Name: Sierra Nevada Narwhal
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.2%
Sierra Nevada Narwhal: an Imperial Stout that I have seen continuously over the past couple of years but have never actually gone out of my way to try it out for reasons unbeknownst to myself. Today I'm changing that by trying out a bottle all the way back from 2014 as I've been sitting on this for a good while.
As for the name, I have no idea why they're named after the proclaimed Unicorns of the Seven Seas but I only hope that no actual narwhals were harmed or maimed in the brewing process. While we're at it, let's just get this out of the way as well...
Appearance - Pitch black with a small amount of carbonation near the top of the glass. The head takes on a creamy, thick-looking brown color that is about one-finger in width. The lacing is both sticky and abundant here.
Aroma - Strong chocolate maltiness followed by some vanilla and marshmallow notes. I'm also getting some light raspberry and cherry sweetness in the back of the nose, along with some very mild floral hoppiness and roastiness.
Flavor - Chocolate malts and marshmallows on the front of the palate. Following this are some moderate bitter hoppiness, light vanilla and some raspberries. The aftertaste is mainly a strong roasted barley notes and some equally strong bitter hoppiness.
Though it may not be in season at this very moment, it is certainly worth checking out when it becomes available in the future. It's got a nice malty, roasty, and fruity balance to it that makes it an easy recommendation for any seasoned Imperial Stout fanatic.
Sierra Nevada Narwhal - 9/10
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