Founders Imperial Stout vs. Sierra Nevada Narwhal

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BirdsandHops, Feb 17, 2013.

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  1. BirdsandHops

    BirdsandHops Grand Pooh-Bah (3,061) Apr 14, 2008 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    This is more of a love letter than a fight to the death. I just can't get enough of either of these beers this winter. Both have similar profiles to me--hoppy, bitter, and robust--and are incredibly drinkable.

    FIS is a beer I like more and more every year that I have it. I did a 3 year vertical recently and it ages pretty well, too. The fresh and the year-old bottles were equally delicious with the two year old bottle a little less so, but still enjoyable.

    Narwhal is the first beer from SN that has really wowed me. I got it on tap originally not expecting much and had to immediately go purchase bottles. I'm on my third 4-pack now and find it difficult to hang onto even one or two for aging.

    Overall, I might have to give a slight edge to FIS, but Narwhal has an advantage in being a little cheaper and easier to come by. Both are two of the best imperial stouts out there, barrel aged or no.

    On a side note, I hope Bell's decides one day to bottle their Dagger Imperial Stout since it's another great example of a hoppy IS.
     
    #1 BirdsandHops, Feb 17, 2013
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  2. ESeab

    ESeab Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2013 New Jersey

    I'm one of the few that wasn't wowed by narwhal at all. I bought 6 bottles I believe, drank 3 or 4 and want to hold on to the others. I actually liked it less and less each time I tried it. We had a lone 4-pack left sitting at our store for a month and I just didn't feel like getting it (kind of regret that) and someone bought it this past weekend (can't believe it lasted that long) You kind of make me want one now though to try yet again (4th times a try?)

    Anyways, I love FIS, bought two four packs and two singles and I think I'm going to snag one more 4-pack today (again can't believe this stuff is still around). I'm definitely intrigued to see what happens to this over time and I tend to think that what made me like narwhal the first bottle was the fresh factor and that it won't benefit as much from aging. FIS wowed me first sip and I think its bigger and fuller than narwhal. It's all part of the game, finding what YOU like. By no means would I ever turn a narwhal down, I just think FIS IS superior, but thats just my opinion.
    Me Love Stout Long Time
     
    #2 ESeab, Feb 17, 2013
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  3. lackenhauser

    lackenhauser Pooh-Bah (2,721) Dec 10, 2002 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was never impressed with FIS but need to retry it. I loved Narwhal but I am such a huge SN fan that's not suprising. One hoppy RIS that I simply cannot abide is Storm King. To each his own.
     
    #3 lackenhauser, Feb 17, 2013
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  4. tectactoe

    tectactoe Pooh-Bah (2,386) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    FIS is one of the best RIS's you can buy, IMO. Blows Narwhal out of the water. and the price is awesome, too.
     
    #4 tectactoe, Feb 17, 2013
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  5. sergeantstogie

    sergeantstogie Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2010 Washington

    Not even close. Not by a country mile. FIS is THE stout. obligatory IMHO
     
    #5 sergeantstogie, Feb 17, 2013
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  6. No1Smitty

    No1Smitty Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2011 California

    It's funny hearing how the availability was back east. I was lucky to find Narwhal once at the Bevmo in town. After that it was all gone. I thought it was great for a SN fan boy such as myself.
     
    #6 No1Smitty, Feb 17, 2013
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  7. BirdsandHops

    BirdsandHops Grand Pooh-Bah (3,061) Apr 14, 2008 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Some grocery stores have it around here. I picked up one's last 4-pack last night along with a 4-pack of Bigfoot. What's great is that SN, New Belgium, and Oskar Blues are all considered "local" beers around Asheville now and are often discounted further, even though OB is the only brewery that's actually open so far. 4-packs of Narwhal for $8 and change are awesome.
     
    #7 BirdsandHops, Feb 17, 2013
  8. alucard6679

    alucard6679 Savant (1,009) Jul 29, 2012 Arizona

    Haven't had either unfortunately. I keep almost buying Narwhal, but passing it up for something else, and Founders isn't available to me. I did however get my hands on a bottle of speedway stout for the first time the other day (I know its a coffee stout, but I thought the coffee aspect was fairly low key compared to some others I've tried which I like). Completely blew me away, so I guess it all works out lol
     
    #8 alucard6679, Feb 17, 2013
  9. nickapalooza86

    nickapalooza86 Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2010 Wisconsin

    I love um both, with a extremely slight edge to FIS for the mouthfeel.
     
    #9 nickapalooza86, Feb 17, 2013
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  10. tommyz

    tommyz Initiate (0) May 28, 2007 Michigan

    In before the, quality has dropped over the years post...lol
     
    #10 tommyz, Feb 17, 2013
  11. creepinjeeper

    creepinjeeper Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2012 Missouri

    Just bought FBS and will have to try FIS as well. Narwhal is pretty friggin great! If tectactoe is sayin' it blows Narwhal out of the water, then I'm bumpin' it up on my tick list.
     
    #11 creepinjeeper, Feb 17, 2013
  12. C2H5

    C2H5 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 Illinois

    FIS is better than Narwal.. I liked narwal a lot but FIS is awesome, I cant think of a better "non barrel aged" stout
     
    #12 C2H5, Feb 17, 2013
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  13. Beerandraiderfan

    Beerandraiderfan Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2009 Nevada

    The first? You have really wowed me, in that the brewery that laid the blueprint for craft beer's existence and continued development, just now wowed you in 2012.

    They're both pretty damn good subjectively and objectively. Don't understand how you can blow something out the water (funny phrase though when dealing with something called Narwhal) when both items of comparison are top notch.
     
    #13 Beerandraiderfan, Feb 17, 2013
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  14. CORKSCREWFISH

    CORKSCREWFISH Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2011 Illinois

    Honestly,FIS is quite possibly the very best non-ba RIS in the world!
    While Narwhal is quite good,it's almost disrespectful to FIS,to compare the two.
    Yeah,FIS is that good.
    Kind of like all the fuss comparing MJ to LJ.Come on man! Lebron shames isn't close.
     
    #14 CORKSCREWFISH, Feb 17, 2013
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  15. DaveLikesAle

    DaveLikesAle Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2006 Ohio

    Went through quite a few of both. At the (roughly) $10 price point for 4-pack, Narwal is competing with Old Rasputin and Siberian Night. Nice to have so many affordable options.
     
    #15 DaveLikesAle, Feb 17, 2013
  16. Jnorton00

    Jnorton00 Maven (1,338) Apr 13, 2007 Massachusetts

    I haven't had Narwal but FIS is still way better.
     
    #16 Jnorton00, Feb 17, 2013
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  17. CORKSCREWFISH

    CORKSCREWFISH Initiate (0) Apr 22, 2011 Illinois

    Honestly,FIS is quite possibly the very best non-ba RIS in the world!
    While Narwhal is quite good,it's almost disrespectful to FIS,to compare the two.
    Yeah!.. FIS is that good!
    Reminds me of all the recent fuss comparing MJ to LJ.Come on man! Lebron shames isn't close!
     
    #17 CORKSCREWFISH, Feb 17, 2013
  18. tectactoe

    tectactoe Pooh-Bah (2,386) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't get me wrong, Narwhal is damn good (read my review!). My statement was more of a testament to just how good FIS really is. It is probably the best RIS you can get for the money, and almost a perfect beer in my eyes. But again, remember that it's only my opinion. I'm sure there are many people who would prefer a Narwhal.
     
    #18 tectactoe, Feb 17, 2013
  19. BirdsandHops

    BirdsandHops Grand Pooh-Bah (3,061) Apr 14, 2008 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    It has nothing to do with SN's niche, history, or role in the craft market. I have yet to have a bad beer from them, and they and New Belgium are probably the closest to being staples in my fridge. I love what they do and will try any new beer from them without hesitation. That being said, Narwhal is the first beer from them that made me go out and immediately buy more. To put it in beer grade terms, it's the first A+ beer I've had from a brewery that never gets below a B or B-.
     
    #19 BirdsandHops, Feb 17, 2013
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  20. mjn5036

    mjn5036 Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2008 New Hampshire

    FIS is awesome. Narwhal was okay but didn't come close to FIS.

    Also, I heard that the name Narwhal was being disputed with another brewery. All of it was pulled from the shelves locally according to one of my beer reps. Not sure of the validity of that but that would explain why it literally disappeared all at once.
     
    #20 mjn5036, Feb 17, 2013
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