I prefer when a brewery focuses on a core (hopefully producing great beers), and experiments every so often. A new beer every week just waters things down.
I mean, every resort hotel in the world has already figured out the whole alcohol+drunk people+swimming pool idea.
Not really Modern Times-related anymore, but I met a couple buddies today at the old Anaheim space. The Villians taplist consisted of one Mexican lager, their red, 2 high ABV stouts and all of the rest were IPA’s. 7 of them I think; nothing in the kolsch/pilsner/lager vein. And 5 or 6 seltzers, all of which are very sweet from what the staff said. i actually meant to ask if the stouts might be MT barrel stuff that was left after their departure, but didn’t get a chance to (the service situation at the bar was very weird, everyone we ordered from was very friendly but there were long gaps of time when nobody would be there and then when they were they often wouldn’t even look or ask if we needed anything). But anyways the 2 stouts were 17+% ABV and very syrupy. Not something I would order again. FWIW there were a decent number of people around the pool but nobody in it (at least from what I saw when I walked by).
none of the beers i tried at villains impressed me at all that, plus the mediocre food and crowds will keep me from going back. they're a restaurant attempting to portray themselves as a brewery. if i want that food, i can just go to smoke and fire down the street and not have to wait for a table. i guess i should use the word table loosely here, because when i visited villains our party was squeezed into a makeshift table where we were basically eating with the people next to us (and their dog)
Just a heads up but the people that own Craft Smoke & Fire also own Villains. And they brought on some pretty local veterans in the brewing community to open Villains, so they definitely understand the brewing world. I'm not trying to change your opinion of them but a little background and context might help.
i know its the same owners. that's why i said i can get the same food at smoke and fire and yes, i'm aware that brad from noble/GC is the head brewer there. that's exactly why i expected better beer. like i said, my main issue with villains is that they're trying to portray themselves as a brewery when they're really just a restaurant that brews on site
Doesn't change that their beer is mediocre. Recently tried their W.C IPA Fire Emoji, left me with a bad artificial taste kinda like the Voodo Ranger IPA's.
yeah I had pretty low expectations going in and didn’t have my mind changed. The cold IPA I tried was decent, but nothing I tried was something I would reorder and I think they really need some variety. But to the point from @PaulieWalnuts01 above, I don’t think they are really looking to cater to the craft beer community anyways.
One of my “best” beer bar options down here in San Diego, The Hop Stop, is all IPA’s and then one lager and one stout. The stout actually might be gone right now
You left out old drunk people/men. I had a great time drinking a pint next to the pool. Kinda like being at home sitting with a pint in hand, without a view. The pool was closed when we went to Villians. Villians beers were awful. Good bbq.
Add trans women to that… Times change… I did… Modern Times doubled down… then folded. Still a Hoarder… was forced out as a League member.
So, I’m going down to SD next week, and seriously debating if I should visit one more time… I know I’m a feather-ruffler, but I fondly look back on my 2.18 years as a league member. That being said, have you ever had a friend/relative/etc that was about to die and you chose not/were requested not to see them one last time because you/they didn’t want that to be your last memory of them (that can easily be perceived as selfish, but I know it happens)? That’s sort of how I feel about this. I don’t think it’s mincing words to say that this is the death of Modern Times, and I’m not sure if it’s better to take one last deathbed visit or to try to remember the good times (then again, I’m the one who constantly bitched about them screwing over their Bay Area members back in 2022).
Just as a heads up the Encinitas location was closing for renovations, I’m not sure if you were looking at going there but would be worth checking first if they’ve reopened
I’m genuinely shocked it didn’t turn into a permanent closure. The move to contract brewing only core brands pretty much means the end.
