Yup, this is good.
Modern Times have used Ethiopian and Sumatran coffee beans that they’ve roasted themselves, an they’ve hit them up with a big malt bill that includes a load of oats to make the beer feel all thick and creamy.
Black House pours a deep mahogany with a dense cushion of foam for a head and smells of black coffee and vanilla ice cream.
Taking a big mouthful you find that there’s a big chewy cake at the heart of the beer.
It’s a Victoria Sponge, all vanilla pods and whipped cream, a dusting of icing sugar and a lovely Madeira sponge chewiness.
Are there hops?
I’m guessing that there are some though they’re not mentioned in the list of ingredients, because you find a good bitter hedgerow kick and a zingy lemon zest zip in the finish.
The coffee rumbles along in the background giving the beer a warm woody flavour, it’s rich and round and inviting and it hints at a black cherry fruitiness as you head towards the brown sugar syrup of the finish.
Source: Hippo Beers