Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout (2012)
10.2% ABV
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
12 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 12/16/12
This stout pours a thick dark
brown color with a good bubbly beige head. Good lacing.
On the nose, malt, dark chocolate, coffee, slight hops, caramel, slight cherry, slight raisin.
Taste has chocolate, malt, coffee, licorice, cherry, (almost a chocolate-covered cherry cordial flavor comes in), mild hops, hints of raisin, touch of sugar, touch of vanilla extract.
Mouthfeel is smooth and dry, with some good creaminess and a nice pointed kick of bitterness. Fairly bold with some nice bite at the back of the mouth.
Overall, solid, tasty imperial stout with a distinct profile of flavors. As its temperature rises, dryness and bitterness really come through and penetrate the palate. This one would be a good candidate for some aging. A nice surprising offer from Sierra Nevada, though quality from SN is not something unusual, but more so since I only just learned about this tasty stout a couple of weeks ago and it's good. Is it possible I'm beginning to like stouts more than IPAs?
My score: 94
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