Permanent Expansion
Modern Times Beer

 

 

 

Black with a half-finger of dark mocha head. The head seems fizzy at first, but then gives way to a creamy texture that lasts for a good minute or two. There’s no lacing, but it maintains a fairly-thick crown.

Big vanilla strikes first in the nose. There’s some nice roasted coffee behind, mellowed out by a nutty impression. There’s a touch of chocolate, too.

The taste is more coffee-forward. The coffee hits first and coffee bitterness lingers in the aftertaste, but it’s all tempered by loads of vanilla and more of that soft-edged nuttiness. There’s some dark fruit mid-palate, and maybe a slight metallic twinge that I associate with the nuts.

Slick feeling with tight, strong carbonation.

This is a really nice beer. Each sip is slightly different with the coffee, vanilla and pecan taking the leading role.

 

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a thin brown head that dissipates to sparse patches with slight lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, mild coffee, vanilla and nuts that I only recognize as pecans because I knew ahead of time, fairly boozy. Flavor is semi-sweet dark toasted malt, vanilla, pecans and drip coffee; a honey like sweetness in the finish with residual vanilla pecan. Medium bodied with moderate creaminess, nice mouth feel and fine carbonation despite the stillish pour. Well now, the aroma was somewhat hot and muddled, but the flavor is spot-on: rich pastry style dark malt, clear notes of vanilla and pecan and a touch of coffee, which is about right. It's been a while since Modern Times stouts have hit the NW and this is somewhat reminiscent of the classic Monster Park, except with pecans. That was a great stout and this is a very nice one too. Quite excellent balance considering all the adjuncts have strong character. Very enjoyable.