Doors to Nowhere
Modern Times Beer

12 oz can into an MT tulip

Nice little ‘NON’-barrel-aged desert stout, with most of the decadence you’d expect, while still holding some semblance of what most people would consider a traditional stout.

Dark brown in color, little carbonation. Nose is of coffee and vanilla…super nutty. Plenty of sweet residuals on the palate, but those toasty, roasty malts typical of an imperial stout really come through here. Medium finish, medium viscosity. Tasty little guy…

Type: 12-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Pastry Stout
Glass: Rip Current 8-oz. beer glass
Price: $8.99 (10 pct. off $9.99 because of a mixed 6-pack)
From: San Diego Wine & Beer Company in Miramar (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Feb. 16, 2021
Consumed: Feb. 27, 2021
Misc.: Canned on Jan. 20, 2021

Grabbed this and five other cans on recent trip to San Diego Wine & Beer Company. Had heard great things about this one. Untppd had it as “Brace your flavor-portal for yet another foray into the depths of decadence. This gloriously thick imperial dessert stout is host to towering multitudes of house-roasted coffee, cocoa, coconut, vanilla, and toasted almonds. It’s a birthday cake for a brand new year, and the kind of culinary pick-me-up we could all probably use right about now.”

Poured a pitch-black color with 2-to-3 fingers of khaki-tan frothy head. Calm setting underneath with just a few noticeable bubbles. Bad watery lacing. Average watery retention. (Sight - 3.25)

Smelled vanilla, cream, coconut, caramel, cocoa powder, chocolate, almond and sunflower seeds. Much better out of the can, reminding me of a Charleston Chew.
(Smell - 4.00)

Tasted vanilla, cream, coconut, chocolate syrup, milk chocolate, caramel, cocoa, Charleston Chew candy bar, dark fruit, almond and toffee. Incredibly smooth for 11.5 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.50)

Medium body. Sticky texture. Average-to-soft carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 5.00)

Wow. This was a great beer. The taste was so much better than the nose. World-class. (Overall - 4.50)

4.36 | 97 | A

 

 

 

 

12oz can. Date stamped on can bottom is '01/20/21'.
Black colored body, with a very thin back lit dark brown edge. Forceful pour brought forth a three finger mocha brown head, but this disappeared in a minute or so. No lacing.
Aroma of dessert brownie with almonds, vanilla and coconut. Slight overlay of espresso coffee. Alcohol fumes.
Taste is thick and sweet, with the flavors of deep brownie chocolate, vanilla, and almonds. Some coconut flake at the end. The coffee is visible but mostly overcome by the sweetness, but the coffee sits on the tongue in the aftertaste.
Thick and heavy mouth feel, with some syrup. Rather calm carbonation.
The higher ABV% packs a punch, but is not expressed in the taste or feel. Sweet dessert but has a well rounded blend of flavors. With the progression of beer recipes and planned for results, this beer calls for a distinct style for proper classification.

 

This beer was jet black and thick even while it poured. As I poured it my wife asked if I just poured a can of tar into the glass. It was topped with a thick dark brown one finger head that dissipated quickly. Cocoa, coconut, and vanilla were the most prominent aromas from the added flavors, but some of the roasty stout came through as well. This is undoubtedly a sweet beer, but it delivers on all of the promised flavors. Again, the cocoa, vanilla, and coconut took the starring roll. The almond was subtle, but complimented the roasty malt well. The coffee was the most subdued flavor, but contributed some bitterness to the finish to balance the sweet. This stout is thicc, as the kids say. It coats the glass and palate and feels like heavy cream on the palate while being vegan. I finished my last sips moments ago, and my glass is still stained by the remains. A beautiful exploration in lots of flavors.

Sweet and rich aroma, revealing relatively little: nuts, coffee, brown sugar, and molasses.

Incredibly sweet on the palate; this is a dessert stout and a half! Brown sugar, syrup, vanilla, coffee, marshmallow, molasses, chocolate, red grape, honeycomb.

A bit thin on the palate, but drinks incredibly easy for the ABV.

Ohhhhh buddy, if you’re looking for a big, thick, sticky and sweet pastry stout, look no further. In keeping with the vast majority of stouts by Modern Times, this one is jam packed with flavor and best served as a desert beer. The nose and taste hit you with a syrupy vanilla and almond, settling with a pillowy mouthfeel and the slightest bit of lasting alcohol. The coffee takes the last seat all the way in the back of this beer bus, to the point where you can easily forget that it’s even on the beer bus in the first place.

Can from MT Anaheim.

 

Imperial stout with coffee, cocoa, coconut, vanilla, and toasted almonds.

Very pleasant aromas of vanilla and cocoa. Coconut leads the way in the taste, followed by vanilla and cocoa. Not really getting much of the almonds or coffee in either the smell or the taste.

The mouthfeel of this beer is ridiculous! Rich, velvety and decadent - not unlike most of MT's dessert stouts.

I really wasn't expecting too much from this beer - but it absolutely blew my mind!