While this would constitute a "blast from the past" entry, I currently poured the 3rd beer (of 4) into a snifter glass and it's sitting right in front of me, so I figured that I'd go ahead and give the Narwhal its proper review.
The beer pours a near black..it's really more of a very dark brown, as the light seems to penetrate during the pour. I was able to conjure up almost two fingers of mocha colored head. There's medium retention, with sheets of lacing going down the sides of the glass, along with a khaki colored film on top. Good looking beer. I currently have a cold, so forgive me if I can't discern all the aromas coming out of the beer. I can smell roasted malt, some chocolate, some dark fruits (raisin) as well. I don't know if it's the cold or not, but I wish that the aroma was more pronounced.
Upon tasting the beer, you get a little bit of malty sweetness. The dark fruits are more pronounced, and there's a bitter finish that lingers at the end. I can pick out some bitter chocolate, and there's a boozy finish that lets you know that this baby is 10%+ ABV. The bitter finish can make someone thirsty for more. I just picked up some coffee right at the tail end, so it's in there..! There's a very creamy mouthfeel to the beer, and there's low carbonation. The more I drink, the more I think about the Uinta Cockeyed Cooper, with its complex flavor profile. The only thing is that they're two completely different types of beer! I really liked Narwhal the first time I tried it, and I still like it now. Nevertheless, it's not as impressive to me as it was when I first tried it, but this is still a solid beer for Sierra Nevada, and I'll be hoarding my other Narwhal for a few months before I finally get around to finishing it.
Grade: B+
Price Paid: $2.05 (12 oz bottle)
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