Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Narwhal
Sierra Nevada has been making great beers for longer than most of you have been of legal drinking age. They’re specialty has always been hoppy pale ales and IPAs, but every once in a while they release a bottle of black gold that astounds — the 30th Anniversary Fritz and Ken’s Ale and 2012’s Narwhal. It’s those few moments that a stout fan, like myself, can rejoice.
Finding a couple of bottles of Barrel Aged Narwhal? Oh, that’s definitely a time for celebration, without a doubt.
Sierra Nevada has taken an already great beer and made it just that much better. Many times a brewery’s efforts to barrel age a beer are thwarted by the barrels themselves — the influence can often overwhelm the base beer. That’s not the case here with Barrel Aged Narwhal. The flavors and body of the original brew are all present, as is a smooth bourbony character and delectable complexity. To say I really, really, really enjoyed this beer would be putting it mildly.
Appearance
The beer pours a nearly opaque black in color with a fairly short-lived cap of brown foam.
Aroma
Smooth bourbon wafts effortlessly from the surface with licorice notes, vanilla, peppery alcohol, cocoa, a soft roast and molasses. The beer simply smells amazing.
Taste
Quite simply, wow. Super smooth bourbon, chocolate, soft coffee notes, vanilla, distant licorice and light wood build together to a peak with a complex layering of flavors. Chest-warming alcohol arrives shortly after each sip. A moderate level of sweetness lingers in the lightly drying and lasting finish. This beer is decadent and comfortably complex without going over the top and confusing the palate.
Overall
It’s hard not to gush over a beer like Barrel Aged Narwhal. The brewery has done an excellent job in crafting an incredibly tasty stout and has shown the maturity in knowing how long to let it sit in the barrels before sharing with the public. Sierra Nevada continues to show that they know how to brew a great beer.
Rating: 4.75/5
