Modern Times 'City of the Dead' Nitro Stout with Cocoa Nibs, Almonds, and Sea Salt. 7.5% abv. 30 IBU. Dense black with a pinkie finger of beige, rich, foamy head. Outstanding retention that is typical of nitro beers, and superb thick lacing like melted ice cream. 

Nose of ground coffee, dark chocolate, with subtle bourbon notes emerging as the temp rises. Front taste of brewed coffee, bittersweet cocoa, vanilla, light wood notes on the back end. Aftertaste is dark chocolate, burnt caramel, faint caramel, mild herbal expression. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm, thick, creamy, a touch astringent.

This is a very good coffee beer that is a tad shy of excellence. The chocolate and coffee flavors are prominent throughout, but the promised almonds and sea salt are absent, with the bourbon taste nearly so. This beer benefits from 10 minutes in the glass, with buried aromas and flavors standing taller as the temp rises to room. Given enough time to warm, it steps forward tasting more like a milk stout than anything else.

Still, even with time on the table, with all its cards laid out, the commendable flavor profile leaves me wanting more, if only because I've had so many superior similar beers. Based on its description, which includes almonds, sea salt, and bourbon barrel aged coffee beans (the coffee is BBA, not the beer itself), this beer clearly aimed high - but narrowly missed its mark. Still, it's surely a good brew to try, particularly if you enjoy coffee beers. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"This groundbreaking export stout is brewed with house-roasted, bourbon barrel-aged coffee. Yup, bourbon barrel-aged coffee. This unique process imbues our coffee with the incredible flavor and aroma of a freshly emptied bourbon barrel, which carries over magnificently into this rich, chewy beer. Unlike any other beer in the world, City of the Dead is immensely flavorful and unforgettably delicious."

[source: moderntimesbeer.com]

The Bruery 'Share This: Mint Chip' Imperial Stout with mint and cocoa nibs. 10.5% abv. Black and dense. Finger of mocha head that dissipated quickly, falling to a sustaining collar. Moderate-poor retention, decent lace. Nose of spearmint, plum, light herbal. Aromas of red wine and allspice emerge as the temp rises to room.

First taste is bittersweet berry, raisins, fresh mint sprigs, cloves, notes of pepper, dark chocolate on the back end. Aftertaste is table wine, herbal hops underneath roasted black malt, bright bitter herb notes on the front of the tongue, spice bundle sustain, dry finish. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, botanical resin, small bead bubbly.

This is an enjoyable, unique brew, one that challenges both my palate and my overall feel. The promised mint profile is up front and present, particularly strong spearmint, with a tall expression in the aroma and a rich ribbon under a roasted chocolate malt base. However, the body is surprisingly thin for an imperial stout, countered only by a warn and syrupy mouthfeel. The head retention is disappointing for this category, falling to a collar in a minute, then to flat surface in five. 

Still, the aroma shines down to the bottom of the glass. It sounds like and tastes like an experimental brew, and on some points it does succeed. Ultimately, I would only recommend this seasonal beer to those who love mint or unique, rare bottles. Lovers of more traditional imperial stouts should seek elsewhere. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Share This is a series of beers that spotlights unique ingredients and important causes. This decadent imperial stout is inspired by mint chip flavors, recreated by adding spearmint leaves and cacao nibs to a rich base featuring chocolaty notes of its own. 'Share This: Mint Chip' pairs perfectly with supporting Food Forward, who is chipping away at hunger relief across Southern California, reaching over 100,000 people a month with recovered fresh foods. For every bottle produced, we donate $1 to support Food Forward, which donates fresh produce to hunger relief agencies across Southern California."

[source: thebruery.com]