![\"Narwahl](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Narwahl-Pour-223x300.jpg\")
<\/a>\nSierra Nevada Narwahl<\/strong><\/p>\n
Blogger:<\/strong> Tom Aguero Commercial Description:<\/strong> Narwhal Imperial Stout is inspired by the mysterious creature that thrives in the deepest fathoms of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Featuring incredible depth of malt flavor, rich with notes of espresso, baker\u2019s cocoa, roasted grain and a light hint of smoke, Narwhal is a massive malt-forward monster. Aggressive but refined with a velvety smooth body and decadent finish, Narwhal will age in the bottle for years to come. Why I selected the Sierra Nevada Narwahl: \u201cHi, my name is Tom and I hate winter warmers.\u201d<\/p>\n When Sean asked me to take part in their 31 Beers of December my first question was:<\/p>\n \u201cIs it reviewing a winter style beer?\u201d<\/p>\n This is a crucial question for me. Out of all the seasonal beer styles I hate winter warmers the most. The only two beer styles I generally refuse to drink are winter warmers and smoke beers. Luckily, the seasonal beers released between October and February redeem themselves thanks to all the seasonal stouts. From Dark Horse Plead The Fifth to Great Lakes Blackout Stout. I would be talking about one of those two beers today, but they\u2019re largely confined to the midwest and Sean wanted to feature a widely available beer. My first choice in that regards is what I\u2019m about to talk about, Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout, because who doesn\u2019t love the unicorn of the sea.<\/p>\n When the temperature plummets I get cold. The 10.2% ABV of Narwhal warms me back up. The rich flavors of baker\u2019s chocolate and roasted coffee don\u2019t hurt either. This malt forward monster of the ocean depths challenges Bryan D. Roth\u2019s INSATIABLE ANIMALS<\/a> with it\u2019s lack of any recognizable hop flavors.<\/p>\n The one thing I really love about stouts is that they\u2019re like Transformers, they\u2019re more than meets the eye, er\u2026 palate. You pull one out of your fridge and it\u2019s all coffee, but this is a big horned beast of a beer, you have to sip it slowly. As you slowly sip it warms revealing hidden depths of chocolate not found at first. The best stouts hide their alcohol, leaving only a hint of warmth from all the alcohol you\u2019re imbibing. Narwhal excels at all these things. As soon as the leaves change colors I first look forward to Great Lakes Nosferatu, then once I\u2019ve had my fill of the vampire I crave Narwhal.<\/p>\n What would you pair this beer with? What Tom’s Excited About: <\/p>\n
\nWebsite:<\/strong> http:\/\/queencitydrinks.com\/<\/a>
\nTwitter \/ Instagram \/ Facebook <\/strong>: @QueenCityDrinks
\nAbout Tom:<\/strong> Overly hairy person standing on a soapbox called the internet and yelling about beer like a cankerous old man telling those young whippersnappers to get out of his yard!<\/p>\n![\"TomA](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/TomA-QCD-169x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Beer<\/strong>: Narwahl
\nBrewery<\/strong>: Sierra Nevada Brewing – Chico, CA & Mills River, NC
\nWebsite<\/strong>: http:\/\/www.sierranevada.com\/<\/a>
\nTwitter<\/strong>: @SierraNevada<\/p>\n
\nBeer Details:<\/strong>
\n-Style: Imperial Stout
\n-ABV: 10.2%
\n-IBU: 60<\/p>\n![\"Old](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Old-Narwhal-Label-300x256.png\")
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\n<\/strong>Stands up in front of the group. Nervously clears throat.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Honestly, I\u2019m not a foodie so I\u2019d pair it with a lit up Christmas tree, a sleepy Goldendoodle, a bathrobe, and Fallout 4. Which perfectly describes my current situation. If I was forced for a food I\u2019d go with a rich chocolate cake to compliment the chocolate notes in the beer.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Well, Cincinnati Winter Beer Week and Winter Beer Fest<\/a> are just over a month away, and with that comes Cincinnati Malt Infusers All American Homebrew competition which I always judge. But before all that begins, only a few people know this right now so this will be the first big announcement, Queen City Drinks will cease to be and will transform into Brew Minds as my friends join me for a YouTube series. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll still rant about beer in the written word just like a cankerous old man yelling at young whippersnappers about the virtues of White Rajah and why Zombie Dust isn\u2019t worth the effort.<\/p>\n![\"QCD](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/QCD-Logo-260x300.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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\nAbout Queen City Drinks:
\n<\/strong>Just shy of its fourth birthday Queen City Drinks is supposedly about what, where, when, and with what to whet your whistle in the Queen City. The Queen City being Cincinnati, screw those Charlotte folks. In reality, it\u2019s me spreading knowledge about beer though my Learning About Beer series or ranting like the aforementioned cantankerous old man. This, and Charlotte, NC\u2019s vastly superior claim to the name Queen City, are both reasons for the transition to Brew Minds.<\/p>\n
![\"Sierra](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sierra-Nevada-Logo.png\"){kind=logo}
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