Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Narwhal Imperial Stout is a 10.2% seasonal beer. Available September through December. This is the 2026 variety/year. This big stout uses Carafa, Caramelized, Chocolate, Estate Pale, Honey, roasted barley, smoked, and Two-Row Pale malts. Sierra Nevada also uses Cascade and Chinook hops, along with Ale Yeast. This is a beer you can cellar and compare with a later year. This has not been cellared. This stout pours black with a one-finger-thick tan head that fades slowly. The aroma is dark, with notes of baker’s chocolate and bitterness. The flavor is bitter, with notes of baker’s chocolate, malts, and roasted coffee. This is a strong beer with a full, rich mouthfeel. The finish is bitter, with slight chocolate, coffee, and booze. The aftertaste is faded bitter chocolate and coffee. Narwhal is a good beer; it needs a little more roasted malt, but I give it a B. This is the imperial stout that I recommend. But I do think that there are better ones, though not many. Please stay safe, be kind to each other, and remember to enjoy responsibly! Cheers!
