Barrel-Aged Toasted S'more Narwhal
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #406 - ABV:
- 11.9%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,183 - Avg:
- 4.35 | pDev: 5.98%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 16, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 10, 2024
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Flavors of marshmallow and graham cracker pair perfectly with the deep, roasty chocolate in this flavored Narwhal imperial stout. Brewed with cocoa nibs and aged in bourbon barrels, each sip offers a smooth, decadent experience reminiscent of s'mores.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Immortale25 from North Carolina
4.75/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Not sure why other reviewers report muted flavors of graham cracker and marshmallow. This beer tastes EXACTLY like you're biting into a s'more. So much so that it seems they may use artificial flavors to achieve that flavor, but I'm willing to overlook that since it's so delicious. I can't get enough of this stuff.
Mar 14, 2025
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.26/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a four-pack while at the Mills River Gift Shop cooler on 12-14-24. Split the pack with a friend. Can is 07 Pkgd, meaning in Chico i believe, on 11/22/24; consumed the first of two cans for review 2-13-25. Cold stored since purchase.
Beer poured black with a very nice dark tan head that has a ring of hang time.
Nose is pretty awesome, getting a nice medley of roasted malts and dark chocolate along with a touch of vanilla from the barrel.
Taste is a large malt base that brings a medium roast base. Cocoa nibs adjunct is huge and works harmoniously with the malts and combine nicely with used bourbon barrels that impart a touch of vanilla and warmth with each sip. Finishes with the nibs lingering for a touch of bittersweet. Not getting overt graham cracker or marshmallow.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and lack the viscosity desired for a big stout, but it is pretty smooth.
Overall, a fun beer to try, glad i picked some up!
Feb 13, 2025Beer poured black with a very nice dark tan head that has a ring of hang time.
Nose is pretty awesome, getting a nice medley of roasted malts and dark chocolate along with a touch of vanilla from the barrel.
Taste is a large malt base that brings a medium roast base. Cocoa nibs adjunct is huge and works harmoniously with the malts and combine nicely with used bourbon barrels that impart a touch of vanilla and warmth with each sip. Finishes with the nibs lingering for a touch of bittersweet. Not getting overt graham cracker or marshmallow.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and lack the viscosity desired for a big stout, but it is pretty smooth.
Overall, a fun beer to try, glad i picked some up!
Reviewed by mntlover from Tennessee
4.33/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich deep black no light showing thru on this cloudy day anyway. Finger sized rich darker tan head looks thick falls to ringed scum with some ok lace.
Aroma is chocolate and graham crackers with sweet toasted marshmallow riding up front big sweet nose. riding underneath is the roasted notes along with a mellow bourbon barrel presence.
Taste is not as rich as the nose, loads of chocolate nibs, some sweetness from the marshmallow not much in the way of graham crackers maybe hints of cinnamon if you look for it. Maybe I am being to picking as the aroma is fabulous , the taste is still good just not up to what my nose was smelling. Barrel notes are consistent with the nose on the mellow side even though this brew does warm the tummy.
Mouthfeel is big and chewy maybe the smoothness makes it feel bigger still not full but big.
Overall nose is great, flavor is good, overall I like it even though I don't like Smores.
Feb 11, 2025Aroma is chocolate and graham crackers with sweet toasted marshmallow riding up front big sweet nose. riding underneath is the roasted notes along with a mellow bourbon barrel presence.
Taste is not as rich as the nose, loads of chocolate nibs, some sweetness from the marshmallow not much in the way of graham crackers maybe hints of cinnamon if you look for it. Maybe I am being to picking as the aroma is fabulous , the taste is still good just not up to what my nose was smelling. Barrel notes are consistent with the nose on the mellow side even though this brew does warm the tummy.
Mouthfeel is big and chewy maybe the smoothness makes it feel bigger still not full but big.
Overall nose is great, flavor is good, overall I like it even though I don't like Smores.
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.31/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Barrel-Aged Toasted S’more Narwhal Stout. 16 x 16 fl oz can. $ 100.00 (Including shipping), $ 0.391/fl oz from Sierra Nevada on-line. Received via UPS 03/01/25. Reviewed 05/01/25 (Review 3440). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “PKGD 112224.” Stored at 39 degrees F at home. Served at 57.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 60.0 degrees F. (It didn’t last long!)
Appearance – 4.25.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light penetration at the edges is ruby.
Head: Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density. Slowly drops to a 0.4 – 0.7 cm crown fed by heavy carbonation and has a complete cap.
Lacing – None – not really expected at this ABV.
Aroma – 4.25 – Begins with strong graham cracker and cocoa. No yeast, no ethanol (11.9 % ABV, as marked on label). No disulfide or diacetyl. Bonus! The aroma lasts the entire can!
Flavor – 4.5 – Marked cocoa and marshmallow, just warning hints of graham cracker. No yeast, no ethanol. No disulfides, no diacetyl. The barrel blends seamlessly with the roasted malt and cocoa. Finishes slightly sweet. Mild gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; approaching creamy; lively but soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Delicious! Narwhal is perhaps the most consistently good stout that occasionally makes it into this area – when it does, I always pick up a case or two. This variant is supreme – two bad I’ve only got 14 cans left – enough to last two weeks with careful rationing.
Jan 05, 2025Bottom of can stamped “PKGD 112224.” Stored at 39 degrees F at home. Served at 57.2 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 60.0 degrees F. (It didn’t last long!)
Appearance – 4.25.
First pour – Amber Brown (SRM 18), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light penetration at the edges is ruby.
Head: Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density. Slowly drops to a 0.4 – 0.7 cm crown fed by heavy carbonation and has a complete cap.
Lacing – None – not really expected at this ABV.
Aroma – 4.25 – Begins with strong graham cracker and cocoa. No yeast, no ethanol (11.9 % ABV, as marked on label). No disulfide or diacetyl. Bonus! The aroma lasts the entire can!
Flavor – 4.5 – Marked cocoa and marshmallow, just warning hints of graham cracker. No yeast, no ethanol. No disulfides, no diacetyl. The barrel blends seamlessly with the roasted malt and cocoa. Finishes slightly sweet. Mild gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; approaching creamy; lively but soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Delicious! Narwhal is perhaps the most consistently good stout that occasionally makes it into this area – when it does, I always pick up a case or two. This variant is supreme – two bad I’ve only got 14 cans left – enough to last two weeks with careful rationing.
Reviewed by doomXsaloon from New York
4.85/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.85/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Ordered online off SN site, and poured lovingly, with great anticipation,
into an English Bodington Stout pint glass on 12/31/24.
Wowza!
Delivers all that it promises! Cue the Judas Priest...SN is Delivering the goods!
Deep black body with thick, creamy, frothy tan head. Aroma is off the charts, as the entire room fills with chocolatey goodness. Each sip is pure heavenly bliss. One can marvel at the complexities of this barrel-aged beaity, whilst reflecting on the past year...The 11.9% abv is hidden well, too well, and there's no excess or artificial sugary sweetness. It's frightening how easy this drinks. A perfect dessert stout, which paired perfectly with homemade chocolate chip & fluff adult brownie at midnight on NYE. Will def serve this at next year's annual Stout Night. Great Narwhal, SN! Cheers!
Jan 04, 2025into an English Bodington Stout pint glass on 12/31/24.
Wowza!
Delivers all that it promises! Cue the Judas Priest...SN is Delivering the goods!
Deep black body with thick, creamy, frothy tan head. Aroma is off the charts, as the entire room fills with chocolatey goodness. Each sip is pure heavenly bliss. One can marvel at the complexities of this barrel-aged beaity, whilst reflecting on the past year...The 11.9% abv is hidden well, too well, and there's no excess or artificial sugary sweetness. It's frightening how easy this drinks. A perfect dessert stout, which paired perfectly with homemade chocolate chip & fluff adult brownie at midnight on NYE. Will def serve this at next year's annual Stout Night. Great Narwhal, SN! Cheers!
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