Nocturna
Equal Parts Brewing

RB transfer

A: Pours a dark black color, nearly opaque. A dense tan head rises to over two fingers. Retention lasts forever and lacing for days.
S: Toasted malts and baked bread. With chocolate covered cherries and berries. A surprising amount of darker fruits, but not complaining. It all works well.
T: Toasted malts, caramelized sugars. Baked bread and chocolate covered dark fruits again. The chocolate character becomes a littler bitter, which I like, along with a substantial sweetness.
M/O: A full body that is well carbonated. The crisp carbonation at first, becomes ultra smooth as this breaths. Perfectly chewy and weighty. A very nice porter, and the high ABV for the style doesn't get in the way.

This isn't advertised as a "Imperial Porter" but the ABV boarders on that for me. I would like this to be a bit less in ABV, but that is just me. Overall a nice example of the style, that has a unique darker fruit character than most, without being over done in that regard.

 

 

Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a deep brown color with a small head of light brown foam. The head has a good level of retention, fading over time and leaving some streaky lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is strong of a roasted and toasted malt mixed with a strong showing of chocolate and brown sugar. Along with these smells comes a little bit of char and coffee and a touch of vanilla. With a touch of dark fruit, the aroma is overall rather sweet and inviting.
Taste – The taste begins with a roasted malt flavor that is paired with sweet flavors of caramel and toffee as well as brown sugar and molasses flavors. There is a light amount of cocoa and vanilla upfront, with the later getting stronger as the taste advances. At the same time a cola like sweetness joins in, all while the roastiness takes on a slightly more bitter note. A tiny bit of nut and plum come at the end, leaving one with a rather sweet and moderately roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is medium to thick with a lower level of carbonation. For the roastiness and sweet the feel was pretty good and makes for a nice medium.
Overall – A decent brew with a nice roasty taste and feel. Nothing too great, but fun to try.

Poured from a can into a tulip glass. Dark brown color with with a short lived effervescent brown head and little lacing. This stuff has a nice smell and taste of dark chocolate and dark berries. Some warm spice and an earthy bitter finish. Good feel, but it could have been richer given the taste. Overall, I like this porter quite a bit.