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Barrel-Aged Narwhal

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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🌍 United States · Imperial Stout · One of 127 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

The brewery's imperial stout aged for close to a year in bourbon barrels and released regularly in cans. The base brings dark chocolate, espresso and roasted grain, and the barrel lays oak, vanilla and toasted coconut over it, with bourbon warmth, toffee and dark fruit such as raisin in the nose. The body is heavy and smooth with little carbonation, the sweetness stays bittersweet rather than cloying, and the finish is long, woody and warming.

ABV
11.9%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter55 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Full-bodied and gently sweet.

Weight and sugar move together, the pour rolling slow while richness compounds on the palate.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
toasty
Distinctive notes
oak
dark fruit
vanilla

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Barrel-Aged Narwhal

◎ Appearance

Deep black with mahogany edges, opaque and impenetrable to light. A modest tan head settles quickly, leaving sparse lacing on the glass. Carbonation is noticeably restrained, creating a still and weighty visual presence.

opaque blacklow carbonationsparse lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with dark chocolate and espresso, underpinned by roasted grain character. Bourbon barrel aging contributes prominent oak, vanilla, and toasted coconut. Raisin and dark fruit notes sit alongside toffee sweetness and warming alcohol vapors.

dark chocolate, espressovanilla, oak, coconutbourbon warmth, raisin

◐ Taste

The palate is full-bodied and smooth, with entry dominated by chocolate and roasted malt. Mid-palate shows the interplay of barrel vanilla against bittersweet cocoa and grain, with toffee adding depth. Bitterness remains restrained at 55 IBU, allowing the malt sweetness and bourbon complexity to balance throughout without becoming cloying.

full-bodied, smoothchocolate, toffeebittersweet balance

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with woody oak tannins lingering persistently. Bourbon heat extends into the aftertaste, leaving a satisfying dry-yet-sweet impression that fades gradually.

long, woodybourbon warmth
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
87
Appearance
85
Finish
88
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Barrel-Aged Narwhal

Serve at 13–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Barrel-Aged Narwhal

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, oak, roasted character as Barrel-Aged Narwhal will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →