Modern Times Black House

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, backed by a subtle sweetness that keeps it from turning acrid. On the palate, flavors of espresso, baker's cocoa, and a faint caramel note play off each other in a well-integrated way. The oatmeal addition gives the body a notably smooth, almost creamy texture without feeling heavy. The finish is dry but not harsh, with lingering roast character that fades cleanly.

About the Brewery

Modern Times is a San Diego-based brewery founded in 2013 by Jacob McKean. They built a reputation on aggressively flavored, well-crafted beers and a strong commitment to their coffee program — they roast their own beans, which shows up most visibly in Black House. Their lineup spans hazy IPAs, stouts, and mixed-fermentation work, and they've maintained a notable presence in the Southern California craft scene despite ownership and financial turbulence in recent years.

Food Pairings

Barbecue ribs or brisket pair well because the roasty bitterness cuts through fatty, smoky meat without competing with it. A savory mushroom burger works along similar lines, the umami in the mushroom echoing the beer's earthier roast notes. Dark chocolate desserts — a brownie, a pot de crème — are a natural match since the beer mirrors those flavors and the slight sweetness keeps it from turning bitter. Aged cheddar offers a contrasting angle, its sharpness and salt playing against the smooth, mellow body.

Style Guide

Oatmeal stout is a variant of English stout that incorporates rolled oats into the grain bill, which softens the body and adds a silky, smooth mouthfeel without contributing much flavor on its own. The style is defined by roasted malt character — coffee, dark chocolate, mild molasses — balanced against enough residual sweetness to prevent harshness. ABVs typically run moderate, in the 4–6% range. It's distinguished from dry Irish stout by its fuller body and from imperial stout by its restrained strength and approachable roast profile.