Sierra Nevada Narwhal Barrel Aged bottle Sierra Nevada Narwhal Barrel Aged glass

Sierra Nevada Narwhal Barrel Aged

Sierra Nevada

Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout • 11.9% ABV • USA

Would I drink it for free?

Yes, no questions asked

Would I pay for it again?

Yep and thanks

Notes

An angry Narwhal…probably because it saw what The Deep had done, or maybe it just didn’t get enough love growing up. Either way, this is a dry, roasty, bitter Imperial Stout. No sweetness to be found, and the bourbon isn’t as forward as in other barrel‑aged releases. You get that strong burnt‑caramel edge, a touch of vanilla in the background, and a heavy hand of booziness.

A classic strong Imperial Stout, then — with the barrel adding the final polish. Now that I think about it, is this an Imperial Stout or a Russian Imperial Stout?

I picked this up at Sierra Nevada in North Carolina (that place is AMAZING): eight big cans for $40, which is a great deal. I haven’t seen it much in shops, though…

Yes, I totally recommend this one.