Narwhal Imperial Stout - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

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BA SCORE
93
exceptional
-
1,535 Ratings

rAvg: 4.15
pDev: 9.88%
Reviews: 422
Hads: 1113

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

California, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 10.20% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (399), on-tap (21), growler (2).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (116) | Reviews (49) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by Gambrinus1184:

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

4.36/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served on-tap at the Dive Bar in West Haven, Conn.

A: Pours jet black with a two-finger head of espresso-colored foam which retains nicely and leaves some chunky lacing around the glass.

S: Very nice, robust, dark and roasty malt aroma with hints of anisette, charred wood and bittersweet cocoa. Some subtle fruitiness and herbal hops rise from the brew as well.

T: Rich, sweet and well-rounded malt flavor, giving off the taste of dried tobacco leaves, roasted coffee and dark chocolate. There's a slight vanilla sweetness around mid-palate which cascades into a spicy, herbal hop resin that lasts until the bittersweet and smooth, roasty finish.

M: Full-bodied, very drinkable stout with a creamy malt mouthfeel and rounded bitterness to stave off cloying sweetness while offering a smooth, robust finish.

O: SN Narwahl RIS is a very complex and enjoyable, sweet, strong stout. It packs a ton of flavor into that 10.2% ABV while not slowing you down with too hot of a hop or alcohol burn. Perfect beer to serve as dessert or to accompany a raspberry chocolate torte. I'd love to try it again, or one of it's aged varietals.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 20:43:06 | More by Gambrinus1184

More User Reviews:

ygolordned

Michigan

5/5 rDev +20.5%

05-25-2013 01:28:50 | More by ygolordned

Spaz7

California

4.5/5 rDev +8.4%

05-24-2013 21:00:00 | More by Spaz7

MWilt

Michigan

2.75/5 rDev -33.7%

05-23-2013 23:11:21 | More by MWilt

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.25/5 rDev +2.4%

05-23-2013 13:05:43 | More by ipas-for-life

kingmaker

Louisiana

3.75/5 rDev -9.6%

05-23-2013 03:27:57 | More by kingmaker

MadScientist

New York

4.5/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Jet black with a creamy, express colored head that has a good long retention period.

S: A solid roast with some licorice, moderate coffee and light citrus hop aroma. There is a low caramel malt sweetness and a light alcohol sweetness as well.

T: A huge malty flavor with rich dark flavors of roast, coffee and caramel along with a moderate sweetness. There are some underling burnt sugar and slight charcoal in there as well. The citrus hops flavors and bitterness are at a medium level. The balance is about equal between the bitterness and sweetness and almost out to a medium finish. The hops bitterness lingers a bit an edges out the dark roast flavors.

M: A full bodied beer with a moderately-strong level of carbonation.

O: Rich and full with equally strong malt and hops character; simply an excellent beer. I'm hoping this will be easy to find than Night Stalker where I live because Narwhal is running neck and neck with it as my favorite Imperial Stout. There will have to be a side by side tasting to for me to call a winner though.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:58:29 | More by MadScientist

Busker

Connecticut

4.25/5 rDev +2.4%

05-22-2013 12:27:22 | More by Busker

Jamison85

Indiana

4.75/5 rDev +14.5%

05-21-2013 18:18:23 | More by Jamison85

Mikecap

Rhode Island

4.5/5 rDev +8.4%

05-21-2013 16:02:00 | More by Mikecap

TravisR

New Jersey

4.75/5 rDev +14.5%

05-21-2013 03:38:54 | More by TravisR

Kreko7

California

4.5/5 rDev +8.4%

05-20-2013 21:23:25 | More by Kreko7

beeragent

Texas

4.38/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from a 2012 bottle. Poured into a glass.

A - Pours a deep brown with ruby highlights. Appears black as motor oil once in the glass. Thin mocha head with no lace.

S - Strong roasted malts, chocolate, and espresso.

T - Roasted malt and bitter chocolate coat the palate. A slight hop bitterness in the finish. The alcohol is very well hidden.

M - Heavy bodied, thick and very smooth. Low carbonation.

O - Just like most of what Sierra Nevada does, they have set a standard for the style. When I think of an RIS, this is exactly what I expect it to look, smell, and taste like. Just a perfect example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 21:01:13 | More by beeragent