Cosmic Rays
Modern Times Beer

RB transfer

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: New England IPA
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. Spiegelau IPA glass
Price: $2.75
From: Trader Joe’s in College Area (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Sept. 15, 2021
Consumed: Sept. 22, 2021
Misc.: Canned on Aug. 9, 2021

Grabbed a can of this along with eight other singles (and three Coronado Weekend Vibes) at the campus Trader Joe’s. Reluctantly purchased this, just the second cans of a Modern Times IPA in 2021 from me. Just was really disappointed with their hoppy stuff the past 18 months or so - even their core and reissued stuff - and swore them off. But gave it another try knowing that I might not be getting their best showing here (canned 44 days ago and who knows how long it’s been warm on the shelves at Trader Joe’s). Their website calls it “This relentlessly tropical, unassailably-bomb spectacle of hazecraft is the progeny of staggering quantities of Simcoe, Citra, Sabro, & Ekuanot hops. The convergence of these lupulin-laden marvels yields an abundance of tangerine, pineapple, coconut, & tropical fruit that enchants from aroma to lingering finish, leaving wistful memories in its wake.” Was hoping Simcoe, Citra and Sabro would make me like it going in.

Poured a medium golden hazy color with six fingers of rocky white head. Could see a few bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Almost perfect layered lacing. Perfect retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled Simcoe, onion, pine, wood, melon, tangerine, Sabro, coconut, pineapple, grapefruit rind and Citra. A little better out of the can with more pineapple and tangerine. (Smell - 3.50)

Tasted a little better than the nose but still not anything to write home about. In order got Simcoe, black pepper, pine, wood, onion, Sabro, coconut, pineapple, Citra, bitter grapefruit peel, melon, herbal, green pepper, Ekuanot and lemon zest. (Taste - 3.50)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Drier finish. (Finish - 3.75)

Went into this with an open mind, but Modern Times IPAs are just nothing special right now. (Overall - 3.75)

3.65 | 83 | B

 

16oz can into a Spiegelau glass.
L: Pours a glowing & radiant hazy orange w/a 2.5" off white rocky capped head, well carbonated, excellent retention going thick/creamy with thick lacing & banding. Small visible sediment chunks.
S: Pineapple, orange, melon, mango, tangerine, citrus zest, light sweet caramel malts, a hint of bread. Rather tropical overall.
T: Fresh OJ, pineapple, lime zest, a touch of sour lemon candy, a gentle bitter linger in the finish. Mildly rich overall.
F: A snappy, brisk semi-juicy med-bodied mouthfeel w/a med-length clean finish. Quite pleasant.
O: An extremely tasty, smooth, easy drinking no nonsense Hazy IPA that isn't overdone in any way. I very much enjoy it's 6.5%ABV and it is excellent in it's style.

From a can. The pour is as expected, hazy but just. Welcoming aroma, with guava and hints of pineapple. Smooth and sweet, with low bitterness. Easy drinking, solid brew.

 

Canned 08/17/21.
A tasty, west coast version of a New England IPA. Nothing groundbreaking but it’s enjoyable. That orange juice haze appearance, clean hop bill, with a proper feel and finish.

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from 16oz can into a dimpled mug. Canned 7/6/21.

Appearance: murky yellow body with a thin layer of frothy white foam atop. Not too bad.

Smell: relatively sweet malt for the ABV and a layer of dank, herbal hops. I like it.

Taste: nicely dank with a subtle fruitiness. Bitterness is pretty low, but some seeps in with all the hops. It's rich and I like it.

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a moderate carbonation and decent creaminess.

Overall: it's no secret I love me a hazy IPA. This one is all sweet, herbal dankness and I love it.

 

 

 

this is fine beer, fresh and tasty and all, but i would definitely not rank it among my favorites from modern times, they have a pretty darn high ceiling, and this is nowhere near it, not even for their hoppy stuff. to me slightly over hopped, and also a step or a step and a half more hazy and thick and dense from the tap than i find appealing, its almost milky, and while there is some balance in the enormity of it, its not necessarily a good thing, and this was absolutely a one and done for me with this bite and this body. a shame because the hop profile is good, a nice side of strata, some clean citra coming through, resin and grapefruit aspects of simcoe, and that herbal tropical combo of equinox, really nicely built there, cool putting these varietals together, but its all a bit much, and the nose is better than the flavor. its on the dry side, especially for all the body, but i can still taste some grain in here, starchy wheat maybe oats too, and just simple pale barley malt. its full, its juicy, and its fresh to me, but its also a little more messy than i have come to expect from these guys. fine pizza beer, fun hop profile, but its not as dialed as their best...

 

16 oz. can poured into a pint glass. Pour is a nice hazy golden orange with some ability to see through in the light. Cap of whitish foam settles out to a lacy surface cap.

Nose has a touch of a creamsicle nature to it. Floral notes envelope tangerine and orange while mango ebbs and flows. Taste follows with citrus and coconut, bit of hop spice on the finish. Notable bitterness on the finish but that's more my style vs. the super juicy versions. Long close with more citrus/tropical notes. Pleasant carbonation feel and finish. Overall not a grand slam but no sharp edges to distract. Softer on the palate than a draft version tried recently, drink fresh.

Note: Canned on 7/26.

just a little bitter and tart, grapefruit, bright, still mildly dank, juicy and hoppy at the same time