Narwhal Imperial Stout - Tawny Port Barrel-Aged
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 11.4%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 7.93%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 28, 2015
- Added:
- Feb 08, 2015
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by scottfrie from California
4.43/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at THG. 10oz, tulip.
A: Pours pitch black with a thin cap of foam dark tan foam that left spotty lace down the glass.
S: Rich and intense nose with strong notes of dark chocolate, sweet port, and a touch of roast.
T: Hints of chocolate and sweet caramel up front with heavy notes of leather, char, savory meat, and tons of bitter dark chocolate and grape skins near the finish. Overall, I get tons of chocolate mixed with hints of port. Tobacco is noticeable in the finish as well. This beer has one of the strongest and longest lasting aftertastes I've experienced where I can still taste the bitter chocolate and grape long after the swallow.
M: Thick heavy body, low carbonation, not soft but not a strong presence. Chewy and heavy mouthfeel. Intense and potent.
O: This is definitely a heavy and potent sipper. The base beer is rich on its own, but the port barrel really adds some intense flavors of caramel, raisin, red grape, leather, and tobacco. I went back to the bar the next day to get another pour. Very well done.
Oct 05, 2015A: Pours pitch black with a thin cap of foam dark tan foam that left spotty lace down the glass.
S: Rich and intense nose with strong notes of dark chocolate, sweet port, and a touch of roast.
T: Hints of chocolate and sweet caramel up front with heavy notes of leather, char, savory meat, and tons of bitter dark chocolate and grape skins near the finish. Overall, I get tons of chocolate mixed with hints of port. Tobacco is noticeable in the finish as well. This beer has one of the strongest and longest lasting aftertastes I've experienced where I can still taste the bitter chocolate and grape long after the swallow.
M: Thick heavy body, low carbonation, not soft but not a strong presence. Chewy and heavy mouthfeel. Intense and potent.
O: This is definitely a heavy and potent sipper. The base beer is rich on its own, but the port barrel really adds some intense flavors of caramel, raisin, red grape, leather, and tobacco. I went back to the bar the next day to get another pour. Very well done.
Reviewed by BirdsandHops from Oregon
4.07/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: pours black with a finger of brown head that fades into a frothy ring with little lacing.
S: roasted malts with semi-sweet chocolate and lors of oak aromas. Some sweeter vanilla and Port aromas come through on the finish.
T: roasted malts and bitter chocolate here as well before a big oaky flavor that takes over. Sweeter dark fruit flavors come through before a moderately boozy finish.
M: thick body with medium carbonation, this beer has a lively feel combined with the booziness.
O: a good beer, overall. The oak teally dominates, but that's okay with me.
Jul 01, 2015S: roasted malts with semi-sweet chocolate and lors of oak aromas. Some sweeter vanilla and Port aromas come through on the finish.
T: roasted malts and bitter chocolate here as well before a big oaky flavor that takes over. Sweeter dark fruit flavors come through before a moderately boozy finish.
M: thick body with medium carbonation, this beer has a lively feel combined with the booziness.
O: a good beer, overall. The oak teally dominates, but that's okay with me.
Rated by apzehnder from Kentucky
5/5 rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
One of the best beers I've ever had.
Apr 26, 2015
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
4.14/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.14/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
On tap at BC's Pizza and Beer
A: Pours dark brown, pretty much black, with a creamy toffee brown head that settles and laces well.
S: Red wine character dominates, dark fruit, roasted malt, and a hint of vanilla and molasses.
T: Rich red wine, dark fruit, cherry, black currant, blackberry, roasted malt, hints of chocolate and coffee, and a little almost vanilla and molasses like notes.
M: Full body, low carbonation, smooth and decadent.
O: Pretty cool different take on barrel aging an imperial stout, but I think the port overwhelmed the stout a bit too much, rather than adding to it.
Apr 10, 2015A: Pours dark brown, pretty much black, with a creamy toffee brown head that settles and laces well.
S: Red wine character dominates, dark fruit, roasted malt, and a hint of vanilla and molasses.
T: Rich red wine, dark fruit, cherry, black currant, blackberry, roasted malt, hints of chocolate and coffee, and a little almost vanilla and molasses like notes.
M: Full body, low carbonation, smooth and decadent.
O: Pretty cool different take on barrel aging an imperial stout, but I think the port overwhelmed the stout a bit too much, rather than adding to it.
Rated by mendvicdog from Maryland
3.17/5 rDev -23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.17/5 rDev -23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
did not like the affect of the barrel on this. too harsh and syrupy.
Mar 27, 2015
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