Narwhal
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #209 - ABV:
- 10.2%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #4,685 - Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 9.38%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1,150
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 29, 2026
- Added:
- Oct 14, 2012
- Wants:
- 381
- Gots:
- 1,570
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding
A malt-forward monster, highlighting the depths of malt flavor.
Narwhal Imperial Stout is inspired by the mysterious creature that thrives in the deepest fathoms of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Featuring incredible depth of malt flavor, rich with notes of espresso, baker’s cocoa, roasted grain and a light hint of smoke, Narwhal is a massive malt-forward monster. Aggressive but refined with a velvety smooth body and decadent finish, Narwhal will age in the bottle for years to come.
Narwhal Imperial Stout is inspired by the mysterious creature that thrives in the deepest fathoms of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Featuring incredible depth of malt flavor, rich with notes of espresso, baker’s cocoa, roasted grain and a light hint of smoke, Narwhal is a massive malt-forward monster. Aggressive but refined with a velvety smooth body and decadent finish, Narwhal will age in the bottle for years to come.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kds2437:
Rated by kds2437 from Texas
4.26/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Feb 01, 2026
4.26/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Feb 01, 2026
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina
4/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Classic imperial stout! A tad more coffee up front, but the cocoa comes through in the end. Slight alcohol burn, but expected more at 10.2%. Untappd check-in 21Oct 22
Mar 29, 2026
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland
4.15/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
355ml bottle from POPP, Griza, Malta (€4.10):
Jet black with a half cm, foamy head that's tan coloured with a few bubbles through it - breaking up after 30 seconds or so. Lighter on the nose than expected, coffee & roasted malts coming through with dark chocolate too. It's a stronger taste, more boozy with roasted malts, chocolate & coffee with a smoked finish & a thick, full body.
Mar 06, 2026Jet black with a half cm, foamy head that's tan coloured with a few bubbles through it - breaking up after 30 seconds or so. Lighter on the nose than expected, coffee & roasted malts coming through with dark chocolate too. It's a stronger taste, more boozy with roasted malts, chocolate & coffee with a smoked finish & a thick, full body.
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
4.3/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
RB transfer
Feb 28, 2026
Reviewed by JacobusFavier23 from Texas
3.72/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.72/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L- Thick jet black, thick light brown head, slight effervescence.
S- S- Sweet dark chocolate, roasted coffee malt, licorice, vanilla bean, toffee, banana, soy sauce.
T- Notes of dark chocolate, and licorice, toffee, slight roasted malt, boozey bourbon barrel is there as well.
F- Heavy bodied, sticky and slight effervescence.
O- Good, not great RIS. Solid notes are there but not fully recognized enough to enjoy. Kind of all over the place flavor-wise.
Jan 24, 2026S- S- Sweet dark chocolate, roasted coffee malt, licorice, vanilla bean, toffee, banana, soy sauce.
T- Notes of dark chocolate, and licorice, toffee, slight roasted malt, boozey bourbon barrel is there as well.
F- Heavy bodied, sticky and slight effervescence.
O- Good, not great RIS. Solid notes are there but not fully recognized enough to enjoy. Kind of all over the place flavor-wise.
Reviewed by ramseye4 from Virginia
3.95/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a thick oily black. Roasted coffee and cocoa in the nose with some oats and toffee. Faint smoke. Tastes of coffee, espresso, a little caramel and butterscotch. More savory than sweet, missing the chocolate note that elevates a stout to the next level.
Mouthfeel falls a little short of being the oily fullness I’m used to.
Overall it’s a really good stout, but it falls just short of greatness.
Nov 17, 2025Mouthfeel falls a little short of being the oily fullness I’m used to.
Overall it’s a really good stout, but it falls just short of greatness.
Reviewed by walser from New York
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Correction to above, ABV is actually 11.9. Suppressed coca cola with malt and yeast wonderful mouth feel, coffee slight nose - just the balance makes this so incredible, and so 'unalcoholic' for a 11.9 percent imperial abv. Absolutely masterful. What a great brew and brewery.
Nov 15, 2025
Reviewed by 17Beer from Connecticut
4.29/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.29/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle. Pours an opaque black with a dense brown/tan head. Smells of roasted malt, coffee and ash. Flavors follow the nose with warming but no alcohol burn and balanced light malty sweetness in the finish. Rich slightly sticky mouthfeel on this full bodied classic.
Nov 05, 2025
Reviewed by evanwoertz from California
4.63/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.63/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
pours jet black with a dense, light-brown head which settles somewhat quickly leaving lacing on the glass. feel is quite proper - sticky and thick. taste is toasty, baked brownie, walnut chaff with a clove finish. smell is present but not prominent. if you want a straight up stout, no nonsense, simple and strong, true to the style and very sippable, pick Narwhal.
Oct 27, 2025
Reviewed by Spankyrightus from Maryland
4.42/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On draught.
Black pour, a beautiful head with retention, curtain lacing. Caramelized/roasted barley malt, grainy, rich molasses, dark chocolate nibs, espresso coffee. Lots of flavor to mask the booziness.
A little earthy, tangy, creamy, smooth and decadent.
An excellent Imperial Stout!
Oct 07, 2025Black pour, a beautiful head with retention, curtain lacing. Caramelized/roasted barley malt, grainy, rich molasses, dark chocolate nibs, espresso coffee. Lots of flavor to mask the booziness.
A little earthy, tangy, creamy, smooth and decadent.
An excellent Imperial Stout!
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