Sstainless 001
Widowmaker Brewing

 

 

Taking the haze to the imperial side, the brewers of Widowmaker roll out with a rotating series of big, bold hop bombs to soothe the thirst for the tastebuds who are held captive to the haze.

Sstainless, batch 001 pours with the perscribed goldenrod matte finish, crowned with a creamy, ivory froth and held in a general pastel vegemite visual density. Rife with candied fruit, the perfume of citronella, Hawiian punch and fine herb sprinkles the nose with curiosity and allure ahead of an introduction in taste that blankets the tongue with pastry dough, shortcake and honeysuckle in a rich and malty early palate.

As the malty-sweet and general cereal tone skirts along the middle palate, the hops begin to peak through the grains with dried pineapple, mango, papaya, pawpaw and passionfruit in a strong tropical fruit display. Secondary flavors of mandarin oranges, pink grapefruit and lemon back up the tropical fruit flavors while adding a zesty brightness to their more succulent, nearly tart character. A gentle bitterness cleans up the batting order with the botanical spices that are common to gin, fresh grassiness and an overall hemp-like earthiness.

Full bodied and providing a gentle vodka warmth, the New England IPA finishes with the taste of candied fruit peels along with a medium long extension of mulled herbs, fresh spruce and a piquant green tea spice. With the rich and persistent cereal malts, Sstainless 001 is excellent to taste, but hard to drink.