Black Toad Dark Ale - Black Toad Brewing Co.

Troyone

California

3.9/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A twisty that poured a black color with a hint of an amber hue, minimal tan head, no visible sediment, and can't see tha action.

Maybe a sour roasted malt aroma.

Sweet roasted malt taste with some grapefruit flavored hops.

Medium/full bodied, resinous, with soft carbonation.

This is a good session beer, good as a Brown Ale and well balanced. Keep an eye out on the date for twisties.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2009 03:01:47 | More by Troyone

Zimm

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5%

05-15-2013 17:35:45 | More by Zimm

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A friend brought a sixer of these to a get-together last night. Poured one into a snifter. Pour yielded a dark chocolate brown with a nice off-white head on top. The nose was sweet like nutty bread, brown sugar toast, and a bit of alcohol.

Moderate depth. Carbonation level is good, but there's a bit of a thin quality on the finish. Sweet nutty flavors - almond bar, chocolate malt, fresh bread. Good finish. This beer was surprising. One I'd never heard of, but a decent one I'd revisit.

[*This paired exceptionally well with a Carlos Toraño Reserva Decadéncia cigar]

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 19:29:09 | More by Onenote81

secondtooth

Indiana

3.49/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark, tawny, murky brown. Moderate head and only a hint of lace here.

Aroma is roasty malts and a little dark fruit. I get a touch of nuttiness, too.

Taste is sweet, with a bit of roast and nuttiness. Seems to me like a brown ale with a little extra char. Easy enough to drink, but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 14:40:49 | More by secondtooth

Jomolieri

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amazing beer for the price... I think I paid $1.00 for this guy at trader joes. Sweet Nutty flavor with a creamy mouthfeel. Some very subtle toffee notes in there. Not overly complex in flavor but it really hits the spot if your looking for a slightly sweet smooth dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:54:57 | More by Jomolieri

Nachos4two

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -9%

04-25-2013 23:40:11 | More by Nachos4two

MN_Beerticker

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-18-2013 12:56:18 | More by MN_Beerticker

BRD14

Illinois

4/5  rDev +12%

04-16-2013 03:29:56 | More by BRD14

Ted

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-11-2013 23:15:02 | More by Ted

samturner

California

4.5/5  rDev +26.1%

04-07-2013 13:28:04 | More by samturner

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-07-2013 05:42:50 | More by WDJersey

NoetheMatt

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -44%

04-05-2013 14:12:09 | More by NoetheMatt

TheMarkE

California

3.74/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Dark brown, like a cup of coffee. Moderate foam dissipates quickly. Not much lacing.

Smell: Roasted malts.

Taste: Malty. I can taste chocolate, raisins and other dark fruit, toffee, and caramel.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a slight hop aftertaste.

The Verdict: Good. Rich and malty, this is one of the better beers from Trader Joe’s Josephsbrau label.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:54:48 | More by TheMarkE

clemtig76

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-04-2013 17:02:05 | More by clemtig76

Cdax

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -16%

04-01-2013 23:44:32 | More by Cdax

DMB

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +5%

03-31-2013 02:25:33 | More by DMB

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Ruby red with sparse large bubbles. Good tan foam. No lacing.

Smell: Mineral water and a hint of coffee. Very weak, but not unpleasant.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Mostly toffee. Seltzer water flavor/finish. The feel is definitely very good, but the flavor is just alright. Refreshing for an English brown.

Overall Drinkability: Not great initially, but this is actually a very good session. Nothing outstanding, but the feel makes it enticing.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 01:12:41 | More by tjsdomer2

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Found cheap at Trader Joe's. I think it was only $1.00!

Needless to say, I wasn't expecting much.

A - The head is not impressive, with big bubbles, not much retention, and not frothy or foamy, did not positively add to the taste or mouthfeel. The color is a nice shining brown though.

S - Some sweetness and some hops, I didnt linger here too long because I wasnt expecting much and didnt pick up much initially.

T - Much Better than Expected! you can tell the hop bitterness is strong but they are subdued very well by a equally strong, almost caramel sweetness from the malts. Called a English Brown but reminds me more of a Scottish Ale.

Mouthfeel - nothing too special here, but pleasurable nonetheless. Definitely smooth.

Surprisingly good taste considering the price, head appearance, and smell! A nice regular house beer to have if you are on a budget, or plan on drinking quite a few in one night.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:24:58 | More by TastyAdventure

Zanico

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -2%

03-30-2013 01:19:39 | More by Zanico

truesolution

Texas

4/5  rDev +12%

03-25-2013 02:47:05 | More by truesolution

fx20736

New York

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bought at Trader Joe's in Pittsford on 3/23/13. Price $ 1.09.

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a large glass tumbler, served at room temp.

appearance: very, very dark amber supports a thin tan head. spotty lacing.

aroma: some lightly toasted chocolate malt.

mouthfeel: decent, pretty good actually.

taste: a nutty, brown bread with just a hint of cocoa.

notes: It's not Goose Island Nut Brown Ale but it is easy drinking and for the price, a good value. Would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 08:05:50 | More by fx20736

menacho1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2%

03-16-2013 05:05:46 | More by menacho1

Duvel

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +5%

03-09-2013 15:38:06 | More by Duvel

artdob

California

3.18/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Pours a dark ruby red to brown color, like a well steeped Lipton tea.

Nose has a classic roasty malt aroma.

Taste - a watered sweetness, roastiness, mild bitterness. Dare I say some strongly brewed tea tones as well.

Not knocking my socks off. This one is in the ok zone.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 05:02:03 | More by artdob

MonkeymooTJ

California

3.85/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A beautiful brown with spectacular red/amber highlights reminiscent of a late night sunset. Poured a two finger light tan head with considerable lacing clinging to the side of the pint glass. Hidden inside the amber notes float a moderate amount of bubbles. Aroma screams of nutty goodness. Hints of chocolate and raisins are also present. No hops make an appearance. Flavor is malt dominated with a complexity of bitter chocolate, toffee, dark fruits and toasted nuts. A sweet caramel tone lingers along with a very slight butterscotch flavor. There is also a slight roasted bitterness and just a touch of herbal hops. Carbonation leans toward the low side. Combine this with the residual sweetness and it makes for a medium mouthfeel. Overall a very good beer. I really enjoyed the combination of flavors

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 02:13:28 | More by MonkeymooTJ