Narwhal Imperial Stout - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

01-18-2013 20:48:41 | More by mtbdonn

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

jbeervt

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-20-2013 19:27:29 | More by jbeervt

Sivad

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

05-20-2013 16:57:41 | More by Sivad

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-20-2013 04:14:41 | More by Kmat10

Ayrron

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

05-19-2013 18:45:15 | More by Ayrron

jl28r1

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-18-2013 16:29:35 | More by jl28r1

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-18-2013 15:01:10 | More by jbarletto

Honus1

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -21.7%

05-18-2013 02:39:08 | More by Honus1

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-18-2013 00:40:20 | More by jkane101

carlosega

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-17-2013 19:29:20 | More by carlosega

EROCK75

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-17-2013 16:56:44 | More by EROCK75

ExaltedNecrosis

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-17-2013 05:19:54 | More by ExaltedNecrosis

RandyPuckett

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-17-2013 05:17:18 | More by RandyPuckett

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-17-2013 04:41:45 | More by iHeartMNBeer

AL89BR

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-16-2013 23:05:16 | More by AL89BR

mverity

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

05-16-2013 21:40:49 | More by mverity

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

05-16-2013 20:37:35 | More by ElizabethEleanor

cmdmzmjm

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

05-16-2013 02:27:26 | More by cmdmzmjm

HarmonMW

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-15-2013 19:51:11 | More by HarmonMW

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-15-2013 18:33:03 | More by twenty5

Sunnanek

Sweden

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-15-2013 17:27:41 | More by Sunnanek

illy0sis

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-14-2013 22:18:38 | More by illy0sis

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.69/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

The elusive Narwhal, this is 2012 brewed according to the coding system they use it's bottled on 2285210:23 that's 2012 285th day on the 2nd bottling line at 10:23 am. I couldn't pass this up even though they had fresh Hoptimum I sided with the Narwhal since I hadn't yet tried this imperial stout. Pours with a black velvet smooth texture, pitch black body fills up my Stone Imperial Russian Stout glass nicely. Big smooth creamy texture mocha tan head follows the body with fine speckled lacing, this beer has some legs as I swirl it around in the chalice. Aromatics are killer dark ripened vinous fruit notes with dark chocolate and roasted coffee, it's an excellent combination brewed in this glass. Even some brown sugar/molasses like malt character kicking in with subdued earthy hops well hidden by the roasted qualities of black patent malts. The perceived sweetness comes off as dark partially fermented cherries or plump juicy raisins or a combination of those two fruits, but there is a fruity sharp sherry character going on here. Flavor rides a wave of those dark malts but has a surprisingly sharp sweet slightly salty breathe of ocean quality, maybe a bit of soy sauce that I get from some imperial stouts...it's not overkill but a nice dose of something to offset the dark malts acrid roasted malt character. Definitely sweet cherry hidden in there with well blended alcohol, caramelized brown sugar, earthy herbal hops in the backend with some added bitterness bitter dark chocolate and hints of espresso bean reach the palate as well. Like I said initially this is a killer complex ale, full bodied even smooth carbonation it's a joy to have on the palate with each sip cleansing any lingering harshness away it's drinkability is downright dangerous one of the biggest easiest drinking imperial stouts I've ever come across.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 21:26:11 | More by WVbeergeek