Modern Times Loyal Subjects 2025 Barleywine – English (2025)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The 2025 vintage of Loyal Subjects pours deep mahogany with a velvety body shaped by extended time in bourbon barrels. The nose unfurls layers of caramel, toffee, and warm vanilla, lifted by oak spice and a gentle bourbon warmth. On the palate, dark fruit takes center stage: plump raisins, sticky dates, and a flicker of orange marmalade weave through rich malt sweetness. Oak tannins lend structure while vanilla and brown sugar smooth the long finish. A quintessentially English-style barleywine, regal in stature, contemplative in pace, and built for slow, ceremonial sipping.

Food Pairing

Pair with a wedge of aged Stilton drizzled with honey and walnuts, where the cheese’s salty bite tempers the beer’s caramel sweetness. For dessert, try sticky toffee pudding or a dark chocolate flourless torte; the dark fruit, vanilla, and bourbon-oak notes echo the rich, molasses-laced confection beautifully.

About Modern Times Beer

Modern Times Beer was founded in 2013 in San Diego, California, establishing itself as a distinctive voice in American craft brewing. The brewery built its reputation on a progressive philosophy that intertwines quality beer production with worker ownership and environmental consciousness, having transitioned to an employee-owned cooperative model. Modern Times became particularly renowned for their hop-forward West Coast IPAs and an exceptional portfolio of coffee-infused stouts, reflecting San Diego’s vibrant craft beer culture while pushing creative boundaries. Their brewing approach balances technical precision with experimental fermentation, producing both classic styles and innovative interpretations that garnered a devoted following. The brewery expanded beyond its original Point Loma location to include additional facilities and tasting rooms, though it faced significant challenges in recent years. Known for their distinctive retro-futuristic branding and literary references, Modern Times cultivated a unique identity in the crowded craft beer landscape. Their commitment to quality ingredients and creative recipe development, particularly in darker beer styles and hop-forward offerings, established them as an influential producer in the American craft beer movement.