Sierra Nevada Narwhal

Despite the almost lawsuit last year between Narwhal Brewery and Sierra Nevada, we decided to try this. A quick rundown of the lawsuit, Narwhal Brewery opened in 2011, filing in NY as an LLC. Sierra Nevada created Narwhal stout in 2012 and filed a federal trademark. They sat down, couldn't come to a resolution, and Narwhal Brewery decided to change their name instead of bankrupting themselves trying to take on the 2nd largest craft brewery in the nation.

This beer has received many great reviews online, so we decided to give it a shot. This pours a dark, deep black color with a small mount of tan head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is coffee, chocolate, roasted malt, some caramel and a backside of boozy notes, which is a little expected for a 10.2% Russian Imperial Stout. And as my little terrorist cat chews on Jennie's hair, I delve into the taste. Huh. This is complex. There is a rush of toasted malt and almost whiskey at first, which gives way to a unsweetened chocolate, then some more toasted notes, caramel and faint hops on the back end with coffee sporadically popping in to join the party. This drinks a little heavy, definitely a sipping beer.This finishes dry with almost a light hop resiny mouthfeel to it.

As I'm selective on the stouts and RISs, it's good. It's real good. I think we accidentally cloned this without realizing it with our stout, The Count.

4.6/5 caps

-Nathan-

There are two notable differences between our Count Chocula Stout and this: The Count is a milk stout instead of a Russian Imperial, and it contained marshmallow root.

And yes, we know we should be drinking this out of a snifter. I almost went for them until I realized how full our dishwasher is, and that we're reviewing more than this one beer. Just be glad I'm not drinking my portion straight from the bottle. It's Friday; I'm allowed to have a lazy moment.

Nathan described the appearance and aroma perfectly. Side note, his little terrorist cat has been extra matricidal today and was trying to convince Peanut that I'm the meanest mom in the world (because every time I got in the fridge I wouldn't give her ham or turkey or both). Even Peanut wasn't convinced. This is a good thing (although I'm going to show him the certificate, stating that "I hereby promise to be the meanest mom in the world," I signed at the hospital some day).

Let's see how this tastes. I just took a sip and uttered blissfully, "Oh my gods." It's good. It's really good. I pick up more chocolate and yes, some boozy notes early, which fade into silky chocolate, and then a note of spiced rum -- probably notes from the boozy and vanilla -- pops into my mouth. Huh. And Nathan doesn't like this better? There's also coffee and roasted, toasty notes floating in and around. I don't really pick up the lingering hops in it, other than the dryness of the finish and maybe a bit lingering on the tongue after you've swallowed. I have to agree with my partner-in-beer, whereas this is a sipping beer (and my sips have been really heavy. Oops. It's going to be one of those 0-60 nights). I find it velvety smooth, like you're drinking silk, if you could do that (and I don't mean the soy milk).

I find this fantastic. I'm rather particular on my stouts, but I rather enjoy the RIS style, and this is an excellent example of it. It's smoother than a baby's bottom, and I kinda want some more. Ah, but more we have... just of a different variety and brewery. Hehehe.

4.9/5 caps

-Jennie