Score: 90/100 – Great
From a 375ml bottle (wax seal) served warm at 16 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Bottled as a 2023 release for the brewery taproom’s 4th anniversary.
I picked up the beer straight from the brewery back in March – it’s been in my fridge every since… six plus months I suppose? Two breviews in one day – why stop there?
Some time back, I decided to not focus on reviewing beers that will not be available again. I’m making an exception here in order to round out my BreWskey list. High expectations for a barrel-aged barleywine/imperial stout blend.
Appearance 5/6
The beer pours a clear black (opaque black in glass) with 1cm of frothy, dark brown head which dissipates into a partial film within a minute. No lacing with poor head retention. Gloomy appearance – ’tis the season.
Aroma 24/24
Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is deep and luxurious with significant complexity.
A rich chocolate brownie character and dark caramel pair well with significant bourbon (vanilla + oak) notes. Prominent jammy dried fruit with figgy, prune-like tones contribute perceived sweetness while noticeable black licorice spice along with considerable aged meatiness (leather + marmite) add depth and interest. Perfumy alcohol chimes in here and there. I’m even noting some earthy nuttiness. No apparent hop aroma.
The dry nose is rich and pungent with notes of butterscotch, chocolate, earth, fresh yeast, soy sauce, bourbon, and nuts. Exceptional and intriguing aroma.
Flavour 37/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, great balance, and aggressive perceived bitterness.
The brash palate opens up salty-sweet with notes of jammy figs + prunes, bourbon, and some meatiness (soy sauce + broth) – making way for a rich center filled with boozy dried fruit (figs + prunes), marmite, leather, oak, chocolate, salted black licorice, molasses, and butterscotch.
The long finish is strong and bitter with notes of marmite, bourbon (oak + vanilla), chocolate, earthy nuts, prunes, dark caramel, and salted black licorice. Tremendous complexity.
Mouthfeel 6/10
Full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is thick, oily, and chewy with hot alcohol warming and a luscious finish. No apparent astringency but the palate has a burn from what seems like the alcohol. It’s rare, but I find this too hefty for my senses.
Overall 18/20
BreWskey’s Widow Vibe 2023 is a great beer.
The inky appearance with a quickly collapsing foam sets up the expectations for something substantial. The aroma exudes richness and scrumptiousness with mind-boggling complexity. On the palate, the beer is a true sledgehammer. Massive dark/specialty malt character pairs with robust barrel and hefty oxidation. The mouthfeel follows with an unctuous quality and a burning sensation.
Overall, Widow Vibe is a compelling sipper with remarkable depth. At the same time, there’s no question it’s heavy-handed and comes with fangs that bite. I’m sensing a stressed out yeast and the oxidation can overwhelm much of the other characteristics.
This is not a beer for the faint of heart. I think it’s worth trying if you have a chance – it doesn’t disappoint even if it doesn’t stand out.
Beerfection | Craft Beer Reviews | Montreal, Canada 