but the chili heat is well measured and the adjuncts work really well here. The base beer is also well put together with a decent look and feel to support the boozy, adjunct show. Well worth checking out if you get the chance. Thanks again, rutger!
Monsters' Park - Bourbon Barrel-Aged - Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition from Modern Times Beer
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
120 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!