Monsters' Park - Bourbon Barrel-Aged - Cocoa Nibs And Pecans
Modern Times Beer

 

 

 

 

Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: AleSmith Barrel-Aged Reserve 10-oz. snifter
From: Modern Times Lomaland in Point Loma (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $16.50
Purchased: March 14, 2019
Consumed: March 23, 2019
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial Stout
Misc.: Canned on April 11, 2018; On nitro

Went to Modern Times Lomaland to pick up my 4-pack cans of Hedge Witch and Temple of Ruin, but also walked out with a 4-pack of Mist Dragon and Dream Pop, and single cans of a pair of imperial stouts, including this one. Welp. Every Monsters’ Park variant I’ve had has been just incredible save the tequila variant. Not at all happy with the price of $16.50 for 12 ounces, but being buzzed made me get it. No need to describe this one as I think the name has that covered.

Poured a pitch black color with absolutely not head. Wow. So much for nitro. I guess 11 ½ months is too long to hold a nitro pour. No bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass, making for a serene setting. Average spots of lacing. Minimal retention. (Sight - 2.50)

Smelled smooth bourbon, vanilla, cocoa nibs, chocolate syrup, milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and hints of pecan and maple walnut. Pretty much the same from the can. (Smell - 4.50)

Tasted a little better than the nose. Got cocoa nibs, chocolate syrup, milk chocolate, fudge, vanilla, caramel, pecan and maple walnut. (Taste - 4.50)

Full body. Sticky texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth, warming finish. Just tremendous. (Overall - 5.00)

Just a terrific beer. World-class. (Overall - 4.50)

4.43 | 98 | A

 

CAN
Viscous ink; tar + ash; big black malts - char + liquid coffee, slight nut oil, prune, touch of char, bongwater end; oily + heavy.

4 x 5

Big + black. But where’s the pecan? Huge, but maybe not epic.

 

 

 

On tap at The Beermongers.

Black with a thin dark brown head that falls off rapidly leaving little lacing this looks solid. The nose has milk chocolate, dark caramel, dark chocolate, mild coffee and moderate soy. A mild cacao nib character is present. A mild bourbon heat and some vanilla as well as dried fruit is present as well. The palate opens with a blend of sweet, savory and fat, with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate ganache, dark honey, a mild umami note and an oily cacao nib and pecan character. The mid palate focuses on the sweeter flavors before the finish that's thick and mildly fatty. The oily character is distracting. Alcohol is shockingly well hidden. The sweetness grows as the beer warms, but is of sufficient depth to keep.it from being cloying. Solid stuff.

Yet another review of a beer tasted during the BeerNV Modern Times quasi tap takeover. Pours black and thick, with 1/3" brown head on the top. Aroma didn't come across as Pecans, was pretty much the same aroma as the base barrel aged version. Lots of bourbon, if anything, the pecan brought more of a woody/oaky presence in comparison.

I get more of a generic non specific nuttiness in the taste. The cocoa presence is overwhelmed by the already huge chocolate malt notes and bourbon. Has a little bit more chalky bitterness to it than the others. As it warms there is more differentiation in the beer, it stands out moreso. Big thick body on it like the others still keeps the abv in check and not feeling 'hot'. The pecans offer something, I dunno about the cocoa. Carbonation was appropriate. Also had more of a toffee like presence than any of the other variants I had that day. Good stuff, but again, prolly not a to go purchase kind of beer given that there are so many other options that are significantly less expensive.

 

 

 

Review is for the nitro version. Appearance is dark brown with a very thin tan head despite a very aggressive pour. Head dissipates immediately leaving no lacing. Aroma is nutty and chocolate. Taste is similar with stronger chocolate and boozy heat. Mouthfeel is somewhat thin and flat.

 

 

Dark black body. Half finger mocha head. Fair retention, no lacing. Sweet whiskey, milk chocolate, dark fruit, moderate nuttiness, cocoa. It's pretty nutty on the palate, but fairly boozy and that definitely detracts. The nuttiness doesn't really play well with the base beer in my opinion, but it's overall solid with a medium body, appropriate carbonation and a nutty finish.