The Official Modern Times League Of Partygoers & Elegant People Thread

[chemman141]

**** yes! Agree #AllTheLagers FTW

 

[swivelhips1]

Just hope they aren't like $22 a four pack.

 

[rcubed1]

Any regular lager should be no more than $16/4-pack and even that is pushing it.

 

[sdreaper]

COMING SOON: Monsters’ Park Aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ Cinnamon, Cocoa Nibs, Coconut, & Piloncillo. Monsters’ Park May is upon us once again, bringing with it a firestorm of barrel-aged beverages and good times. Fragrant oak and cinnamon cradle your senses in their delicious embrace, giving way to velvety smooth waves of coconut and cocoa. Irresistibly decadent, this 14.2% imperial stout evokes fantasies of a macaroon dancing across your taste buds in euphoric delight. This is but one of many marvelous variants that will be available in May’s online pre-sale. Stay tuned, party people.

 

[Tyrsis]

******* Monsters Park May... I will have no money left after my Japan trip for this ****

 

[smithj21541]

Just hope they aren't like $22 a four pack.

Any regular lager should be no more than $16/4-pack and even that is pushing it.

Well this isn't any regular lager. This is a special release cockstaggeringly outrageous mouth melting helles that is produced by MT.

 

[litheum94]

Quickly Opened in PDX is pretty, pretty good.

Also tried Transit of Venus with strawberries and lemons. Really enjoyed that.

 

[chemman141]

Quickly Opened in PDX is pretty, pretty good.

Also tried Transit of Venus with strawberries and lemons. Really enjoyed that.

I preferred DDHO but I am a total mosaic whore.

 

[DannyFullpint]

I’ve been wairing my whole gotdam life for Monsters’ Park with Piloncillo.

 

[Xul1]

May 2018 Preview Tasting Notes

Assorted Notes:
1) Steven confirmed that all three of this month's Monsters' Park cans will carry the same pricing as Vanilla - $32.25/2 12oz cans - and reminded us that it's actually cheaper per ounce than bombers would be. I'm sure someone - or many people - will still talk about how cans are supposed to be cheap, $16 for a can is outrageous, blah blah blah. You're either comfortable paying a certain amount per ounce for the beer, or you're not, the fact that you're complaining about a better price in a superior format just makes you look dumb (Steven didn't say that last part, that's my editorial comment - he merely confirmed the prices).

2) The ID cards and free crowler fills are just about done. I believe he said they'll be released within the next week or so.

3) Andrew gave us a preview of the special kegs and large format bottles for Festival of Funk:
League Keg - Red Wine Barrel Aged Transit of Venus: Pina Colada Edition (w/ pineapple, coconut, and lime)
ToLC Keg - Deeds & Exploits w/ Coconut
6L Bottles of Analog and BA Sparkling Celestial City
9L and 12L bottles of The Fruitening

4) For those of you going to Flyover State Soy Sauce Day rather than the Festival of Funk, Modern Times will be pouring Monster Tones along with a couple of other kegs. No word on whether they did a special Kikkoman/Monster Tones blend.

5) Abaddon, the Helles lager coming out in 4pks for this month's sale, will be $12. Andrew is more than a little excited about this beer and quite clearly would've preferred to spend the entire tasting talking about it. I can't say I blame him, I'm pretty stoked about Abaddon myself, although it was also lovely to hear about the other beers.

6) It looks like Encinitas will likely be the next location to open, with Santa Barbara and Anaheim being closer to the end of the year (hopefully, of course). Steven did say that Anaheim was approved for all permits in all categories at this point, so it's just a matter of getting it built out.

7) I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with how I ordered the BAMP variants - Cinnamon/Nibs/Coconut/Piloncillo > Coffee > Nibs/Pecans - so keep in mind that as usual, I don't claim to have a better palate than anyone else, these are simply my thoughts. I'm curious to hear how others would assess them, but more importantly, why they view them in a certain order.

Beers:
1) Nitro Monsters' Park Aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ Coffee
Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Score: 4.5
Notes: They added 4lbs per barrel of Black House Blend coffee which represents the highest adjuncting rate they've ever done for coffee. Cans of this variant will see limited distribution - they're very upfront about that so don't be surprised if you see it at a bottle shop. The nose opens up with big coffee character followed by baker's chocolate, light vanilla, and background barrel notes. A bit of alcohol heat hits on the first sip before opening into coffee and semisweet chocolate that combine to form somewhat of a mocha effect, layered over background bourbon and vanilla notes. A nice long finish of barrel-tinged coffee, the nitro mouthfeel is really dialed in.

2) Nitro Monsters' Park Aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ Cocoa Nibs & Pecans
Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Score: 4.5 (4.4, rounded up)
Notes: Pecans were roasted then toasted to cut down on oils. Both the pecans and cocoa nibs were added at a rate of over 6lbs per barrel. Toasty pecan character is the first whiff to pop out of the glass followed by rich cocoa, mild vanilla, and hints of barrel character. Chocolate hits much harder on the palate, melding with barrel-derived vanilla, while the pecans provide a dry, nutty flavor that wafts around the background. Don't let the lack of head on the beer deceive you - the nitro levels are just as dialed in on this beer, and that creamy mouthfeel combines with the massive chocolate to almost create a milkshake effect on the finish. Neither cloying nor overly heavy, just a massive wave of chocolate. I always suggest letting barrel aged stouts warm up, but this one benefits even more than most - it opened up substantially as I let my taster sit.

3) Monsters' Park Aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ Cinnamon, Cocoa Nibs, Coconut, & Piloncillo
Style: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Score: 4.75
Notes: These cans are not nitro, so don't shake them before you pour them. Or do, but please take video so we can all have a good laugh. Didn't catch the adjuncting rates on it, but the coconut was toasted and untoasted at a 70/30 mix, the cinnamon was whole sticks, and of course cocoa nibs and piloncillo. The aroma opens with cinnamon that's evident but nowhere near overwhelming, followed by coconut, semisweet chocolate, light caramel, and barrel notes. It took a lot of willpower to stop smelling the beer and actually take a sip, but the flavor managed to surpass the lovely nose. Light cinnamon hits first again, followed by coconut, marshmallow, faint vanilla notes, caramel, and barrel character floating around the background. Every sip presented a slightly different mix of the constituent elements - coffee cake, spiced flourless chocolate cake, Mexican candies, just an absolutely delightful melange of flavors. It's the sort of beer to enjoy a full can of over the course of an hour or so, letting various flavors develop and recede to create new combinations and experiences.

4) Mortal Cloak
Style: Hazy Double IPA
Score: 4.25
Notes: Hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Eureka. The nose opens with a bit of pine resin before a wave of citrus zest, tangerines, and stone fruit take over. The palate is more fruit forward than the aroma with the stone fruit coming in hard followed by bright citrus and backing tropical fruit. Not the softest mouthfeel they've delivered but still well within the realm of where I like to see the style.

 

[Sage1]

3) Monsters' Park Aged in Bourbon Barrels w/ Cinnamon, Cocoa Nibs, Coconut, & Piloncillo […]
Score: 4.75

*********

 

[chemman141]

*********

FWIW I was not a fan of this one. That being said I am not a huge fan of cinnamon in beers, and dislike 90% of them. To me the main flavor was Cinnamon, so if you are a fan of that flavor you will love this beer. It wasn't at the level where it was a cinnamon heat, but was at a higher level then say CC Bomb.

 

[swivelhips1]

That abbadon pricing is very off brand but I am pleased to nonetheless.

 

[chemman141]

That abbadon pricing is very off brand but I am pleased to nonetheless.

Meaning it's too expensive? It's slightly more than Ice pricing to accommodate the use of a mobile canner in PDX

 

[litheum94]

FWIW I was not a fan of this one. That being said I am not a huge fan of cinnamon in beers, and dislike 90% of them. To me the main flavor was Cinnamon, so if you are a fan of that flavor you will love this beer. It wasn't at the level where it was a cinnamon heat, but was at a higher level then say CC Bomb.

I typically don't like cinnamon in my stouts either, but I didn't mind it in this one. I think using cinnamon sticks instead of powder really made a difference. I still won't be buying any cans of this one, but it is definitely one of the better cinnamon stouts that I've had.

I think my favorite was the pecan and cocoa nib version. Really liked how the bourbon was upfront, and the pecans added a nice flavor.

 

[chemman141]

I typically don't like cinnamon in my stouts either, but I didn't mind it in this one. I think using cinnamon sticks instead of powder really made a difference. I still won't be buying any cans of this one, but it is definitely one of the better cinnamon stouts that I've had.

I think my favorite was the pecan and cocoa nib version. Really liked how the bourbon was upfront, and the pecans added a nice flavor.

agree 100% I am getting 2 2 packs of that and 1 of the coffee.

 

[Xul1]

June 2018 Preview Tasting Notes:

Assorted Notes:
1) Steven abandoned us in favor of LA, but Jacob and Leanne both stepped in to fill his void. It was great to see Jacob back for a tasting, I can imagine he's glad not to be constantly traveling to Portland and LA and feel human enough to jump back in, but seeing him at a tasting brought back a bit of old school vibe. Aside from the general pleasure of listening to him and hearing his thoughts on the beer and the company, he adds a dimension as it pertains to packaging, labels, and general aesthetics that isn't discussed as much in his absence. I know a lot of people are big fans of Modern Times' design and the insight he provides on that front is appreciated. More importantly, he did a fantastic job of giving Andrew **** and providing a sense of continuity there. Excellent work! Leanne - take notes, we're going to need you to step up with that kind of trolling when neither Steven nor Jacob is available. I know you're an incredibly kind person, but you're going to have to set that aside for an hour or so every month. Thanks in advance.

2) The adjusted sales timeframe was discussed, and for those who are wondering, it was done so that the beers come out the same week in Portland as they do in San Diego and LA. It sounds like this general concept will be maintained going forward, but any specific adjustments will be communicated to us.

3) The Fifth Anniversary party is just over a month away, and there are some pretty rad beers in store for it, not to mention the opportunity to both give and receive some serious high fives. Jacob said that anyone with Modern Times face tattoos will receive double pours, so book time with your artists now.

4) As far as the beers we didn't get to taste, the Hedge Witch re-brew sounds like it's coming along nicely. Andrew said he might actually prefer Timewave Zero, but Jacob called him a filthy liar. Do with that knowledge what you will (really though, just buy a bunch of both).

5) The issue of non-hazy IPAs was raised via a Facebook question (Kristy, I believe), and while there's no official announcement yet, we can expect to see some beers coming out that are different from what they've been doing. They're not going to do old school West Coast IPAs with massive bitterness, but it sounds like we'll be seeing more variety.

6) ID cards are coming soon, Steven and Leanne have been working with the POS system providers to get things worked out.

Beers:
1) Temple of Silence
Style: Dessert Stout w/ Coconut
Score: 4.5 (4.4, rounded up to 4.5)
Notes: The malt bill was constructed to be a bit on the roastier side to round out the coconut, of which they used a metric fuckton. Some untoasted coconut was added to the mash, then 15lbs/bbl in the brite tank. That is a _lot_ of coconut, and it definitely shined through in the beer. Jacob also noted that they don't use flavor extracts, so what you're tasting is real coconut, not the suntan lotion silliness that can come across as more assertive but frequently is disgusting. The aroma had a nice dose of bakers chocolate out front along with just a hint of roast that falls slightly short of coffee, but that gives way to a huge dose of rich, deep coconut. On the palate, the chocolate comes through a bit more as rich dark chocolate than the bakers' chocolate from the nose, but the wave of coconut that hits is just as strong as the nose. Much like Beastmaster, this one really shines as it warms. The base beer is a bit enveloping when the beer is cold, but time out of the fridge opens it up and allows the coconut to paint a lovely picture over the robust base. A couple of feedback notes on the base for this - first, I like the decrease from 13% to 11%, taking down a pint of 13% ABV beer is tough. Second, I'd like to see the roastiness dialed back just a bit. I understand it was to round the coconut out and provide balance, but I think it gets just a touch too roasty. That said, I hope that this ends up being the base for future canned pastry stouts, with a bit of minor tweaking, I think it'll be a killer canvas for some fun adjunct combos.

2) Analog
Style: Amphora Aged Blend of Funky Saison & Riesling Must
Score: 4.5
Notes: Per my earlier point about labels, Jacob provided some insight into the future of labels for sour beers, noting that they'll be diverging from the template that has been used since the inception of the sour program. Analog features a label inspired by classic wine labels but features a photo of Lomaland on it. Quite elegant and looks great in both 750ml and 6L formats. The beer itself is a blend of funky saison and whole cluster Riesling must which was 100% amphora-aged, marking the first packaged release to be entirely amphora-aged. The nose is a lovely melange of earthy funk, mild to moderate acidity, minerality, vinous notes, and some lovely stone fruit and Meyer lemon floating around in the background. The palate follows with a similar level of complexity, opening up with Riesling and light stone fruits, giving way to a healthy dose of earthy funk and mild acidity. Lively carbonation keeps the beer moving along your tongue, eventually giving way to a long, fruit-centric finish. In spite of enjoying both wine and beer, I've rarely been a fan of hybrids - they're frequently clunky and poorly integrated - but this is both one of the most-vinous beers I've ever had, and definitely my favorite hybrid. Excellent execution, it's a lovely beverage now but I'm excited to see how it ages.

3) News from Nowhere Aged in Sherry Barrels
Style: Flanders Red Aged in Sherry Barrels
Score: 4.75
Notes: Aged in Pinot Noir barrels for 13 months, then a blend of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso barrels for 17 months, then bottle conditioned for 7 months, making it the longest (deliberately) aged beer in Modern Times history. First thought - "****." Second thought - "holy ****!" Rich, complex Sherry character jumps right out of the glass and massages your olfactory system, springing forth with a blend of tobacco, dark fruits, and touches of sweetness redolent of the highpoints of both styles of Sherry that were used. Notes of aged balsamic vinegar immediately follow - real balsamic, not the **** you can buy for $3.99 at Trader Joe's - followed by oak, dark fruits (cherry, fig, touches of grape), and a base malt complexity. The flavor largely follows the same path, although the Sherry had a bit less sweetness than it revealed in the nose, and the balsamic character is a bit stronger. Absolutely brilliant beer, not overly acetic, and brimming with complexity. Very few people are going to get excited about a Flanders red - even aged in Sherry barrels - and it probably won't trade with any value whatsoever, but this is a stunningly good beer. I may or may not have used the phrase "pants-shittingly good" to describe it to friends via text message after the tasting. I know people are broke from Monsters' Park May (and the expenses of being an adult), I know people aren't big on Flanders reds to begin with, and sours without any fruit added tend to not sell, but this is the real deal.

4) Revolution of the Moon
Style: Wine Barrel Aged Blonde Sour w/ Cherries & Vanilla
Score: 4.25
Notes: A blend of blonde sours aged in both red and white wine barrels, then dosed with the most cherries they've ever used (2000 pounds of Michigan Montmorency for the whole batch) along with vanilla beans. Two bottles are included for Theory members and one bottle is included for League members. The aroma opens up with rich, tart cherry that's rounded a bit by the vanilla, followed by vinous barrel character and mild funk. The palate is a bit more into the fruity realm, with tart cherry providing an acidic attack that is quickly tamed by vanilla for a sweeter backend of the sip. Light funk and barrel notes support but the cherries are definitely the focus of the beer.

5) Creature Times
Style: Kettle Sour Inspired by Al Pastor Tacos
Score: 4.25
Notes: A collaboration with Creature Comforts from Athens, GA, inspired by their infatuation with tacos when they visited. There was a draft-only batch last year and Jacob noted that this batch used 50% more pineapple than the original. The nose is a bit savory at first whiff, with the smoked malt and chilis hitting first, but the pineapple quickly cuts through and shines in concert with the lime zest to provide a more fruit-centric aroma. On the palate, the pineapple hits both first and hardest, followed by a moderate dose of chili spice and lime zest, while the smoke takes on a supporting role towards the backend and follows through on the finish. I suspect both the smoke and adjunct combination will be a bit polarizing. I think it's absolutely crushable, but if you're sensitive to smoke or spice, it may not be for you.

 

[swivelhips1]

June 2018 Preview Tasting Notes:
The Fifth Anniversary party is just over a month away, and there are some pretty rad beers in store for it.

But would you go as far as to say cockstaggeringly rad?

 

[Xul1]

But would you go as far as to say cockstaggeringly rad?

Gourd-stokingly cockstaggering.

 

[NeedsMoreDog]

June 2018 Preview Tasting Notes:

3) News from Nowhere Aged in Sherry Barrels
Style: Flanders Red Aged in Sherry Barrels
Score: 4.75
Notes: Aged in Pinot Noir barrels for 13 months, then a blend of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso barrels for 17 months, then bottle conditioned for 7 months, making it the longest (deliberately) aged beer in Modern Times history. First thought - "****." Second thought - "holy ****!" Rich, complex Sherry character jumps right out of the glass and massages your olfactory system, springing forth with a blend of tobacco, dark fruits, and touches of sweetness redolent of the highpoints of both styles of Sherry that were used. Notes of aged balsamic vinegar immediately follow - real balsamic, not the **** you can buy for $3.99 at Trader Joe's - followed by oak, dark fruits (cherry, fig, touches of grape), and a base malt complexity. The flavor largely follows the same path, although the Sherry had a bit less sweetness than it revealed in the nose, and the balsamic character is a bit stronger. Absolutely brilliant beer, not overly acetic, and brimming with complexity. Very few people are going to get excited about a Flanders red - even aged in Sherry barrels - and it probably won't trade with any value whatsoever, but this is a stunningly good beer. I may or may not have used the phrase "pants-shittingly good" to describe it to friends via text message after the tasting. I know people are broke from Monsters' Park May (and the expenses of being an adult), I know people aren't big on Flanders reds to begin with, and sours without any fruit added tend to not sell, but this is the real deal.

I love flander's red, I have rodenbach grand cru always on-hand, this sounds right up my alley. will it see any distribution? i'll be in oceanside in a couple weeks just wondering if it'll be possible to find

 

[Xul1]

I love flander's red, I have rodenbach grand cru always on-hand, this sounds right up my alley. will it see any distribution? i'll be in oceanside in a couple weeks just wondering if it'll be possible to find

No distribution, only available direct from the brewery. You can preorder during the online sale and pickup from Modern Times while you're out here or work out a trade with someone in Oceanside if you're not planning to spend any time in central San Diego (sorry, I rarely make it up to North County but I know there are members up there).

 

[yabu]

I typically don't like cinnamon in my stouts either, but I didn't mind it in this one. I think using cinnamon sticks instead of powder really made a difference. I still won't be buying any cans of this one, but it is definitely one of the better cinnamon stouts that I've had.

I think my favorite was the pecan and cocoa nib version. Really liked how the bourbon was upfront, and the pecans added a nice flavor.

FWIW I was not a fan of this one. That being said I am not a huge fan of cinnamon in beers, and dislike 90% of them. To me the main flavor was Cinnamon, so if you are a fan of that flavor you will love this beer. It wasn't at the level where it was a cinnamon heat, but was at a higher level then say CC Bomb.

The cinnamon MP was my favorite of the bunch, the nose was delightful - smelled magical. However, didn't taste coconut at all. It was a tad too sweet, naturally because of the Piloncillo.

Least favorite was the Pecan MP, that's for sure. I don't know why, but the pecans weren't balanced, muted pretty much all the flavors. I was surprised, since I really enjoyed the Coconut & pistachio MP awhile back.

Interested to see what will be the adjuncts for the next MP cans !

 

[ModernTimesSteven]

If anyone has any questions regarding the bar credit, ask away and I'll be happy to help.

Cheers,

Steven Michael
Modern Times Beer

 

[Tyrsis]

If anyone has any questions regarding the bar credit, ask away and I'll be happy to help.

Cheers,

Steven Michael
Modern Times Beer

Can I use it to buy dances from Nate?

 

[sdreaper]

For those attending the whales on whales this weekend, they emailed out the itinerary as well as the lineup.

As a reminder, the day's schedule is as follows:
10:00 AM - Check-in at Mission Bay Market (We will be meeting at 1617 Quivira Road, San Diego, CA 92109, which is on the bay side of Sportsman Seafood, next to the marina.)
10:15 AM - Board the boat
10:30 AM - Boat departs
11:15 AM - Whale admiration, both mammals and liquid
1:00 PM - Boat returns


We're sure you're dying to know the lineup, so brace yourself for the whales you'll be seeing this Saturday:

• Monsters' Park Aged in Nicaraguan Rum Barrels: Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Rye Barrels: NOLA Coffee Edition (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Barbados Rum Barrels w/ Coconut & Vanilla (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Spanish Brandy Barrels: Batch 1 (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Spanish Brandy Barrels: Batch 2 (2017)
• Monster Tones (the one and only)

Additionally, if you don't feel like chasing down the whales all day long, we'll also have some sippers to enjoy:

• Ice
• Wavesplitter
• Fruitlands Rose
• Creature Times

It was mentioned that Monster Tones will be 1pp while the others will likely be unlimited pours until cut off, boat returns, or they are out.

 

[ModernTimesLeanne]

It was mentioned that Monster Tones will be 1pp while the others will likely be unlimited pours until cut off, boat returns, or they are out.

Members attending will receive (4) 4oz. pours + 2 cans

 

[sdreaper]

Members attending will receive (4) 4oz. pours + 2 cans

I saw that after my ability to edit expired. Thanks for clarification.

Also...bring Abaddon instead of Ice..kkthx4itbai

 

[realmz]

Members attending will receive (4) 4oz. pours + 2 cans

Welcome to TalkBeer!

 

[Tyrsis]

Also...bring Abaddon instead of Ice..kkthx4itbai

this

 

[wolf13]

For those attending the whales on whales this weekend, they emailed out the itinerary as well as the lineup.

As a reminder, the day's schedule is as follows:
10:00 AM - Check-in at Mission Bay Market (We will be meeting at 1617 Quivira Road, San Diego, CA 92109, which is on the bay side of Sportsman Seafood, next to the marina.)
10:15 AM - Board the boat
10:30 AM - Boat departs
11:15 AM - Whale admiration, both mammals and liquid
1:00 PM - Boat returns


We're sure you're dying to know the lineup, so brace yourself for the whales you'll be seeing this Saturday:

• Monsters' Park Aged in Nicaraguan Rum Barrels: Mexican Hot Chocolate Edition (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Rye Barrels: NOLA Coffee Edition (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Barbados Rum Barrels w/ Coconut & Vanilla (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Spanish Brandy Barrels: Batch 1 (2016)
• Monsters' Park Aged in Spanish Brandy Barrels: Batch 2 (2017)
• Monster Tones (the one and only)

Additionally, if you don't feel like chasing down the whales all day long, we'll also have some sippers to enjoy:

• Ice
• Wavesplitter
• Fruitlands Rose
• Creature Times

It was mentioned that Monster Tones will be 1pp while the others will likely be unlimited pours until cut off, boat returns, or they are out.

That NOLA and that rum tho.!

My memory is getting crappy in my old age, so can someone remind me if Whales & Whales a Theory event, or if it was a tasting room point event? Thanks.