Keweenaw Brewing Company- Widow Maker Black Ale: Black Ale fun, won’t you come and wash away the pain?

So last night I was blessed with a near religious experience; I finally, after twelve long years, got to see Soundgarden in concert! Jason and I spent the whole show alternating between praise for Cornell and crew mixed with scorn for Lollapalooza’s shitty beer selection. Sorry, but Stella and Shock Top don’t qualify as craft beers to this guy. What I really wanted in my hand was an ice cold black ale to mingle with the musical melodies of “black hole sun!” Luckily I had a Widow Maker Black Ale from Keweenaw Brewing Company waiting for me at home. I have been saving this can because it is the last micro brew that I brought back from Michigan.

Widow Maker Black Ale poured well, black. To borrow a country quote, “it’s blacker than a skunks ass at midnight.” It had a thick khaki head that dissipated really quickly. The aroma smells like a combo of roasted malt and coffee grinds. Let’s just put it this way, this widow ain’t gonna win a beauty contest anytime soon!  It looks like a glass of mud water.

Luckily the flavor makes up for her looks, kind of like your funny, ugly friend. Widow maker has the faintest hint of coffee and roasted malt, but nowhere near a porter or stout. The body is actually closer to an amber, with this perfect roasted caramel backbone, excellent. Think of it like a porter light.

I am actually glad Lolla didn’t have a beer this good on tap, because then I probably would not have remembered much of Soundgarden. Keweenaw Brewing has a great little thing going here. If you have a friend that, ‘like just doesn’t like dark beers or whatever.’ I promise you Widow Maker Black Ale is the perfect stepping stone in the darkness, just bring a friend and some damn good tunes. And like the can says, “don’t be afraid of the dark!”

ABV: 4.5% (I called the brewery unlike some "other" lazy ass beer review sites who list it as ???)

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case!